Functional prerequisites may also refer to the factors that allow a society to maintain social order. Bing a consensus theory. Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment, even when doing so may benefit them. Functionalism formed as a reaction to structuralism and was heavily influenced by the work of William Jamesand the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. For example, the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on … Functionalism is the oldest and dominant conceptual perspective in society. Functionalism posits that society is more than the sum of its parts; rather, each aspect of it works for the stability of the whole. The functionalist perspective of gender roles suggests that gender roles exist to maximize social efficiency. Understanding Functionalist Theory. Yet this is not necessarily the case for latent functions, which often demand a sociological approach to be revealed. Functionalism is the oldest and dominant conceptual perspective in society. https://www.thoughtco.com/functionalist-perspective-3026625 (accessed February 20, 2021). Retrieved 27 Feb. 2017 from https://www.boundless.com/users/493555/textbooks/sociology-cochise-college/gender-stratification-and-inequality-11/sociological-perspectives-on-gender-stratification-87/the-functionalist-perspective-503-4583/. Instead, functionalism sees agitating for social change as undesirable because the various parts of society will compensate in a seemingly organic way for any problems that may arise. In many societies, the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes the state depends on to keep running. When one part of the system is dysfunctional, it affects all other parts and creates social problems, prompting social change. According to structural functionalists, gender serves to maintain social order by providing and ensuring the stability of such functional prerequisites. In the functionalist perspective, society and its institutions are the primary units of analysis. Functionalism also emphasized individual differences, which had a profound impact on education. Functionalism, in social sciences, theory based on the premise that all aspects of a society—institutions, roles, norms, etc.—serve a purpose and that all are indispensable for the long-term survival of the society. Functionalism is the doctrine that what makes something a thought,desire, pain (or any other type of mental state) depends not on itsinternal constitution, but solely on its function, or the role itplays, in the cognitive system of which it is a part. Among these American functionalist sociologists was Robert K. Merton, who divided human functions into two types: manifest functions, which are intentional and obvious, and latent functions, which are unintentional and not obvious. “The Functionalist Perspective.” Sociology – Cochise College Boundless, 26 May. The division of labor works to maximize resources and efficiency. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Functionalist Perspective in American Sociology. The functionalist perspective is based largely on the works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton. Conflict Theory. The functionalist perspective of gender inequality was most robustly articulated in the 1940s and 1950s, and largely developed by Talcott Parsons’ model of the nuclear family. The key ideas of Functionalist perspective are as follows – There is such a thing as a social structure that exists independently from individuals. Functionalist perspective Definition or Meaning: Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim are the two … However, … According to functionalism, an institution only exists because it serves a vital role in the functioning of society. Functionalists sought to explain the mental processes in a more systematic and accurate manner. To the adherent… Functionalism is a theory about the nature of mental states. While gender roles, according to the functionalist perspective, are beneficial in that they contribute to stable social relations, many argue that gender roles are discriminatory and should not be upheld. An introduction to Functionalism for AS and A level sociology – covering the basic key ideas of Functionalist thinkers Durkheim and Parsons – social facts, social solidarity, and anomie, the organic analogy, and the importance of socialisation. The basic idea of the symbolic-interaction approach is that society is a. the reality people construct as they interact with one another b. an arena of conflict between categories of people. The family relies on the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so they can raise and support their own families. Structural-Functionalist Perspective The structural-functionalist perspective is largely based on the works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton. The manifest function of attending a place of worship, for instance, is to practice one's faith as part of a religious community. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/functionalist-perspective-3026625. In sociological research, functional prerequisites are the basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, and money) that an individual requires to live above the poverty line.