Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society

Parsons furthers to explain the needs of the social system are met by different sub-system of institutions. These needs are known as the ‘AGIL schema’ (A- standing for adaptation which ensures that the material needs of society’s members are met, G- stands for goal attainment, meaning that society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them, I- standing for integration, which means that all parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals and the L, refers to Latency, the process that maintains society overtime).

Parsons identifies that there are two type’s society, the traditional and the modern. Arguing that these different societies are governed by its own patterns of norms i.e. statuses of individuals in the traditional society are ascribed from birth and they are to put groups interest first before theirs. However, in the modern society, individuals have to pursue their self interest and achieve their statuses through efforts made towards education.  Another is the idea of Particularism and Universalism i.e. in the modern society, norms emphasise that everyone should be treated the same. However, in the traditional society, norms emphasise that people are to be treated differently. This therefore is significant as there is an element of difference and change in both societies.

According to Parsons, the change from traditional to modern society is gradual. He argues that in the traditional society a single institution socialises its members i.e. the kinship system, all to gratify society’s needs. However, as society develops, the kinship system loses its functions to other forms of socialisation e.g. school. Parsons calls this structural differentiation. Another is the dynamic equilibrium, this is when change occurs in a part of society, but also brings about change in another part.

Although, Parsons functionalist approach to society could be seen as strengths of functionalist approach to society, functionalists like Merton have criticised his views and approach on society. Firstly, he argues that everything in society isn’t functionally indispensable i.e. the idea that primary socialisation is best performed by nuclear family; he says it may well be done by single parent families. Secondly, he rejects Parsons View that states that all parts of society are integrated together and functional for the rest. He argues that it cannot be necessarily proven as in a modern, complex society; some parts have functional autonomy from other parts. Lastly, Merton disagrees with Parsons Assumption that social system performs a positive function for society as a whole i.e. he argues that some groups may see primary socialisation as functional and the others, dysfunctional.

In conclusion, functionalists approach to society is meta-narrative. They see society as a whole and a place where all parts of the social system are inter-related. However, post-modernists argue against this. This is because they see society as complex and increasingly fragmented. Another criticism to functionalists approach to society is from a perspective of Action theorists, they argue that society isn’t structural. They state that individuals create society by their interactions. Wrong, an Action theorist criticises functionalism for having an over socialised and deterministic view on individuals in society. He argues that individuals have free will and aren’t mere puppets whose strings are pulled by the social system.