1 / 18

Today’s Class

Today’s Class. Functionalism Parsons Merton Functionalist approach to stratification Neofunctionalism. Talcott Parsons (1902-1979). Dominance of functionalism mid-20 th century Grand theory: problem of order Definition of social action Voluntaristic Subjective Limited by culture

duke
Télécharger la présentation

Today’s Class

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Today’s Class Functionalism • Parsons • Merton • Functionalist approach to stratification Neofunctionalism

  2. Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) • Dominance of functionalism mid-20th century • Grand theory: problem of order • Definition of social action • Voluntaristic • Subjective • Limited by culture • Society as a system

  3. The System of Modern Societies • System of action with 4 subsystems • Subsystems and primary functions (AGIL) • Adaptation • Goal attainment • Integration • Pattern-maintenance (Latency)

  4. Subsystems and Primary Functions

  5. Independence of Subsystems Subsystems are related but independently variable – no subsystem is completely reducible to any other subsystem. Example: individual career choice

  6. Parsons on Sex Roles • Segregated roles in American family • Asymmetrical relation: functional, but causes strain • Functional for occupational system • Functional for “solidary kinship unit” • Work and family: “mutual accommodation” • Functional for spouse relationships • Strain: prestige differential

  7. Critiques of Parsons • Too focused on order and stability; ignores conflict, inequality and change • No elaboration of theory through empirical investigations

  8. Robert K. Merton (1910- ) • Middle-range theories • Types of deviance • Innovator • Ritualist • Retreatist • Rebel • Anomie: inconsistency of means and goals • Role-sets • Possibility of conflict

  9. Merton’s Contributions to Functionalism • Manifest vs. latent functions • Concept of dysfunction • Concept of functional alternatives

  10. Stratification: A Functionalist Account(Davis and Moore) • Social inequality as necessary, inevitable, functional • Need to distribute people into positions • Not all positions are equal • Functional importance • Talent and skills • Rewards: material, intellectual/emotional, cultural (prestige)

  11. Stratification: A Functionalist Account(Davis and Moore) • Highest rewards to: • Most functionally important • Most talent or skills required • Prestige as reward (not merely outcome of material rewards)

  12. Problems with Functionalist Account • Defining “functionally important” • Market imperfections • Linking talent and opportunities • Elite behavior (restricting access) • Ignores dysfunctional aspects of stratification

  13. Dysfunctions of Stratification • Limits expression of talent  limits society’s productive resources • Provides elite with power to maintain status quo • Inhibits social integration (hostility, resentment, etc,) • Limits sense of social membership  reduced loyalty and participation

  14. Executive Compensation • Year 2000: $20m average pay • Growing disparity: CEO pay as multiple of blue-collar pay 1980: 42x 1990: 85x 2000: 531x • Pay not tied to performance

  15. Pay for Performance?

  16. Functionalism vs. Neofunctionalism • Problem-solving • Structural differentiation • Systems • Culture

  17. In-Class Writing According to Colomy and Greiner, why was the Youth Offender System (YOS) created in Colorado in 1993? How does their neofunctionalist explanation differ from a functionalist explanation of the creation of YOS?

  18. Class Discussion • What are the competing views of how to handle these cases? Who expresses these views? • Do the filmmakers have a clear point of view? • What are your opinions on how these kinds of offenders should be handled?

More Related