The Functions

of culture
 What
is
culture?
Learning Targets
Culture in the context of…

01 02

FUNCTIONALISM CONFLICT ANALYSIS

 Functionalism
Functionalists view society as a system in which all parts work
or function together to create society as a whole.

They also study culture in terms of values.

Cultural norms function to support the fluid operation of

society, and cultural values guide people in making choices.
 Examples of this
perspective

LIFESTYLE CAREER AND Political & social

CHOICES EDUCATION engagement
Cultural values can Cultural values often inform
Cultures emphasize certain individuals' political and social
influence lifestyle choices,
professions or fields of study views, influencing their choices
such as dietary
based on their values and in terms of political affiliations,
preferences, clothing, and
beliefs. activism, and community
leisure activities.
involvement.
Family
The family unit is seen as a
fundamental social institution that
provides for the physical and
emotional needs of its members,
and also reproduces and socializes
new generations.
Economic
system
Economic systems such as capitalism
and socialism are seen as functional in
that they provide for the basic needs of
society, although they differ in the way
they do so. Cultural values and beliefs
can influence people's work ethic and
attitudes toward productivity.
 Conflict
analysis
The social-conflict approach stresses the
link between culture and inequality.

Conflict theorists view social structure as

inherently unequal, based on power
differentials related to issues like class,
gender, race, and age. For a conflict
theorist, culture is seen as reinforcing
issues of "privilege" for certain groups
based upon race, sex, class, and so on.
 Examples

SENIOR LGBTQ+
WOMEN COUPES
CITIZENS
Why do certain
values
dominate a
society in the
first place?
Social-conflict theory, then, is rooted in the
philosophical doctrine of materialism, which
holds that a society’s system of material
production (such as our own capitalist economy)
has a powerful effect on the rest of a culture.

EXAMPLE:
dependence on technology in rich nations versus a
lack of technology and education in poor nations.
Social-conflict analysis ties
our cultural values of
competitiveness and material
success to our country’s
capitalist economy, which
serves the interests of the
nation’s wealthy elite.
It suggests that cultural
systems do not address
human needs equally, allowing
some people to dominate
others.
 2 EXAMPLES IN THE
UNITED STATES

CIVIL RIGHT’S MOVEMENT WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

 2 EXAMPLES IN THE
UNITED STATES

CIVIL RIGHT’S MOVEMENT WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

Thank You for
listening