What Are The Main Concepts Underlying Functionalism? Compare And Contrast The Positions Of Parsons Versus Merton With Respect To These Concepts. Briefly Present Your Critical Opinion Of Either Parsons Or Merton.

FunctionalismFunctionalism is considered single of the oldest theoretical perspectives of sociology and other accessible sciences . The functionalist perspective is plant on the application of the scientific method to the objective warm world and use of an analogy between the private(a) organism and friendship ( HYPERLINK hypertext transfer protocol / entanglement .grinnell .edu /cgi-bin /gfeed .dll ?mcclel grinnell .edu McClelland , equality .1 . Both the tender and physical aspects of the world can be studied with scientific method the use of analogy is used to determine the sociable needs which must be met as headspring as the how they ar met for the existence of a social brass ( compargon .2 . Functionalism focuses on the enculturation of a group or an man-to-man how an individualistic or cultural group functio ns in rules of orderSocialization can be defined as the exploit of acquiring civilization (O Neil , par .1 . During this process an individual learns the roles and deliverys of their conclusion as well as the social norms . Socialization begins at birth , at special common practices ar learned , such as speech , appropriate dress and types of food common in ane s culture (O Neil . Familial roles are learned , such as the mother and father s role in one s culture , and that of the extended family etc . Further into the socialization of an individual , world views are acquired which are complex and exit effect how an individual go away interact in society (2006 . The world view consists of motivations , perceptions and beliefs which an individual acquires during socialization . Two major contributors to the functionalist perspective are Talcott Parsons and Robert K . MiltonParsons has been considered by many as the best-known American sociologist of the fifties and 60s ( HYPERLINK http /www .grinnell .edu /cgi-! bin /gfeed .dll ?mcclel grinnell .edu McClelland , par .5 . morphological functionalism is attributed to Parsons as he viewed society as a collection of strategys within brasss (5 Structural functionalism focuses on the role of norms and values as seen in the process of socialization .

An individual will pursue self-interests while the dodging s interests as a whole will be served as well . The whole world , according to Parsons was system of societies Parsons and equal mind functionalists tend to focus on the predict top executive of an individuals behavior quite than an individuals ability to control his o r her own destiny (par .6 . Robert K . Merton passing disagreed with Parsons theory of structural functionalism , and therefore contributed many supernumerary theories gnarly in functionalism . Un standardized Parsons , Merton s system dealt with the social system as a whole . Merton made a government placard between manifest and latent functions . Manifest functions are ones in which may represent motives of individuals in a social system and latent functions are the unrecognized , unpredictable actions of an individual ( HYPERLINK http /www .grinnell .edu /cgi-bin /gfeed .dll ?mcclel grinnell .edu McClelland , par . Other important theories purposed by Merton include distinguishing functions which are positive and those that are dysfunctional in society as well as those that serve neither . Merton in like manner made theories as to the different levels of...If you want to add a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper. com

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