Week #2 - Functionalism and Role Theory
Image sources: Wikipedia.com
This week we will examine one of the foundational theories in Sociology. For Functionalists...
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The social system is like a body
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All of the parts work together for the benefit of the whole
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Each aspect of society has a function – and systems work to maintain equilibrium (balance)
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We learn these functions through socialization – (norms, roles and values)
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Traditional functionalist (and conflict theorists) see the world objective.
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Facts exist and it is the role of the researcher to uncover those facts. Reality is real and exists outside of the individual. Functionalists don't construct their own reality.
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Society sets up sanctions to keep us in check or consensus.
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We can understand people’s behavior through scientific study (positivism , the scientific method and value free)
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Functionalists note that we are so accustomed to social order, and norms that when our society is disrupted we experience a sense of normlessness, anomie.
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The parts of society are interconnected and interrelated. So problems in one area (like the family) have ripple effects throughout the entire system.
Readings
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Reading: Chapter 2, Wallace and Wolf
Assignments
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Assignment #3: Applying Merton’s Strain Theory PPT (100 points)
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Assignment #4: Write up an essay explaining the Achieved and Ascribes statuses that you occupy. What would you define as your master status and why? (2-3 pages typed.) You may make this a visual essay and add images.) (100 points) Web resource link. achieved vs ascribed status.
Discussion Question
Discussion Questions #3: Durkheim and the functionalist look at society in terms of social order and social functions. How would Durkheim or other Functionalist explain the current changes, problems and challenges in modern American families? Are "families" still "functional" according to Durkheim's analysis? Do you think the families have become more "dysfunctional" as Merton would suggest? Are there certain "functions" missing in current families that existed in traditional families and when did this change?
Functionalism is one of the easiest Sociological theories to understand. We do live in a social world where we "agree" to the rules. There is a great deal of social consensus regardless of the civilization. But is that all there is?
When reading the information consider the "domain assumptions" of functionalism.
What constitutes the system?
What happenes when things don't function?
Who decides what is functional?
How did some neofunctionalist like Merton address these questions?
Can you test most of the functionalists theories outlined in the book?
What are theories of the middle range?
Videos
Role Theory
Reading
Assignment #4: Write up an essay explaining the Achieved and Ascribes statuses that you occupy. What would you define as your master status and why? (2-3 pages typed.) You may make this a visual essay and add images.) (100 points) Same as above.
Assignment
Video
Image source: National Education Policy Center
Im very lucky, Dr. Biddle was one of my advisors in graduate school and I even served as a teaching assistant for several of his classes. We talked many times about how people play out their roles and how hard it was to break free from some established roles or expectations. I credit my love and understanding of Social Psychology to these conversations.
Biddle's book looked at the nature and structure of roles. It book outlines how they are carried our and some of the problems or conflicts that come with playing out our roles in society. Our roles and statuses changes as we pass through the different stages of our lives. Other variables like gender, race, physical ability also impact roles and expectations.
OK, so what's the problem with Role Theory? The major criticism of Role Theory was that it wasn't really a "theory". Many critics argued that it was a series of empirical observations about what people did any how they did it.
I have attached a link to his 1986 article "Recent Developments in Role Theory".
Lectures
There are two lectures for this week. Please click on the lecture links in canvas. I decided not to post them to the webpage now.
Canvas Course Page Snapshot
All discussions and assignments assigned this week are due by June 10th
