The analysis used to describe functionalism is often compared to the working of the human body. Therefore, if you describe how the human body works, you can compare society to the same system. Each part of the body i.e. the heart/family, lungs/workplace and brain/government, have a particular job to fulfil within the overall system. However, you need them to be working in conjunction for the system to work properly. In a similar way it is the contribution we make within our society, which enable us to flourish. The various parts of the society, such as the family or religion must be seen in relation to society as a whole. (Haalambos and Halborn, 5th Edition, 2001,page 9)
Most functionalist agree that society is structured and that the majority of the citizens are bound by a set of rules (the expected norms and behaviours). For instance how we behave in public, at work or in social situations. Even how we behave within our own homes is governed by the set norms and values. They are beliefs that we have learned to respect from an early age. Things we are taught as children, that we go on to instil in our own children.
Functionalists see conflict and disagreement as minor disturbances within society. They seem to be of the school of thought that sees that the different groups within society will always have minor disagreements, as we all have different interests and needs. However, they also claim that we as a society governed mainly by the consensus theory will eventually be able to resolve them for the good of society.
Value consensus can be best understood by explaining that all societies have some basic needs and requirements that are needed for the society to survive. Social order requires a certain degree of co-operation to maintain the Status Quo.
As most of our values and norms are gained by socialisation and social interaction within the different social groups, it can be assumed that our values are learned from peer groups. Functionalists believe that all social groups will benefit if their society runs smoothly and prospers. (Haralambos and Holborn, 5th Edition, 2001, page 11). If society as a whole prosper we all benefit, thus leading to a more harmonious society in general.
Tallcott Parsons is quoted as saying that the main task of sociology is to examine the institutionalisation patterns of value orientation. We place great emphasis on socialisation therefore transmitting our values and norms to the next generation. (Haralambos and Holborn, 5th Edition, 2001, page 10).
Marxism like functionalism is concerned with the overall picture of society. Marxism is seen as a conflict theory, Mainly because they see the primary interests of society as a whole as being made up of conflicting groups with conflicting interests or beliefs.
We are a very materialistic society. A society made up of those who have, and those who have not. Marxists sociologists say that there will never be true social harmony because there are too many inequalities within our cultural society.
Marx gave names to the haves and have nots, they are known as the Bourgeoise and the Proletariats. One way of assessing the power of the upper class is through the study of elites (people who fill the top positions in each of the major institutions of society); most of the sociological debates have centered on economic elites and political elites. (Sociology in focus 5th Edition, 2000, page 53)
The main question asked by Marxist sociologists is how we all can benefit equally and how can we get rid of the social inequalities present in our society.
They differ form functionalists in the way that they see the difference. Marxist sociologists see them as being persistent and not just as a temporary state of affairs to be overcome. Their theories state that for the superstructure to be effective, the infrastructure must function effectively, therefore any changes no matter how small, within the infrastructure will reflect in the superstructure causing severe change and possible disturbances. If production costs rise then this will have a snowball effect. By this I mean the cost of the product will go up leading to less of the product being purchased, maybe leading to cuts in working hours and eventually wage reductions.
Marxists say that society is based on exploitation and that this in turn leads to conflicts of interest. Unlike functionalists Marxists do not believe that social order is reached through a value consensus, but a false ideology.
Karl Marx is quoted as saying ideology is a distortion of reality, it binds members of society to the contradictions and conflicts of interest that are built into their society’s. (Haralambos and Holborn, 5th Edition, 2002, page 13)
It has been likened to a smokescreen, in that it gives a false consciousness and sense of security. It seems to lead the proletariats to believe that if they overcome the hierarchy Bourgeoise they can eventually attain the same material rewards.
The Marxist view is very deterministic in the way that it sees society as a system. They believe that we are labelled as soon as we are born, mother, son, father, Dr, Lawyer etc. there can be little or no deviation once our path is decided. They place a lot of emphasis on the role that is already occupied by the person within societies, rather than the one you could attain given the chance. They lay the blame on the Bourgeoise society wanting to keep the people down. They do not take into account the fact that we have freewill and are able to make life-changing decisions.
Marx believed that capitalisation ran hand in hand with the class structures that are already present in society i.e. Capitalists must keep the workers down for their own gratification and profit. This may seem a very biased opinion as it seems to be based on the idea that the workforce have no control over his or her own destiny’s. They cannot control what is required of them at work or how much they get paid for their labours.
Marx also believed that the class conflict would worsen as time went by. His main hope was that we would eventually live in a classness society.
Social Action Theory is often described as the alternative theory to the other two. We must try and imagine that each individual and the social groups that they belong to define who they are, as opposed to taking into account the overall view. Social Actionists see people as individuals who have a right to react as and how they wish. They say that how we react with each other in our society is largely up to us as individual social being.
Social Action Theory is A social perspective that focuses on the meaning and intensions that underpin human actions. Social active perspectives are concerned with the way in which the human actively and creatively interprets the world around them. Rather than the external forces which could be used as a guide (Giddens 4th Edition, 2001, page 698)
We all make choices within our own lives in other words, from what we eat to when we sleep, where we live and who to talk to. According to Weber. Individuals have the abilty to act freely. We should not be bound by outside constraints (Giddens 4th Edition,2001, page 13)
