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Essay / The Meaning of Émile Durkheim's Functionalism
Explain and Evaluate the Theory of FunctionalismFunctionalism is a consensus theory that views society as a complex structure whose parts must work together to function. It was Emile Durkheim who proposed this theory, he first considered society as an organism, just as within an organism each part must function effectively for it to function as a whole, each part plays a role necessary and none can do it. operate alone. If one part fails, other parts must adapt to fill the void. Certain parts of society belong to social institutions, each designed to meet different needs and to help different parts of society. Primary institutions include family, government, economy, media, education and religion. When an institution is no longer needed or no longer plays a role in society, it disappears, but new institutions emerge when new needs evolve. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayAn example of how institutions work together to ensure society functions: Government provides education for children, family children pay taxes, the government relies on these taxes to continue operating. Families depend on schools to secure good jobs for their children and provide for their own families. These children then become taxpayers who support the government. All components of society produce order and stability if all work together. Social change occurs when something in society disrupts the system, things like deviant behavior and crime have an effect on the system. The government must then change to ensure that society is not disrupted. The role of the family in society is to teach children the basics; Before they go to school, they learn the basic standards that all humans master, like walking or talking. From the age of 0-5, the family exerts the most important influence on a child's life; families teach children norms and values that prepare them for what they learn at school. The family also provides society with biological reproduction to the next generation. Education provides the next generation with knowledge about the fundamentals of the world. Schools teach children what they need to know to get ahead in life. For example, qualifications are acquired to obtain employment, further studies are necessary to access more advanced jobs that have more impact on society. Functionalists focus on 4 positive things that the education system achieves. These include: creating social solidarity, teaching necessary skills for work, teaching fundamental values and the distribution of roles. Social Solidarity: Solidarity is when you feel like you are part of something bigger, Durkheim argued that school makes you feel like you have solidarity. This is achieved through learning subjects such as history and art; all subjects taught at school provide students with a shared sense of identity. It is claimed that school prepares you for life in a much broader society than you imagine when learning. Teaching core values: Functionalists such as Parsons argue that school plays the most important role in secondary socialization, this is because family and..