STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

 The structural-functional approach is a perspective in

sociology that sees society as a complex system
whose parts work together to promote solidarity and
stability. It asserts that our lives are guided by social
structures, which are relatively stable patterns of
social behavior. Social structures give shape to our
lives - for example, in families, the community, and
through religious organizations
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

Functionalism also states that society is like an

organism, made up of different parts that work
together. Thus, one of the key ideas in Structural
Functionalism is that society is made-up of groups
or institutions, which are cohesive, share common
norms, and have a definitive culture.
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY
 A French philosopher, named Emile
Durkheim, noticed this and started to
think that society was made up of building
blocks that were focused towards a
common goal. If people stopped agreeing
on those common goals, then society
would disintegrate. However, as long as
most people agreed, society would be fine.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY
In structural functionalism, individual institutions work
together in service of the whole.
For example, this image of a circular flow of money through
an economy demonstrates how something that almost
everyone can agree on, education, is made into a goal. Of
course, this only worked as long as everyone was focused. If
one group disagreed on where society is going, then the
whole thing falls apart. These social bonds are very
important.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY

However, structural functionalism had a serious problem. It

was too far removed from actual society. It assumed that
these blocks were homogenous, all wanting the same thing.
Also, it thought that all motivation was a zero-sum game,
meaning that there had to be winners and losers.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY

Structural functionalism became popular around 1960 when it became clear

that ways of studying U.S. and European politics were not useful in studying
newly independent countries, and that a new approach was needed
Structural-functionalism assumes that a bounded (nation-state) system exists,
and studies structures in terms of their function(s) within the system. For
structural functionalists the question to be answered is what does a structure
(guerrilla movement, political party, election, etc.) do within the political
system (of country x)? The goal is to find out what something actually does in a
political system, as opposed to what it is supposed to do.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY

Thus, structural functionalists would not waste time studying constitutions in Third World
countries if they found that the constitutions [structures] had little impact on political
reality.
Almond claimed that certain political functions existed in all political systems. On the input
side he listed these functions as: political socialization, political interest articulation, political
interest aggregation, and political communication. Listed as outputs were rule-making, rule
implementation, and rule adjudication. Other basic functions of all political systems
included the conversion process, basic pattern maintenance, and various capabilities
(distributive, symbolic, etc.). Structural functionalists argued that all political systems,
including Third World systems, could most fruitfully be studied and compared on the basis
of how differing structures performed these functions in the various political system.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY

Other basic functions of all political systems included the conversion process,
basic pattern maintenance, and various capabilities (distributive, symbolic, etc.).
Structural functionalists argued that all political systems, including Third World
systems, could most fruitfully be studied and compared on the basis of how
differing structures performed these functions in the various political system.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY
 Structural functionalism
is based on a systems
model. Conceptually,
the political process can
be depicted as follows:
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY
For analytical purposes the political system is considered to be the nation-
state, and the environment is composed of the interactions of economic,
social, and political variables and events, both domestic and external.
The idea is that there are number of actors in the national political system
(political parties, bureaucracies, the military, etc.) and that the actions of all
these actors affect each other as well as the system.
The political analyst must determine the importance of these actors in a
particular political system. This is done by analyzing the functions
performed by the various actors. Any changes in the system also affect all
the actors. The feedback mechanisms allow for constantly changing inputs,
as actors react to outputs.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM IN
THEORY
Structural functionalists, like systems analysts, have a bias toward
systemic equilibrium, (i.e. toward stability). Such a bias tends to make
this approach conservative, as stability, or evolutionary change, is
preferred [and more easily analyzed], to radical, or revolutionary change.
A problem which arises with this system-based model is that the nation-
state's boundaries are often permeable in the real world, rather than
being the neatly bounded nation-state conceptualized by structural
functionalists.
In other words, in the real world it is usually difficult to state exactly what
the boundaries are, leading to some conceptual difficulties.
TABLE 1: SOME SOCIAL BEHAVIORS
ACCORDING TO QUEXBOOK, 2018
TALCOTT PARSON

 Talcott Parson (1902 - 1979) was an

American sociologist and functionalist
who attempted to develop and perfect a
general analytic model suitable for
analyzing all types of collectivities. He
was concerned with how elements of
society were functional for a society as
well as social order. His five pattern
variables are considered as five
dichotomies to draw out the contrasting
values to which individuals orient
themselves in social interactions.
TABLE 2: TALCOTT PARSON’S FIVE PATTERN
VARIABLES OF ROLE-DEFINITION
ACCORDING TO QUEXBOOK, 2018
 GENERAL CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM
DURK ET AL. (2007)
 This diagram is a general
conceptual diagram of Structural
functionalism. It shows that all of
the different organizations and
institutions in society are
interdependent. When one
institution in society changes,
other institutions accommodate
that change by changing as well,
though the ultimate effect is to
slow overall change.
 SPECIFIC CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM
DURK ET AL. (2007)
 This is a chart depicting how deviance is
functional for society and how society
responds to deviance. A "deviant" individual
commits an act that is deemed by the rest of
society as criminal, because it leads to public
outrage and punishments. Because a large
portion of society respond to the action as
though it is deviant, this draws a boundary
between what is and is not deviant.
 Thus, deviance actually helps to indicate what
is not deviant, or, the function of labelling
behaviors or ideas as deviance is to insure that
most people do not engage in those
behaviors.
ACTIVITY # 1

 A. Direction: Write down ten responsibilities of a teenager in this

nation. Do this in a separate sheet of paper like the example
below.
 1.
 2.
 3.
 4.
 5.
 ACTIVITY # 2

B. Directions: Fill each box with the correct letter to form the correct answer.
Do it in a separate sheet of paper.
 1. An approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose
parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

 2. A French philosopher noticed and started to think that society was made
up of building blocks that were focused towards a common goal.
 ACTIVITY # 2

B. Directions: Fill each box with the correct letter to form the correct answer.
Do it in a separate sheet of paper.
 3. Occurs when an individual continues to do things as prescribed by society
but forfeits the achievement of the goals.

 4. A combination of the rejection of societal goals and means and a

substitution of other goals and means.
 ACTIVITY # 2

B. Directions: Fill each box with the correct letter to form the correct answer.
Do it in a separate sheet of paper.
 5. Involves the rejection of both the culturally prescribed goals as well as the
conventional means of attaining them.

 6. Occurs when an individual has the means and desire to achieve the cultural
goals socialized into him.
 ACTIVITY # 2

B. Directions: Fill each box with the correct letter to form the correct answer.
Do it in a separate sheet of paper.
 7. An American sociologist and functionalist who attempted to develop and
perfect a general analytic model suitable for analyzing all types of
collectivities.

 8. Places an importance on the performance and emphasizes individual

achievement.
 ACTIVITY # 2

B. Directions: Fill each box with the correct letter to form the correct answer.
Do it in a separate sheet of paper.
 9. It refers to the innate qualities of individuals.

 10. When role obligations are extended outside the defined role -
expectations.
 ACTIVITY # 3 MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE

C. Directions: If the statement is correct, write Functionalism. If not, underline the word which makes
the statement incorrect, then write the correct answer on the blanks provided before each number. Use
a separate sheet of paper.
__________________1. Several decades ago, some sociologists thought that all of society interacts like this;
where each part of society had a specific task. They called this framework structural functionalism.
__________________2. If people stopped agreeing on common goals, then society would disintegrate.
__________________3. The method of Marxism was based on fieldwork and direct observations of societies.
__________________4. The structural-functional approach is based on the view that a political system is
made up of several key components, including interest groups, political parties and branches of government.
__________________5. The parts of society that Parson referred to were the social institutions, or patterns
of beliefs and behaviors focused on meeting social needs.
 ACTIVITY # 3 MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE
C. Directions: If the statement is correct, write Functionalism. If not, underline the word which makes
the statement incorrect, then write the correct answer on the blanks provided before each number. Use
a separate sheet of paper.
__________________6. Structural functionalism became popular around 1990when it became clear that
ways of studying U.S. and European politics were not useful in studying newly independent countries.
__________________7. Talcott Parson was concerned with how elements of society were functional for a
society as well as social order.
__________________8. Structural functionalists, like systems analysts, have a fair toward systemic
equilibrium, (i.e. toward stability).
__________________9. For analytical purposes the political system is considered to be the nation-state, and
the environment is composed of the interactions of economic, social, and political variables and events, both
domestic and external.
_________________10. A normal individual commits an act that is deemed by the rest of society as criminal,
because it leads to public outrage and punishments.
 ACTIVITY 4: IDENTIFICATION

D. Direction: Identify what is being described in each statement. Write your answer on
the separate sheet of paper.
1. He/She is an American sociologist and functionalist who attempted to develop and
perfect a general analytic model suitable for analyzing all types of collectivities.
2. He/She is a French philosopher who noticed and started to think that society was
made up of building blocks that were focused towards a common goal.
3. It is an approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose arts
work together to promote solidarity and stability.
4. It refers to the innate qualities of individuals.
5. It is when role obligations are extended outside the defined role - expectations.
 ACTIVITY 4: IDENTIFICATION

D. Direction: Identify what is being described in each statement. Write your answer on
the separate sheet of paper.
6. It is a combination of the rejection of societal goals and means and a substitution of
other goals and means.
7. It places an importance on the performance and emphasizes individual achievement.
8. It occurs when an individual has the means and desire to achieve the cultural goals
socialised into him.
9. This occurs when an individual continues to do things as prescribed by society but
forfeits the achievement of the goals.
10. It involves the rejection of both the culturally prescribed goals as well as the
conventional means of attaining them.
 ACTIVITY #5

 Directions: List down at least three (3) functional duties of government officials and citizens
in terms of culture, economics, and politics. Do this on a separate sheet of paper.