Functionalism Functionalist Perspective and Theory

The functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. It has its origins in the works of Emile Durkheim, who was especially interested in how social order is possible or how society remains relatively stable. As such, it is a theory that focuses on the macro-level of social structure, rather than the micro-level of everyday life. Notable theorists include Herbert Spencer,  Talcott Parsons, and Robert K. Merton. Emile Durkheim The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of a society forms a determinate system with a life of its own. It can be termed the collective or creative consciousness. The Division of Labour (1893) Theory Overview Functionalism posits that society is more than the sum of its parts; rather, each aspect of it works for the stability of the whole. Durkheim envisioned society as an organism since each component plays a necessary role but cant function alone. When one part experiences a crisis, others must adapt to fill the void in some way. In functionalist theory, the different parts of society are primarily composed of social institutions, each designed to fill different needs. Family, government, economy, media, education, and religion are important to understanding this theory and the core institutions that define sociology. According to functionalism, an institution only exists because it serves a vital role in the functioning of society. If it no longer serves a role, an institution will die away. When new needs evolve or emerge, new institutions will be created to meet them. In many societies, the government provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes the state depends on to keep running. The family relies on the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so they can raise and support their own families. In the process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who support the state. From the functionalist perspective, if all goes well, the parts of society produce order, stability, and productivity. If all does not go well, the parts of society must adapt to produce new forms of order, stability, and productivity. Functionalism emphasizes the consensus and order that exist in society, focusing on social stability and shared public values. From this perspective, disorganization in the system, such as deviant behavior, leads to change because societal components must adjust to achieve stability. When one part of the system is dysfunctional, it affects all other parts and creates social problems, prompting social change. Functionalist Perspective in American Sociology The functionalist perspective achieved its greatest popularity among American sociologists in the 1940s and 50s. While European functionalists originally focused on explaining the inner workings of social order, American functionalists focused on discovering the purpose of human behavior. Among these American functionalist sociologists was Robert K. Merton, who divided human functions into two types: manifest functions, which are intentional and obvious, and latent functions, which are unintentional and not obvious. The manifest function of attending a place of worship, for instance, is to practice ones faith as part of a religious community. However, its latent function may be to help followers learn to discern personal values from institutional ones. With common sense, manifest functions become easily apparent. Yet this is not necessarily the case for latent functions, which often demand a sociological approach to be revealed. Antonio Gramsci. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Critiques of the Theory Many sociologists have critiqued functionalism because of its neglect of the often negative implications of social order. Some critics, like Italian theorist Antonio Gramsci, claim that the perspective justifies the status quo and the process of cultural hegemony that maintains it. Functionalism does not encourage people to take an active role in changing their social environment, even when doing so may benefit them. Instead, functionalism sees agitating for social change as undesirable because the various parts of society will compensate in a seemingly organic way  for any problems that may arise. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Should Children Have A Special Need - 1676 Words

Should children in today’s world who have a special need or don’t have a special need be held back in school? Should they be the one’s who are responsible for not reaching academic proficiency due to having a disability or unable to reach grade level standards? The No Child Left Behind Act gives all children a fair, equal chance to reach the minimum proficiency on standard academic assessments that they are expected to take whether they have a disability or not. The current talk among professionals is that they believe that these assessments deal with the amount of student’s graduating high school and the choice of public schools. Not only are these assessments being given to students to test their knowledge, they are given to see the†¦show more content†¦This also applies to children with special needs or disabilities and requires special education (LD Online). The No Child Left Behind act is to raise academic achievement in all students, and to close the achievement gap between student’s who do poorly and those who do very well. According to Margret Spellings who the is the U.S. Secretary of Education, states have additional alternatives and flexibility in testing special education students who struggle to reach grade level standards (ASHA Leader 10.6). The new guidelines for No Child Left Behind called â€Å"Raising Achievement†, will allow states to use modified tests for students with disabilities along with academic disabilities. This will give the children who need more time and instruction to make progress towards their grade level achievement. This guideline is supposed to help the students who fall within the achievement gap or for the children who don’t qualify because of their disabilities (ASHA Leader 10.6). States struggle testing children who often fail the grade level assessments. The current regulations allow up to one percent of students who are being tested for the assessments, are allowed to take an alternate test. All these guidelines form a â€Å"common sense† approach, which simply implements the law. Not all children should be treated alike; they all learn differently and have different academic needs, this approach focuses on the

Roses free essay sample

For centuries flowers to peoples feelings, love and affection reflects. It is an undisputed fact that roses of emotions are the most beautiful form of expression. Roses are precious than other ornamental shrubs because, not only the beauty of flowers is also effective in color. Roses can be classified into three main categories on the basis of meaning of colors: red roses, white roses and yellow roses. The red roses are the first type of rose that is a symbol of love, romance and passion. In the 18th century, a special rose language evolved as a means of communication between lovers who were forced by society to keep their feelings a secret and the red rose came to symbolize true love that would stand the test of time. Staunchly promising affection that is forever riding high is what the red rose means. The red rose denotes a true love that is stronger than thorns and can outlive all obstacles. We will write a custom essay sample on Roses or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The red rose, especially, a single red rose simply expresses, I love you very deeply. However, bright red roses are interpreted as the ultimate expression of romantic and abiding love. Their bright red shade expresses these emotions perfectly. The second type, white roses, has always been synonymous with purity and virtue. And so, sincerity and purity are some of the obvious meanings of a white rose. White has ever been a symbol of innocence, of a world unspoiled and untarnished. The meaning of a bunch of glowing white roses is innocence and spiritual love. Therefore, the white rose glorifies a love that is unaware of the temptations of the flesh and resides only in the soul. The white bouquet has been a tradition since Queen Victoria’s wedding in l840. Thus, it was in this romantic era that gentlemen started sending flowers to their lady friends to denote special meanings. Therefore, the white rose is the queen of the bridal bouquet. The final type, yellow roses express joy, gladness, and friendship. They send out an equally alluring message in unassuming charm and sweet simplicity. Unbridled joy is another meaning of a yellow rose. Therefore, yellow roses are often congratulatory in tone. Yellow roses are given to celebrate new beginnings. These delicate flowers proudly laud an accomplishment, a consummation or a fulfillment. Another truly wonderful meaning of a yellow rose is that it indicates a determination to start anew, to begin afresh. A rift, a misunderstanding, or a quarrel that needs to be mended, these are all set right by yellow roses. The color yellow was interpreted as a pale color during the early Victorian period. Thus, they had shades of negative meanings ranging from lukewarm affection to jealousy. In conclusion, red, white and yellow are the three main types of roses. It seems that they are either never talk or they use color language of roses to give a sense of meaning provided that people remain under feelings.