CRIM 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Talcott Parsons, Edwin Sutherland, Drug Culture
15 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Anomie theories and subculture theories related to structuralism. Popular sociological perspective from the late 1930s into 1960s. Functionalist approach draws parallel between the social order and organic life. Society seen as series of integrated parts, each working to ensure the continuation of the organism. One of first to view society as functional mechanism, greater than its component parts. Used terms like elements, organs, and tissues to describe society. Durkheim said a certain amount of crime was normal found in all societies. Crime and punishment maintained the society"s fundamental values and preserved its moral order. The structure of social action (1937: focus on power and structure in society. Adaptation = society had to adapt to its environment to obtain certain resources necessary for its survival. Goal attainment = society had to define/prioritize its goals, and then strive to achieve them. Integration = society had to regulate/coordinate the interrelationships of its subsystems.
