Structural functionalism is the leading trend in sociology. It was very carefully developed in the works of T. Parsons and R. Merton. Let's consider their concepts in more detail.
T.Parsons - a leading professor of the sociology department of Harvard entered the history of science as the creator of a new direction. Structural functionalism in his works is very carefully and thoroughly developed. The main points that he formulated were as follows.
- Structural functionalism asserts thatsocial actions are the unity of the three subsystems: the subject of the action, the specific situation and the value-normative prescriptions as a condition for the action. As a result, a self-organizing complex is formed, which is characterized by voluntarism, normative and symbolic.
- Within its framework, a special system was developed.analysis of the system of actions. As a result, a four-functional scheme is formed, which is able to analytically divide society into four subsystems: the behavioral organism, the personality, the culture and the social system.
- T.Parsons paid considerable attention to the problem of stability and stability of the complex. For the normal development and existence of the social system, it will be necessary to perform specific functions. It is about adaptation to the environment; the goal; integration, coordination of activities of all elements; maintenance of norms, rules and designs.
- Структурный функционализм Парсонса утверждает, that an economic subsystem is necessary for adaptation. Its functions are goal achievement, integration with other bodies and the maintenance of a system of norms. In addition, the organs of socialization are of great importance.
- Numerous existing in modern timessocieties are not some random varieties. This is a whole system, parts of it 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. Currently it is the West.
Structural functionalism R.Merton aims to analyze social systems at the middle level. It is based on slightly different grounds than in the concept of T. Parsons. Since the latter focused only on their functions and the functionality of the systems and structures that provide social order. Merton also paid attention to dysfunctions and dysfunctionality, which lead to an increase in tension, contradictions, disturbances of order in society. In this case, it is a question of poor adaptation of its main structures.
The central position of his concept isthe doctrine of the forms of occurrence of functions - hidden and explicit. The first arises when it comes to the unconscious and unintended consequences of social actions, and the second about the deliberate and objective.
Особое внимание Р.Merton devoted the development of the theory of anomalies and deviant behavior. Their appearance is viewed by scientists as the result of manifestations of crisis, discord, disorder and dysfunctionality in the social system. Determining factors are the decomposition of moral values and the distortion of ideals in the individual and social consciousness. He studied in detail the sociology of the professions, medicine and science.
The theory of functionalism R. Merton identifies five types of adaptation:
- conformism, when social goals and ways of achieving a person are fully accepted;
- innovativeness when only social goals are comprehended;
- ritualism when ways of achievement are recognized;
- retritism rejects both;
- mutiny implies a protest.
