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Structural Functionalism

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Structural Functionalism
STRUCTURAL
FUNCTIONALISM
Reported By Jewel Jem J. Beren

WHAT IS STRUCTURAL
FUNCTIONALISM?
It is one of the various social science theories.
Simply functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
Believes that society has evolved like organisms.

Reproductive
System
Digestive
System

Circulatory
System
Nervous
System

WHAT COMES
INTO YOUR MIND?

The Organic Analogy:
The Society is like an Organism

Kinship
Economics

SYSTEMS OF A SOCIETY
Religion
Politics

A common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer, presents these parts of society as
"organs" that work toward the proper functioning of the
"body" as a whole

In the study of society, a sociologist with this perspective tries to identify the structures of society and how they function.
Hence the name, “Structural Functionalism”
-Talcott Parsons

WHAT
CONSISTS OF
A SOCIAL
STRUCTURE?

THE COMPONENT PARTS OF
A SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Families
Countries

Neighbors

SOCIAL
STRUCTURE

Banks

Associations

Churches

Schools

CONTRIBUTORS OF THE
SAID THEORY
Auguste Comte
Herbert Spencer
Talcott Parsons
Davis and Moore
Robert Merton
Almond and Powell

Talcott Parsons see the society as an integrated system made up of distinct structures that perform specialized tasks but also work together to help the system maintain an orderly state of equilibrium and is done by:

Fulfilling the needs of the social system.

Subduing disorder in the social system.

TALCOTT PARSONS’ FOUR FUNCTIONAL
IMPERATIVES
AGIL SCHEME

Adaptation

Goal
Attainment

Integration

Latency

• To be used at all levels in this theoretical system.

TALCOTT PARSONS

Adaptation – A system must cope with external situational exigencies.
Goal Attainment – A system must define and achieve its primary goals.
Integration – A system must regulate the interrelationship of its component parts.
Latency – It must furnish, maintain, and renew both the motivation

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