Outline of the functionalist theory of society, looks at Durkheim, critique of the theory and the influence it has had.

1. §
Durkheim

2. Today’s Class…
• Brief lecture on Durkheim
• Activity to get us thinking about functionalism

3. Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
• French Sociologist
• Set up the first department of sociology in the world, was the worlds
first professor of sociology.
• Set up the journal L’annee Sociologique

4. Celebrated works
• The Division of Labour in Society (1893)
• The Rules of Sociological Method (1895)
• Suicide (1897)

5. Functionalism key terms
Organic analogy – functionalists see society as like the body, all the
organs must work together for order to be maintained.
Value consensus – an agreement among the masses that something is
good or worthwhile
Social solidarity- a sense of community created through consensus for
Durkheim the family as key in bridging gap between the indivdual and
society and maintaining solidarity.
Anomie- a lack of social norms that causes unrest.

6. The organic analogy
• Functionalists see society as being like a
biological organism, like the human body.
• The body is made up of different cells, bones,
muscles and organs that function together to
meet their own needs but to also maintain
the body as a whole.
• Society functions in the same way, with social
institutions being the organs of society,
working together to maintain social order.

7. The division of labour (1893)
• Comparison of hunter/gatherer and modern societies.
• From low division to high division.
• Labour becomes more divided organic solidarity is increased.
• The division of labour has moral and social functions.

8. Solidarity and Consensus
Solidarity
- Mechanical solidarity is evident in primitive societies, involves the sharing
of practical means to maintain order.
- Organic Solidarity is evident in modern societies, move from the practical to
the sharing of moral and social consensus.
Consensus
- Society rests on consensus of the masses to run smoothly.
- Consensus is maintained through the division of labour, socialisation and
solidarity (all concepts are interconnected and influence one another).

9. Anomie
• Loss of norms, which results in a lack of moral framework to regulate
collective and individual life.
• Sense of listlessness.
• Anomie as a failure of modern society to move effectively from
mechanical to organic solidarity.
• Example in Suicide (1897) of rising divorce rates causing anomie and
increased suicide.

10. Critique
• Overemphasis on consensus.
• Ignores freedom of choice.
• Socialisation as overly positive.
• Does not highlight inequality or power imbalance.

11. Influence
Talcott Parsons (1920-1979)
Saw socialisation as the absolute key to maintaining order in society,
focussed on the family as an important social institution for
socialisation to be reproduced.
Merton (1910-2003)
Refined Durkheims concept of anomie and applied it to deviance.

12. Activity
Thinking about the organic analogy (the idea that society functions like
the body), make notes on the following;
• What different institutions are there in society?
• Why are they there? What functions do they perform?
• How do these functions aid society (and individuals)
• Draw a diagram showing how these institutions are linked.
Be ready to feedback your ideas to the group.