Structural functionalism is a leading trend in sociology. It was very carefully developed in the works of T. Parsons and R. Merton. Consider their concepts in more detail.
T. Parsons, a leading professor at the Harvard School of Sociology, went down in the history of science as the creator of a new direction. Structural functionalism in his works is very carefully and in detail developed. The main provisions that he formulated are as follows.
- Structural functionalism asserts that social actions are the unity of three subsystems: the subject of action, a specific situation and value-normative prescriptions as a condition for action. As a result, a self-organizing complex is formed, which is characterized by voluntarism, normativity and symbolism.
- Within its framework, a special system of analysis of the system of actions was developed. As a result, a four-functional scheme is formed, which is capable of analytically dividing society into four subsystems: a behavioral organism, personality, culture, and social system.
- T. Parsons paid considerable attention to the stability and sustainability of the complex. For the normal development and existence of a social system, it will be necessary to perform specific functions. It is about adapting to the environment; achievement; integration, coordination of all elements; maintaining standards, rules and designs.
- Parsons structural functionalism argues that adaptation requires an economic subsystem. Its functions are goal-achievement, integration with other bodies and maintaining a system of norms. In addition, the organs of socialization are of great importance.
- Numerous societies existing in modern times are not some random varieties. This is a whole system, its parts are differentiated from each other, but at the same time they are integrated on the basis of interdependence.
- The modern type of society can only arise in the evolutionary zone. At present, it is the West.
R. Merton's structural functionalism is aimed at the analysis of social systems at an average level. It is based on slightly different bases than in the concept of T. Parsons. Because the latter focused only on their functions and the functionality of systems and structures that provide social order. Merton, on the other hand, devoted his attention to dysfunctions and dysfunctionality, which lead to increased tension, contradictions, and disturbances in order in society. In this case, we are talking about poor adaptation of its basic structures.
The central position of his concept is the doctrine of the forms of the emergence of functions - hidden and explicit. The first arises when it comes to the unconscious and unintended consequences of social actions, and the second about intentional and objective.
R. Merton paid special attention to the development of the theory of anomalies and deviant behavior. Their appearance to scientists is considered as the result of a crisis, disorder, disorder and dysfunctionality in the social system. The determining factors are the decomposition of moral values and the distortion of ideals in the individual and public consciousness. He studied in detail the sociology of professions, medicine, and science.
The theory of functionalism R. Merton identifies five types of adaptation:
- conformism, when social goals and ways to achieve a person are fully accepted;
- innovativeness, when only social goals are comprehended;
- ritualism when ways of achievement are recognized;
- retritism denies both;
- rebellion implies the presence of protest.