Structural functionalism is the leading trend in sociology.It has been carefully developed in the works of Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton.Consider their concepts in more detail.
T. Parsons - a leading professor of the Faculty of Sociology at Harvard entered the history of science as the creator of a new direction.Structural functionalism in his works very carefully and thoroughly developed.The main provisions, which have been formulated to them, are as follows.
- Structural functionalism claims that social action is the unity of three subsystems: the subject of the action, a certain situation and value-regulatory requirements as a condition of the action.The result is a self-organizing complex that different volyuntaristichnostyu, regulatory and symbolism.
- Within its framework, have developed a special system for analysis of action.The result is a four-function circuit that is capable of analytically divided society into four subsystems: the behavioral organism, the personality, culture and social system.
- T. Parsons considerable attention to the problem of stability and the stability of the complex.For normal development and existence sotsisistemy will need to perform specific functions.This is an adaptation to the environment;tseledostizheniya;integration and coordination of all the elements;maintaining the norms, rules and patterns.
- structural functionalism of Parsons argues that the need to adapt the economic subsystem.Its functions are tseledostizheniya, integration with other authorities and maintaining standards.In addition, the importance of socialization agencies operate.
- with today many societies are not some random species.This - the whole system, part of its differentiated from each other, but at the same time, they are integrated on the basis of the interdependence.
- modern type of society is able to occur only in the evolutionary area.At the present time - is the West.
R. Merton Structural functionalism focuses on the analysis sotssistem average.It is based on somewhat different grounds than in the concept of Talcott Parsons.Since the latter focuses only on their features and functionality of the systems and structures that provide social order.Merton also devoted his attention dysfunction and dysfunctional, which lead to an increase in tensions, conflicts, violations of order in society.In this case we are talking about a bad adaptation of its basic structures.
Central to his concept is the doctrine of the forms of appearance of functions - covert and overt.The first arises when it comes to the unconscious and unintended consequences of social action, and the second - deliberate and objective.
Particular attention is paid to the development of R. Merton theory of anomalies and deviant behavior.Their appearance scientist regarded as the result of manifestations of the crisis, the disorder, the disorder and dysfunctional social system.The determining factor is the expansion of moral values and ideals in the distortion of individual and social consciousness.He studied in detail the sociology of professions, medicine and science.
theory functionalist Robert Merton identifies five types of adaptation:
- conformism, when public goals and ways to reach a man fully accepted;
- innovation when comprehended only social goals;
- ritualism when recognized ways to achieve;
- retritizm denies that, and another;
- revolt implies a protest.
