Structural Functionalism

Structural Functionalism is a sociological theory that attempts to explain why society functions the way it does by focusing on the relationships between various social institutions that make up society. Societies and social units work together toward the natural working of the system. Societies and social units are, or can be, distinct but adapt to each other. If one or more of the parts conflict with each other, the others must adapt. Key assumptions in structural functionalism are that societies and social units have order and interdependent parts such as a biological organism held together by orderliness. There are a few important sociological terms that are relevant to Structural Functionalism: Function: Each society has certain needs

There can be disturbances, outside of the society, from the normal state of affairs. These disturbances can trigger adjustments in the different parts of society that can return the society to a state of equilibrium. When there is a disturbance within the social world, the different roles and organizations the means to return the society to a more normal state of affairs. One of my favorite show that shows an example of Structural Functionalism is Cops. The basis of Structural Functionalism is that society works in such a fashion that everything will work despite conflict. An example of this would be that crime is normal and laws are put into place to discourage people from committing crimes. In the show Cops they go after people who have broken the law or go to help people who are in need of it. This makes living in society functional for human

They pay the proletariat by paying them much less than what their work is worth. Capitalism: Economic system with private ownership of production and creating of goods. In the show Cops there are many different types of people who get arrested. Although some are rich, poor, black, white, the cops treat them all the same way. In a way the cops act superior to them. I believe the badge gets in their head and they then think they are better than the average person. These cops have a right to throw you on the ground, point a gun at you, and use abusive language when THEY don’t think you are being respectful. To get respect you have to give respect and many cops think they automatically get respect. This can easily disrupt the social structure. Everyone is competing for the same thing- a good life, money, happiness. People achieve this by doing it in different ways. The cops achieve this by having a job and the criminals achieve this (for example) by selling