Societies work best when their
members agree on the
fundamental principles of how
society should be organised
There are shared
norms and values
Social life can become more
predictable. Creates social
order in society
Emile Durkheim
Memebers of society need
to feel a sense of social
solidarity
Society is separate from members
Individual behaveiour is created by
'social facts' passed on by
socialisation
Large modern societies are put at risk as
people could loser their sense of belonging
Talcott Parsons
Socialisation is important in
creating a calue consensus
Society is made up of
separate but linked
institutions that work in
harmony
transmits shhared norms and values
between different generations
Society has 4 essential needs
(perequisites) required to keep the
system going
G- goal attainment- institution
put in place that makes sure
society has the same goals and
organises them.
government and
political systems
A- adaptation- institutions put in place to
support individuals to reach the goal society
has set and to adapt to the environment.
economy
I- integration- institutions that help to unify all
the other parts of society.
religion
L- latency and pattern- institutions that help
to pass on shared culture of society.
family
organic analogy
society is like an organism in that it is
made up of different organs, these
represent the different insitutions.
Each institution is connected to
the others.
each institution performs one or a
number of essential functions
like an organism, if they don't all perform their
function society will collapse and die unless the other
institutions take over the functions of the one not
preforming
evaluation
strengths
highlights how societies tend to operate
more effectively when people can agree
and co operate
stresses the importance
of socialisation.
shows the
importance of
family.
it explains how the institutions are
interlinked with each other and
impact one another.
weaknesses
fails to explain conflict
within society.
assumes that society
operates for everyones
benefit.
ignores the dark side of family
life (violence, child abuse)