A theory attempts to simplify reality and generalize its common and related features relevant to topic. Over the year, many sociologists have developed and advocate different sociological theories. Theoretical perspectives on health and illness are grouped into similar individual theories developed by different sociologists to share core features of the particular perspective. Amongst all major sociological theoretical perspectives, Functionalism and Weberianism are the two major sociological theoretical perspectives, concepts of which contribute to the knowledge of health practitioners. This essay will compare and contrast functionalism and Weberianism and discuss how concepts of these two theories contribute to the knowledge of the health
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Functionalists see society as a single system in which every part’s functions to the benefit of every other part and all social structure functions to maintain social order and stability (Alderson, 1998). Structural functionalism focuses on large-scale social process and is based on the assumptions that the society is a system of integrated parts and each part have certain functional prerequisites that must be fulfilled to maintain social order in society. Hence, functionalism theory is based on study on various part of the society to understand their interrelations and functions to promote social stability and consensus (Germov, 2013). Max Weber, one of the most influential sociologist produced a theory of society that acknowledge the way in which people both shape and are shaped by the social structure which is known as Weberianism. Unlike functionalists, Max described society in concepts of class, status and party rather than single social organism (Book, Van Krieken, …show more content…
To understand any part of the system, such as family or religion, the part must be study in relation to society as whole (Van Krieken, 2000). Functionalists believes in order to operate successfully every society must have set of social roles or positions, which can be classified as statuses. In society, individuals will usually have an occupation status, family status, and a gender status and each status is accompanied by a number of norms which defines how people occupying that particular status are expected to act, this group of norm is known as social role (Van Krieken, 2000).
In Weberianism, Max Weber saw society comprising of strong social structure and potentially powerful individuals. Weber also transcribed about capitalism and industrialization but focusing more on social system, which is based on class, status and party (Grbich, 2004). Weber classifies class as economic stratification where as status as social stratification. Weber viewed individual as purposeful reasoning agents, not necessarily constricted by organisational structure. Weber suggested that in addition to social class, social status and party were also a source of group formation and social
Functionalists see society as a single system in which every part’s functions to the benefit of every other part and all social structure functions to maintain social order and stability (Alderson, 1998). Structural functionalism focuses on large-scale social process and is based on the assumptions that the society is a system of integrated parts and each part have certain functional prerequisites that must be fulfilled to maintain social order in society. Hence, functionalism theory is based on study on various part of the society to understand their interrelations and functions to promote social stability and consensus (Germov, 2013). Max Weber, one of the most influential sociologist produced a theory of society that acknowledge the way in which people both shape and are shaped by the social structure which is known as Weberianism. Unlike functionalists, Max described society in concepts of class, status and party rather than single social organism (Book, Van Krieken, …show more content…
To understand any part of the system, such as family or religion, the part must be study in relation to society as whole (Van Krieken, 2000). Functionalists believes in order to operate successfully every society must have set of social roles or positions, which can be classified as statuses. In society, individuals will usually have an occupation status, family status, and a gender status and each status is accompanied by a number of norms which defines how people occupying that particular status are expected to act, this group of norm is known as social role (Van Krieken, 2000).
In Weberianism, Max Weber saw society comprising of strong social structure and potentially powerful individuals. Weber also transcribed about capitalism and industrialization but focusing more on social system, which is based on class, status and party (Grbich, 2004). Weber classifies class as economic stratification where as status as social stratification. Weber viewed individual as purposeful reasoning agents, not necessarily constricted by organisational structure. Weber suggested that in addition to social class, social status and party were also a source of group formation and social