SOCIOL 2CC3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Anomie, Deinstitutionalisation, Personality Disorder
30 Apr 2018
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Saturday, February 17, 2018
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Lecture 3: Structural Functionalism
Midterm Exam Checklist
• Responsible for understanding these concepts within Structural Functionalism:
O Type, Focus and Assumptions of Structural Functionalism and Anomie
O TWO Theories of Deviance: (1) Deviance as disruption/pathology and (2) Deviance as
normal/functional
O Durkheim’s Theory of Anomie
O Durkheim’s 4 Types of Suicide including the relationship between rapid social change,
chaos and deviance
O Merton’s Theory of Anomie and Social Strain
O Definition and Example of Merton’s 5 Modes of Adaption
O Albert Cohen’s theory on Status Frustration
O Second Structural Functionalist Theory of Deviance
O Durkheim’s 4 Functions of Deviance and Reaction to
Introduction to Structural Functionalism
• Structural functionalism is a positivist and scientific perspective that seeks to explain why
people engage in deviant behaviours
- An evolutionary and conservative approach since moving toward a utopian society with
little to no deviance
• Concerned with crime prevention since deviance is a threat to social order and is considered
problematic
• Informed by philosophical tradition that reacted against chaos of French and American
Revolution
Assumptions of Structural Functionalism
• Assumes:
1. Scientific methods can be used to understand/explain society, how it is organized, its
functions and social roles
2. Rules of society are consensual since they preform functions
3. Structures and institutions exist since they serve important functions and allow society to
function
4. Structures and institutions exist since we each agree that it should
• There are TWO types of functions:
1. Manifest Functions: recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern
2. Latent Functions: unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Saturday, February 17, 2018
2
Goals of Structural Functionalism
• Main goal is to analyze whole social systems rather than individual parts
- For example, concerned with unintended consequences, hidden processes, deep structures
and latent or manifest functions within society
Tenets of Structural Functionalism
• SIX tenets of Structural Functionalism:
1. Employs biological analogy of the human body to explain how society operates
- Reflects a medical model by understanding society as a body that has interdependent parts
that function together to support the body
2. Consists of mutually interrelated parts such as family, educational system, economy and
religion
3. Each of these parts function to produce an orderly and harmonious society that meets the
goal of social order, solidarity and survival
- When the parts of functioning and healthy, there is little crime and the society is more
prosperous
4. Each part enables continuance of system including well-being of its members
5. Natural state of society is in homeostasis and equilibrium
- Changes in one part of the system affects all other parts and leads to deviance and downfall
6. Conflict is regarded as unnatural, pathological, deviant and dysfunctional
Functionalist Explanations of Deviance and Crime
• TWO theories explaining deviance:
1. Norm violations are a sign of disruption of natural order and equilibrium of society
- Including Durkheim’s theory of Normlessness and Merton’s Theory of Alienation
2. Deviance as normal and functional for continuance of society
- Allows for social change through conflict and resolution to avoid stagnation of society
- Function is to integrate people into society
Theory #1A: Durkheim, Anomie and Suicide
• 19th century had major changes occurring within England and North America such as
industrialization, urbanization and immigration
- There was an increased emphasis on individuality instead of community ties
- Changes result in increase of deviance that exceed functional levels to which society can
function properly
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Midterm exam checklist: responsible for understanding these concepts within structural functionalism: O type, focus and assumptions of structural functionalism and anomie. O two theories of deviance: (1) deviance as disruption/pathology and (2) deviance as normal/functional. O durkheim"s 4 types of suicide including the relationship between rapid social change, chaos and deviance. O merton"s theory of anomie and social strain. O definition and example of merton"s 5 modes of adaption. O durkheim"s 4 functions of deviance and reaction to. Introduction to structural functionalism: structural functionalism is a positivist and scientific perspective that seeks to explain why people engage in deviant behaviours. Goals of structural functionalism: main goal is to analyze whole social systems rather than individual parts. For example, concerned with unintended consequences, hidden processes, deep structures and latent or manifest functions within society. Tenets of structural functionalism: six tenets of structural functionalism, employs biological analogy of the human body to explain how society operates.
