structural functionalism

E233427

Structural functionalism is a sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose interrelated parts work together to maintain social order and stability.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
structural functionalism canonical 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (52)

Predicate Object
instanceOf macrosociological perspective
social theory
sociological theory
theoretical framework in sociology
aimsToExplain how different parts of society contribute to the whole
analyzes consequences of social practices
functions of social institutions
appliedTo economy
education system
family as a social institution
legal system
religion
associatedWith Robert K. Merton
Talcott Parsons
Émile Durkheim
assumes social change is usually gradual
society tends toward equilibrium
contrastedWith conflict theory
symbolic interactionism
criticizedFor conservatism
difficulty explaining rapid social change
neglecting power inequalities
neglecting social conflict
teleological explanations
developedBy Talcott Parsons
developedIn mid-20th century
distinguishesBetween latent functions
manifest functions
dominantIn American sociology in the 1950s
American sociology in the 1960s
emphasizes interdependence of social institutions
social integration
social order
social stability
value consensus
explains how social institutions contribute to system stability
focusesOn social functions
social structure
hasAlternativeName functionalism
structural-functional analysis
includesConcept functional prerequisites
pattern maintenance
social equilibrium
socialization
system needs
influencedBy Émile Durkheim's concept of social facts
Émile Durkheim's theory of solidarity
methodologicallyAssociatedWith comparative institutional analysis
systems analysis
usesConceptualScheme AGIL paradigm
surface form: AGIL model
viewsSocietyAs a complex system
a system of interrelated parts

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Émile Durkheim influenced structural functionalism
Talcott Parsons movement structural functionalism