Functionalism
From English 194 Wiki Site
First theorized by sociologist Emile Durkheim in the early part of the twentieth century, functionalism is a term that explains how a society is formed. Under this theory, it is believed that every social institution and/or group exists to fill a need and to maintain balance. For example, churches and other religious institutions were established under dire social conditions which provided people with a structured faith and answers to their questions. Functionalism asserts that all parts of society serve the whole and work together to maintain a happy stasis. Thus, this theory emphasizes looking at the larger picture, rather than individual acts. Functionalists believe that at the core of every society lies a set of basic values that the rest of the people adhere to. In effect, all social groups work together--collaboratively--in order to survive.
The theory of functionalism was later replaced by a more accepted term, structural-functionalism, when new social movements were on the rise. This theory states that all parts of a society are interdependent, and so it, too, takes a more holistic look at society. The main difference between the two schools of thought is simply that structural-functionalism takes a more methodical approach to a society's sustainability.
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Tiffany Kimoto 14:32, 2 May 2006 (Pacific Daylight Time)
