robert merton structural functional theory

In modern, complex societies members perform very different tasks, meaning that a strong interdependence develops between them. Durkheim proposed that such societies tend to be segmentary, being composed of equivalent parts that are held together by shared values, common symbols, or, as his nephew Mauss held, systems of exchanges. In 'primitive' societies it was mechanical solidarity, the fact that everybody performed similar tasks, that held society together. He sought to explain social cohesion and stability through the concept of solidarity. Durkheim was concerned with the question how societies maintain internal stability and survive over time. Structural-functionalism drew its inspiration primarily from the ideas of Emile Durkheim, Bronisław Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown. 2 Structural functionalism and unilineal descent.His analysis of it, in terms of function and structure, drew examples from the British anthropologists. In 'Social Theory and Social Structure' (1949/1957) Robert Merton called this 'A Paradigm for Functional Analysis in Sociology'. It could be argued that the term 'structural functionalism' emerged as a retrospective description of the theories of the British anthropologists and as a description of the emerging sociological research paradigm in the United States. 'the systematisation of theory in the present state of knowledge must be in structural-functional terms'. In the United States, Talcott Parsons published The Social System in 1951 ,in which he wrote that In Britain, the collected essays of Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881-1955) were published in 1952Īs 'Structure and Function in Primitive Society'.

The term structural functionalism has origins in British anthropology and US sociology. Structural functionalism emphasizes the aspects of social institutions and behavior that are conducive to stability and order within society. Structural functionalism is a range of theoretical perspectives within anthropology and sociology that addresses the relationship of social activity to an overall social system. This banner appears on articles that are weak and whose contents should be approached with academic caution. Please help recruit one, or improve this page yourself if you are qualified. This article is in need of attention from a psychologist/academic expert on the subject.

Robert merton structural functional theory