Parsons: The Social System

A. Identifying norms operating in a situation As a group, agree on a particular everyday situation to be analysed. For example, you could choose to look at behaviour in the classroom, on a bus, in a restaurant, and so on. Now, on your own, write down all the norms of...

Manifest and Latent Functions

Read the section about Merton’s distinction between ‘manifest’ and ‘latent’ functions on page 223. Which of the following situations or actions are examples of manifest functions and which are latent functions? Church-going gives people an opportunity to worship God....

Criticisms of Functionalism

For this exercise you should copy out and complete each of the following statements of strengths and weaknesses. You will find a list of words at the end that you should use to fill in the gaps shown. Strengths This approach shows how a part of society can work at two...