Sociological Perspectives of Functionalism and Conflict

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Sociological Perspectives of Functionalism and Conflict

Introduction

Our society is made up of different classes. These classes ensure that the society works properly by the co-existence of people belonging to different social classes in the society. The society has always been such in that the society is stratified into various classes that may be social, caste-based, or other forms of stratification. However, the most common stratification of the society occurs on the basis of the social classes or varying statuses of the people forming the society. The traditional theorists have almost always principally stratified the society on economic basis, which divides the society into various social classes depending upon their economic status in the society. This stratification is quite rigid and is also termed as conducive for the development of society and for providing the incentives for the members of the society to do transition from one social class to the other. Poverty is also sometimes dubbed as being good to the society despite its various ills as it perpetuates the stratification of the society that is essential for social mobility (Andersen and Taylor, 2008).

Sociological perspectives of functionalism and conflict

Functionalism

Functionalist theorists argue that society is made up of institutions that stand in complete harmony to each other. In addition, these institutions forming the society are essential components of the society and act in collaboration with each other with respect to their interrelatedness. Furthermore, Parsons and Merton argued that the society was held together by cohesion, consensus, cooperation, and stability. They further argued that the society was kept together by these complementary roles of various institutions which manifested social consensus and cooperation. On the other hand, Davis and Moore argue that the most essential part is played by the upper and elite class which provides the management, investment, economic development, and governance for the society. Accordingly, this class is the most rewarded and receives its due share for maintaining the social order in society.

These theorists further argue that social inequality has a very important role to play in the formation and correct working of the society. According to them, certain social classes are the best and require specific sacrifices to be made by the societal members in order to reach those social status or classes. Moreover, Davis and Moore argue that these social classes are the most critical and desired and these higher functional levels accordingly require the level of job training and education for successful transition to these desired social classes (Andersen and Taylor, 2008).

The sociologist, Robert Merton distinguished between the manifest and latent functions of social institutions. He believed that the manifest functions of various social activities were the intended consequences of those activities. However, the latent functions of the institutions were to provide other unintended consequences of these social class activities that were obviously beneficial (Newman, 2008). On the contrary, Parson thought the society was a machine where the individual parts worked in accordance to achieve common goals and provided social ...