Understanding Structural Functionalism
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Structural Functionalism
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ScribdTranslationsNOTES: STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
TALCOTT PARSONS (1902 - 1979): Theory of action: It originates from the work of Max
Weber on social action. Parson chose the term action because it was different from the
behavior. Behavior implies a mechanical response to stimuli, while action entails a
active mental process and criticizes the caution of explicitly distinguishing the theory of action from
conductism.
Talcott Parsons developed the system of structural functionalism, for the understanding of which it is
indispensable su esquema de nombre. AGIL. Las siglas AGIL se corresponden con lo que
Parsons considered four functional imperatives necessary in any system:
A: Adaptation; every system must encompass external situations. It must adapt to its environment.
and adapt the environment to their needs.
G: (Goal Attainment): Ability to achieve goals; system must define and reach its
fundamental goals.
I: Integration. The system must regulate the integration between its components and with others.
functional imperatives: A, G and L.
L: Latency (Pattern Maintenance). A system must maintain, provide, and renew the
motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that integrate them.
Structural Functionalism:
The main postulates through which structural functionalism seeks to explain the
development of social life are:
1) Establish an analogy between organic life and social life. Use functions as a model.
from biological organisms to apply social organisms.
2) The functions performed by social groups tend to become more specialized,
interdependent and effective as it develops on more complex levels of
organization.
3) The conscious and unconscious actions of individuals provoke a modality and
function of society. this postulate refers to how the action or function that is performed
individual, according to their social status, the prevailing culture, and the social group to which they belong
they form the series of functions that an individual performs within society.
4) For structural functionalism, the important thing is the individuals.
Every social system tends towards equilibrium and stability. The disturbing forces of the system
social are the individuals. conflicts arise from the ideology or psychology of men.
The state is an organization of assistance and administration that benefits the whole society.
In the United States, structural functionalism, despite the dominance it exercised since the
from the 1950s to the 1980s, other propositions and theoretical frameworks also
prosperous, such as 'Symbolic Interactionism', Ethnomethodology or 'Theory of
Social Conflict
In the United States, the supremacy exercised by functionalism for almost three (03) decades
structural, it served to propel a dialogue and an intense debate on the topic of societies.
Today's society has become a complex and multidimensional reality. Understanding the
the events and processes we live through is not an easy task and yet, it is something urgent for
who has to live in a world that is constantly changing and at an increasingly rapid pace
Our society is becoming a difficult problem to understand. The tensions between
declared values and daily practices are evident, the cultural identity of nations is
attempts to reform while inexorably transforming the demands for social equality
new inequalities are originated.
For Parsons, an important social system is society, and it has 4 subsystems that stem from it.
AGIL:
1) The economy (A); Adapts society to the environment through work, production, and distribution.
2) Politics (G); seeks the achievement of goals.
3) The societal community (I); It integrates society as a whole.
4) The fiduciary system (L); transmits cultures, norms, and values.
Structural functionalism is an approach used in certain social sciences,
especially in anthropology and sociology. It assumes that the elements of a
a certain social structure is interdependent with each other.
The general action system contains four subsystems in its structure: the biological or
behavioral organic, cultural, social, and personality. Systems are a set of
ordered elements, interdependent, that remain open to perception of
variables that can modify them. To maintain balance, they perform different functions:
The biological is the organized type species, the adaptation is the function it performs, and it is
carried out by the economic system.
Culture is the set of norms, values, language, and symbols shared and accepted by
society. Its function is the maintenance of norms, so that individuals conform.
to the expectations of the role and internalize the values. The institutions of the educational system
they are the ones that fulfill this function.
El social está compuesto por las formas en que los individuos interactúan recíprocamente. La
The primary function is integration and implies the acceptance of goals and expectations.
socials. The entities legal they have a his cargo this function.
Personality is the set of motivations and orientations of action of the
individuals. Its function is the achievement of goals or ends. It tries to coordinate motivations to
achieve social goals. The units that can channel the aspirations of the
individuals are the political institutions