Functionalism

According to functionalism, society can be understood by examining its functions and interrelationships. Functionalism is a major theoretical perspective in sociology that emphasizes the importance of social order, structure, and stability. It was developed by early sociologists, including Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, and Talcott Parsons.

In order to maintain societal equilibrium, this theoretical framework is often referred to as a structural-functional approach.

The purpose of this comprehensive explanation of functionalism in sociology is to explore its origins, key concepts, assumptions, criticisms, and contemporary applications.

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Functionalism

Known as structural-functional theory, functionalism sees society as an interdependent structure that caters to both biological and social needs of its members. The term functionalism originated with the writings of English philosopher and biologist Hebert Spencer (1820-1903), who saw similarities between society and the human body; he argued that just as the various organs of the human body work together (Spencer 1898) to keep society functioning. A part of society Spencer refers to is the social institutions, or patterns of beliefs and behaviors that address social needs, such as government, education, family, healthcare, religion, and the economy.

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