Functionalists think in terms of systems. Rather than seeing things in isolation
ID: 3455345 • Letter: F
Question
Functionalists think in terms of systems. Rather than seeing things in isolation, functionalists and the heirs to this tradition see how they are related to other parts of the same system and, specifically, how the parts of society contribute to the well-being of one another To apply these assumptions to a real-work example, consider health care in the United States. Of the vast sums spent on health care for the elderly, some goes into medical research. The discoveries of medical researchers help not only the elderly but children and adults of all ages.
Consider that functionalism is not only systemic but also works backward to explain phenomena in terms of their functions. From this perspective it can be viewed that the U.S. healthcare system embodies its particular institutions precisely because they contribute to medical research and help children and adults.
With reference to this example and one other of your choosing, evaluate the position that functionalism is inherently conservative insofar as it tends to be supportive of the status quo.
Explanation / Answer
The functionalist perspective emphasizes that good health and effective medical care are essential for a society’s ability to function. Health within the functionalist perspective thus becomes a prerequisite for the smooth functioning of society which motivates the researchers to provide studies and also various treatments for the elderly and the children. From a functionalist perspective, good health and medical care are necessary for the smooth running of society. Therfore,healthcare professionals and systems also play the important role of treating patients and returning them to a good state of health such that they can serve as functional members of society once again. Functionalists have dismissed the idea that religion can cause social change in society. They believe that religion acts as a conservative force, i.e. that it prevents social change. However, if any change is going to happen, it will be changes in society that shape religion. Religion as a conservative force can be defined in two ways; the first way of defining religion as a conservative force is to refer to religion as preventing change and maintaining the status quo. The functionalist perspective provide arguments to support this definition of religion as a conservative force. Functionalist Emile Durkheim supports the idea of religion as a conservative force with the idea of a collective conscience, which is the shared morals and beliefs which unite society. Durkheim believed “religion promotes social solidarity, which unites into one single moral community.” Another key idea by functionalists to support the argument that religion acts as a conservative force is how religion supports society through times of life crisis. Religion helps people cope during times of crisis such as death or puberty by having rituals to surround these events to help people cope, which in turn helps prevent radical change. Functionalists supports the idea that religion is a conservative force because it maintains social order. Individuals are hit by events that they cannot control or foresee therefore religion helps to maintain the social order through these times. It will help to restore the equilibrium of society, therefore preventing change and maintaining the status quo. Religion as a conservative force can be to refer to religion maintaining traditional beliefs and customs, whilst also maintaining the status quo. This can be applied to the example of fundamentalist groups using their religion as a conservative force.
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