STRUCTURAL

FUNCTIONALIST
THEORY
LEADER: REYNALDO PALEN, JR.

MEMBERS: ABILAINE CASTILLO

HIPOLITO CLAVECILLAS
MARGIE PATAPAT
HBSE 5 - GROUP 1
 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL
THEORY

 a theoretical approach that sees

society as a complex and
interconnected system whose
individual parts work in concert to
promote stability and harmony in
the system as a whole.
 FUNCTIONALISM
 says that the individual is the product of society.

 also called structural-functional theory, sees society as a

structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the
biological and social needs of the individuals in that
society.
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(1858-1917)
 was one of the founders of sociology. In this view, society
is made up of various institutions, each of which has a
useful function. So Durkheim and his followers are known
as functionalist.
 he explain how societies change and survive over time. He
believed that society is a complex system of interrelated
and interdependent parts that work together to maintain
stability and that society is held together by shared
values, languages, and symbols.
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(1858-1917)
 he believed that to study society, a sociologist must look
beyond individuals to social facts such as laws, morals,
values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals and all
cultural rules that govern social life.
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(RESEARCH ON SUICIDE)
 Durkheim defined suicide as “Death resulting directly or
indirectly from a positive or negative act of the victim
himself, which he knows will produce this result.’’
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(RESEARCH ON SUICIDE)
EGOISTIC SUICIDE
- Low social integration
- Group solidarity declined
- Excessive individualism
- Vulnerable groups:
Urban dwellers
Industrial workers
Protestants
Unmarried men
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(RESEARCH ON SUICIDE)
ALTRUISTIC SUICIDE
- High social integration
- Excessive integration into group
- Completely absorbed by group
- Duty to commit suicide for group

Example:
 Observed more in less civilized societies.
 One group in modern society army.
 EMILE DURKHEIM
(RESEARCH ON SUICIDE)
ANOMIC SUICIDE
- Low social regulation
- Breakdown of moral community
- No rules or vague rules.

Example:
 Adolescents

 Older white men

 EMILE DURKHEIM
(RESEARCH ON SUICIDE)
FATALISTIC SUICIDE
- Excessive social controlled
- Too tightly controlled
- Few choices

Example:
 Slaves

 Very young husbands

 Married women when divorce is not available.
 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL
APPROACH
Two key components:

1. Social Structure – repeated and routine-like pattern of

social interaction or social behaviour.

2. Social Function – mechanisms by which the structures

of society are maintained.
STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL
APPROACH

SOCIAL STRUCTURE SOCIAL FUNCTION

RELIGION PEOPLE
 FUNCTIONALIST

Functionalist looked at
how institutions in a
society work and how
they affect individuals.

THE FAMILY – has the

functions of socializing
children.
 FUNCTIONALIST

EDUCATION – has the

functions of preparing
young people for
adult society.
 FUNCTIONALIST

RELIGION – has the

function of uniting
society through
shared beliefs.
 FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE

FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE

 is primarily concern
with why a society
assumes a particular
form.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
1. INTERDEPENDENCY – is that
society is made up of
interdependent parts. This
means that every part of
society is dependent to some
extent on other parts of
society, so that what happens
at on place in society has
important effects elsewhere.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE

EXAMPLE:
 Economic interdependence is a system by which many
companies and nations are economically dependent
upon each other.
 For example, North Korea is a nation that does not
trade with most of the world; due to its lack of
economic interdependence, it's among the most
economically depressed nations in the world.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
2. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE – this
principles is applied both social structure and culture.

a) SOCIAL STRUCTURE – refers to the organization of

society, including its institutions, its social positions,
and its distribution of resources.
 Examples of social structure include family, religion, law,
economy, and class. Thus, social structures significantly
influence larger systems, such as economic systems, legal
systems, political systems, cultural systems, etc.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
b) CULTURE – refers to a set of beliefs, language, rules,
values, and knowledge held in common by members of
a society.

Culture is the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other

characteristics shared by groups of people.
Some cultures place significant value in things such as
ceremonial artifacts, jewelry, or even clothing.
For example, Christmas trees can be considered
ceremonial or cultural objects.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
3. CONSENSUS AND COOPERATIONS – is that societies have
a tendency toward consensus; that is to have certain
basic values that nearly everyone in the society agrees
upon.

 Consensus is a group discussion where everyone's opinions

are heard and understood, and a solution is created that
respects those opinions. Consensus is not what everyone
agrees to, nor is it the preference of the
majority. Consensus results in the best solution that the
group can achieve at the time.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
4. EQUILIBRIUM – this view holds that, 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.

Equilibrium is the state in which market supply and demand

balance each other, and as a result, prices become stable.
Generally, an over-supply of goods or services causes prices
to go down, which results in higher demand. The balancing
effect of supply and demand results in a state
of equilibrium.
 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
 Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the
social world in which we live in.

 The Functionalist Perspective is based largely on the

works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott
Parsons, and Robert Merton.
 FAMOUS SOCIOLOGIST

HERBERT SPENCER EMILE DURKHEIM TALCOTT PARSONS ROBERT MERTON

April 27, 1820 – April 15, 1858 – December 13, July 04, 1910 –
December 08, November 15, 1902 – May 08, February 23, 2003
1903 1917 1979
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
 According to Functionalism, society is a system of
interconnected parts that work together in harmony to
maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for
the whole.

 The Functionalists perspective emphasizes the

interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each
part influences and is influenced by other parts.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
Functionalists use the terms
functional and dysfunctional to
describe the effects of social
elements on society.

 Elements of society are

FUNCTIONAL if they
contribute to social stability.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
 They are DYSFUNCTIONAL if
they disrupt social stability.

 Some aspects of society can be

BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND
DYSFUNCTIONAL.
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
Sociologists have identified TWO TYPES OF FUNCTIONS:

 Manifest; and
 Latent (Merton, 1968)
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
MANIFEST FUNCTIONS

 are consequences that are intended and commonly

recognized.
 are consequences of a social process that are sought or
anticipated.
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
(THE FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE)
LATENT FUNCTIONS

 are consequences that are unintended and often hidden.

 are unsought consequences of a social process.
SHORT ANIMATED FILM
THANK YOU
QUIZ
1) Give the two (2) key components of Structural-Functional Approach.
(2pts)
2) Give at least four (4) social facts that govern social life. (4pts)
3) Explain FUNCTIONAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL. (3pts)
4) Which of the following statements are true? (1pt)
A. Structural functional theory uses a macro-level orientation.
B. Structural functional theory is focused on individual interactions in
society.
C. Structural functional theory sees society as a complex and
interconnected machine.
D. Both A and C
E. All of the above are true.
5) What have you learned about the lesson today? (5pts)