SOCI 1000 Chapter 1: Functionalist & Conflict Theory
6 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Values help sociologist formulate and favor certain theories over others. Functionalist theory: stresses that human behaviour is governed by relatively stable patterns of social relations, or social structures. Usually social structures analyzed by functionalists are macrostructures. Ex: durkheim"s emphasis on how suicide rates are influenced by patterns of social solidarity: underlines how social structures maintain or undermine social stability. Durkheim"s more often thought of social solidarity as the moral cement that holds people together: functionalism suggest that re-establishing an equilibrium is the best way to solve most social problems. Ex: durkheim suggested forming associations of employers and workers that would lower worker"s expectations about what they could expect out of life. Identified the way in which institutions must work in order for society to operate smoothly as a whole. Schools teach students skills and values they need to be productive adults.
