Assessing the

Theories of
Sociology
Learning Objectives:
1. Differentiate the various social science
theories.
2. Explain the relationship of various social
theories – the consensus/structural
functionalism, conflict theories and
symbolic interactionism.
3. Discuss how the various social theories
affect the functions of the school.
Consensus
Theory
Consensus

• It is a general or widespread agreement among all

members of a particular society.
• It depends on participants having shared values and
goals, and on having broad agreement on specific
issues and overall direction
• It implies that everyone accepts and supports the
decision, and understands the reasons for making it.
• The consensus theory is a sociological
perspective or collection of theories, in
which social order and stability/social
regulation form the base of emphasis.
• It is concerned with the maintenance or
continuation of social order of society, in
relation to accepted norms, values, rules,
and regulations of society
STRUCTURAL
FUNCTIONALIS
M
Structural-Functionalists see education as contributing
to the smooth functioning of society. Educational
systems train the most qualified individuals for the most
socially important positions. Education teaches people
not only the skills and thinking skills to maximize their
potential, but also teaches them to be good citizens and
get along with others. They would NOT see education
as contributing to inequality (along class, race, gender,
etc. lines) but rather as serving the positive function of
the overall society.
 Structural Functionalism states that
society is made up of various institutions
that work together in cooperation.
Parsons’ structural functionalism has four
functional imperatives also known as
AGIL scheme.
 Parsons’ Structural
Functionalism:
 1. A- adaptation
 2. G- goal attainment
 3. I- integration
 4. L- latency
Adaptation
A system must cope with
external situational
exigencies. It must adapt to
its environment and adapt
environment to its needs.
Goal Attainment

A system must define and

achieve its primary goals.
Integration
A system must regulate
the interrelationship of its
component parts.
Latency
A system must furnish,
maintain, and renew both the
motivation of individuals and
the cultural patterns that create
and sustain the motivation.
 Structure of the
General Action System

Cultural Social
System System

Action Personality
System
System
 Action System
Handles adaptation
function by adjusting to
and transforming the
external world
Personality System
Performs the goal attainment
function by defining system goals
and mobilizing resources to attain
them.
 Social System
Copes with the integration by
controlling its component
parts
Cultural System
Performs the latency function
by providing actors with the
norms and values that
motivate them for action.
 Functional
Requisites of a
Social System
1. Social system must be structured so that
they operate compatibility with other
systems.
2. To survive, the social system must have the
requisite from other systems.
3. The system must meet a significant
proportion of the needs of its actor.
4. The system must elicit adequate
participation from its members.
5. It must have at least a minimum of
control over potentially disruptive
behavior.
6. If conflict becomes sufficiently
disruptive, it must be controlled.
7. Finally, a social system requires a
language in order to survive.
KEY PRINCIPLES OF
THE
FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE
1. Interdependency
• Society is made up of
interdependent parts
• Every part of society is
dependent to some extent on
other parts of society
 2. Functions of social structure
and culture
• Each part of the social system exists because it
serves some function
Social structure – organization of society,
including institutions, social positions &
distribution of resources
Culture – set of beliefs, language, rules, values &
knowledge held in common by members of
society
3. Consensus and Cooperation
• Societies have a tendency towards consensus,
that is to have certain basic values that nearly
everyone in the society agrees upon
Cooperation – inability to cooperate will
paralyze the society & people will devote more
and more effort to fighting one another rather
than getting anything done.
4. Equilibrium
• The characteristic of the society when it has
achieved the form that is best adapted to its
situation.
• Once a society has achieved the form that is best
adapted to its situation, it has reached a state of
balance or equilibrium, and it will remain in that
condition until it is forced to change by some new
condition.
The component parts of social
structure:
Families
Neighbors
Associations
Schools
Churches
Banks
Countries
 Parsons believes that education is a vital part of
modern society, a society that differs
considerably from all previous societies.
 Schooling performs an important function in the
development and maintenance of a modern,
democratic society, especially with regard to
equality of opportunity for all citizens.
 Thus, in modern societies education becomes
the key institution in a meritocratic selection
process.
 Education also plays a significant function in the
maintenance of the modern democratic and
technocratic society.
 Schools teach work skills and teach students
how to learn so they may adapt to new work
roles and requirements.
 “If there are four equations and only
three variables, and no one of the
equations is derivable from the others
by algebraic manipulation then there
is another variable missing”

~~~Talcott Parsons~~~
Thank You!