Social strain theory was developed by famed american sociologist robert k. This article draws and expands upon a contrast between the anomie theories of durkheim and merton. Mertons strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. Durkheim, talcott parsons and robert k merton functionalists suggest that society operates in a similar manner to the human body with each organ or institution performing vital functions. It has its origins in the works of emile durkheim, who was especially interested in how social order is possible or how society remains relatively stable. Parsons 1955 suggested, for example, that a division of labor. The three main sociological perspectives 1 the three main sociological perspectives from mooney, knox, and schacht, 2007. The textranked the third most important sociological book of the 20th century by the international sociological associationalso contains other theories by merton that made him famous within the discipline, including. Merton saw that while many sociological studies focused on either the macrolevel of society as a whole or the microlevel of social interactions, this polarization had failed to fill in the gaps between macro and microlevels. A systematic introduction to functional analysis in the social. This was the context in which the leading proponents of sociological functionalism, talcott parsons and robert merton, came to prominence. Criticisms of parsons systems theory have come from both outside and inside functionalist. Dorothy emmet, in two books, one of which was based on extensive personal contact with robert merton and columbia sociology, provides the closest thing we have to an authorized philosophical defense of merton. Merton 19102003 born of poor jewish immigrant parents from eastern europe, merton has become one of the leading proponents of structural functionalism and influential figures in modern sociology.
This approach looks at society through a macrolevel orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes that society has evolved like organisms. Mertons most popular book is social theory and social structure. Functionalism was a reaction to the perceived excesses and deficiencies of the evolutionary. Pdf an examination of robert king mertons contribution. Merton, american sociologist whose diverse interests included the sociology of science and the professions, sociological theory, and mass communication. Merton social theory and social structure see other formats. His contributions have sparked research on deviant behavior, or studies of criminality.
Merton served as the 47th president of the american sociological association. Mertons signal contribution to functionalism lies in his clarification and codification of functional analysis. World scientific reference on contingent claims analysis in corporate finance. It features a deflationary account of functionalism which dispenses with the idea of general teleological ends.
Merton used the term functions to refer to the beneficial consequences of peoples actions. He also coined many other phrases that have gone into everyday use, such as role model and unintended consequences. Strain refers to the discrepancies between culturally defined goals and the institutionalized means. Starter think of goals that you want to achieve how are you going to achieve those goals. Merton saw that while many sociological studies focused on either the macrolevel of society as a whole or the microlevel of social interactions, this polarization had. Manifest function, latent function, and dysfunction in. Merton is regarded as the founder of the institutionalistic approach of sociology of science, in which he emphasizes the autonomy of academic research. Sociologist robert merton presented ways of looking at functionalism that included the dynamics of change elwell, 20. Within functionalism, the most significant criticisms come from robert k. Because its referents are so diverse including everything from minor working hypotheses, through. Functionalism, as a school of thought in anthropology, emerged in the early twentieth century. Merton s signal contribution to functionalism lies in his clarification and codification of functional analysis. These are functions which people assume and expect the institutions to fulfil.
Evaluate the usefulness of mertons explanations to our understanding of crime and deviance define what is. In order to come up with a satisfactory statement of functional analysis, merton argued that it was necessary to make a distinction between. Robert king merton 19102003 is a selfstyled durkheimian, writing very much in the functional tradition. His presidential address, priorities in scientific discovery. An overview of mertons attempt to marry theory to research.
Robert king merton was a distinguished sociologist perhaps best known for having coined the phrase selffulfilling prophecy. Merton, both world renowned functionalist luminaries in sociology. Robert merton and functionalism robert k merton 19102003. Functions help keep a group society, social system in balance. Merton recognized the problems that sociology, as an academic discipline, had in. This article focuses in the main on three types of functionalism, 1 the teleological theoriza tion of talcott parsons, 2 the reflective methodology of robert merton and 3 the interpretative refor mulation of niklas luhmann with its empirical studies.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This contrast is remarkable in its own right, conspicuous by its absence in the anomie. Merton laid out his theory of manifest function and latent function and dysfunction too in his 1949 book social theory and social structure. Understanding social problems, 5 th edition theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world. Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. According to robert merton manifest functions are those that are intended and recognized. Structural functionalism wikipedia republished wiki 2. Indispensability parsons assumes that everything in society the family, religion and so on is functionally indispensable in its existing form. Structural functional perspective in sociology conflict theory alternative structural functionalism is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology which interprets society as structure with interrelated parts. Talcott parson and robert merton are the central tenets of structuralfunctionalist. Merton has 46 books on goodreads with 7618 ratings. According to calhoun functionalism sometime called structural functionalism refers to the body of theory first developed in the 1930s and 1940s that treats society as a set of interdependent system. This article focuses in the main on three types of functionalism, 1 the teleological theoriza tion of talcott parsons, 2 the reflective methodology of robert merton and 3 the interpretative refor. Merton 19102003, who spent most of his academic career at columbia university, was a major proponent of functionalism, one of the main theoretical perspectives in sociology.
Merton like so many words that are bandied about, the word theory threatens to become meaningless. Structural functionalism 1 structural functionalism structural functionalism, or in many contexts simply functionalism, is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology which sets out to interpret society as a structure with interrelated parts. Article information, pdf download for robert merton and dorothy emmet. Sociological theories of deviance are those that use social context and social pressures to explain deviance. Mertons intervention definitely extended the life of functionalism. Pdf on aug 4, 1910, jeffreyson wahalng and others published robert. If parsons became the unacceptable face of structuralfunctionalism, merton grew into his role as its more subtle and acceptable interpreter. Functionalism addresses the society as a whole in terms of function of its constituent elements such as norms, customs. Merton and other functionalists viewed society as an organism with various. Functionalism and crime mertons strain theory a level sociology. Merton is best known for his theoretical contributions concerning the idea of the social structure and his critique of functionalism. An examination of robert king mertons contribution to the development of the theory of functionalism. Pdf an examination of robert king mertons contribution to the.
Then, we will discuss how robert merton disagrees with the conventional postulates and proposed new changes. Robert merton is a functionalist sociologist who viewed society as a system of functioning parts or structures that, together, create a stable. Functionalism and its critics encyclopedia of life support systems. A chapter in the sociology of science, was delivered on august 28, 1957 at the associations annual meeting in washington, dc.
Robert merton formulates functionalism in a differ. Robert mertons contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society. Mertons version of functionalism has been particularly influential. Robert merton dismissed the organic analogy, but he did maintain the essence of functionalismthe image of society as a whole being composed of parts that work together. It features a deflationary account of functionalism which dispenses. Robert merton and functionalism 19102003 robert merton dismissed the organic analogy, but he did maintain the essence of functionalism the image of society as a whole composed of parts that work together. The selffulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the originally false conception come true. On sociological theories of the middle range 1949 robert k. A sociological approach that looks at society through a macrolevel orientation. Robert merton, pursued a version of parsonss functionalism, but did so in a much more critical way. Robert k merton latent and manifest functions best ias. Despite the fact that, during the 60s and 70s, social tensions exposed weaknesses in its foundational precepts, themes from the structuralfunctionalist school of thought continue to underpin contemporary approaches to organizational and societal. As such, it is a theory that focuses on the macrolevel of social structure, rather than the microlevel of everyday life. Radcliffebrown had the greatest influence on the development of functionalism from their posts in great britain and elsewhere.
He was also more interested in marx than parsons alvin gouldner was. Mertons theorizing emerges as an empirical example of durkheimian ritual anomie prevention practices. This approach looks at society through a macrolevel orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes. Functionalism has also been criticized for justifying the status quo and fostering complacency, 2011. For example schools are expected to educate the children in the knowledge and skills that they need.
In conceiving of society as a system it becomes natural. The functionalist perspective on deviance boundless. A paradigm for functional analysis in sociology find, read and cite. Functionalism is one of the grand narratives of society and the oldest attempt to understand how society might influence social behaviours. An examination of robert king mertons contribution to the development of the theory of functionalism by addo bright department of sociology and social. The functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. Talcott parsons and robert merton sociology homework.
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