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Essay / Strengths and Weaknesses of Functionalism Theory
Functionalism can be defined as “structural consensus theory”. Functionalism presents the idea that every aspect of society is necessary for the stability of society as a whole. Emilie Durkheim visualized society as an organism, each element of society has its own roles which are very necessary, but they cannot function alone, this is exactly how the organs of a living organism function. In functionalism, different parts of society are made up of several social institutions each individually designed to meet various needs within society. Economics, religion, government, education, media, and family are very important when it comes to truly understanding the theory of functionalism and the institutions that define sociology. An institution can only exist because it plays an important role in a functioning society. When this institution no longer serves any purpose, it withers and no longer exists. When new needs arise, the current institution will be created to meet the criteria. Value consensus can be defined as the shared values, roles, and norms that we learn through socialization. It also includes shared beliefs about what may be right or wrong. Structured behavior arises from socialization. Global consensus on values helps maintain social order in society. According to meritocracy, everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and also states that you will be rewarded based on your efforts and abilities. This also means that the individuals who achieve the highest rewards do so because they deserve them because they are the most competent and diligent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay One of the strengths of functionalism theory lies in socialization and how social order is achieved through it. Through a set of norms and roles accompanied by the existence of a shared culture shaped by the members of a society, social order is therefore achieved. This allows individuals to pursue goals by following the rules and behaving in the desired manner. This is called consensus of values. The consensus of values allows the social order to be possible because it allows individuals to integrate into the social system and thus manage them to meet the needs of the system. For example, when it comes to socialization in the education system, children learn consensus values as well as shared roles and values. If socialization was not present in the education system, there would be a lack of social solidarity alongside the social order due to society's divided views on what is important in these areas. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of different institutions in society, for example: education, family, religion, etc., as well as the clear structure between them. A weakness of functionalist theory is meritocracy. Meritocracy is based on the concept of rewarding an individual's efforts, in doing so it completely ignores the fact that some people are disadvantaged due to certain circumstances beyond their control. Not everyone starts from the same point. For example, an individual from a working-class background and an individual from a middle-class background will have different life experiences simply because of their origin. When it comes to higher education, a person from a working class background may not have access to..