SOC-1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Economic System
Document Summary
Society is a complex system of elements called social institutions. Social institutions work together to promote social order: family form, political system, economic system, religion, education system. Each social institution promotes order and contributes to survival. Primary components: society consists of a social structure (stable patterns of behavior, the elements of the structure are linked as to promote survival of the whole, all elements are vital to survival. Every element of social structure has 2 functions . Manifest functions / the recognized and intended functions. Dysfunction: any part of any social structure that persists but does not contribute to the survival of the whole. Since dysfunctions are typically unintended, merton called them latent dysfunctions . Ex) industrial economy, increased standard of living, increased life expectancy. Dysfunctions: it removed the economic advantage of older adults. Assumes society is as good as it can be so why change it. Overlooks the ways social relationships change over time.
