Of the three prominent sociological perspectives, I have chosen to cover the functionalist perspective for this paper. According to functionalism, society is a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain peace and equivalence. Functionalists believe society is held together by social consensus in which the members of society comply to and work to achieve, what is best for society altogether. I chose this perspective because I identify with it and find this perspective to be very interesting. This perspective became popular in the nineteen forties and nineteen fifties, Robert Merton and Emile Durkheim were big functionalist in this perspective. Emile Durkheim had a big impact on social consensus, which will be discussed more
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Durkheim implied that the census takes on one of two forms; mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity is when people in a society maintain equal values beliefs, and have a similar work tendency. Mechanical solidarity most commonly is found in traditional societies where people may herd cattle. Organic solidarity originates when the society is interdependent but value beliefs and engage in various types of occupations which are commonly associated with complex societies similar to ones found in large cities like New York City. The family, as an institution serves multiple functions, which include reproducing, as the offspring matures they are taught the patterns and expectations of their culture. Family provides support and shapes individual experience concerning the sense of community. Families contributions to the prosperity of society were how they were perceived. It is believed that if one part of the system isn’t properly stabilized that it affects all other parts of the society and creates problems inside of the society. Changes can benefit and endanger the society, a negative factor in the society might be a break down in values that were once shared, or needs no longer being met. In Parson’s view, all parts of a social system were interrelated, different sectors of society had different expectations of
Durkheim implied that the census takes on one of two forms; mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Mechanical solidarity is when people in a society maintain equal values beliefs, and have a similar work tendency. Mechanical solidarity most commonly is found in traditional societies where people may herd cattle. Organic solidarity originates when the society is interdependent but value beliefs and engage in various types of occupations which are commonly associated with complex societies similar to ones found in large cities like New York City. The family, as an institution serves multiple functions, which include reproducing, as the offspring matures they are taught the patterns and expectations of their culture. Family provides support and shapes individual experience concerning the sense of community. Families contributions to the prosperity of society were how they were perceived. It is believed that if one part of the system isn’t properly stabilized that it affects all other parts of the society and creates problems inside of the society. Changes can benefit and endanger the society, a negative factor in the society might be a break down in values that were once shared, or needs no longer being met. In Parson’s view, all parts of a social system were interrelated, different sectors of society had different expectations of