Functionalism

• Functionalists see society as a system which is working as a whole
• Concern more in the need of social order
• Social order exists so that the people in the society will behave (e.g. creation of law)

Key terms:-

Social order: when people disagree with each other because people are non-comformist.

Criticisms: they portrayed people as puppets, individuals are not necessarily passive.

Socialisation

Socialisation is the process where people learn norms and values.

Norms : Specific guide to action which defines acceptable and appropriate behaviour in particular situations.

Whereas,

Values: A belief that something is good and desirable.


Better way of remembering the definition of norms and values are by examples.
Simply by stating:-

1) People wear black in a funeral. - This is considered as a norm.
2) Taking off your shoes when entering someone's house. - Also considered as a norm.

On the other hand,

1) A responsible worker. - Responsible is considered as value.
2) Respectful. - Also considered as value.


---

Agents of socialisation:-

• The family
• The peer group
• The school
• Religion
• The Mass Media
• Work
• Marriage
• Parenthood

Culture

• The way of life of a society; made up of shared values, norms and belief
  
• Is not absolute, fixed and universal
• No culture is superior, neither inferior. They are merely different.
• Types of culture:

1. Popular culture
2. Mass culture
3. Subculture
4. Dominant culture
5. Folk culture
6. High culture

• A youth subculture is a youth – based culture with distinct styles, behaviour and interest.
• Why subcultures are formed? It is formed as there’s rebellious attitude.
• Social class, gender and ethnicity can be important in relation to youth subcultures.
• The features of subculture: youth subcultures are often defined or distinguishable by elements such as fashion, clothing, hairstyles and etc.
• Talcott Parsons argued that as we move from the family and corresponding values to another sphere with differing values we would experience an “ anomie situation”.
• Marxists theories account for some diversity, because they focus on classes and class-fractions rather than youth aaas a whole.
• Stuart Hall and Tony Jefferson describe youth subcultures as symbolic as symbolic or ritualistic attempts to resist the power of bourgeoisie hegemony.
• Dick Hebdige describes subcultures as a reaction of subordinated groups that challenge the hegemony of the dominant culture.
• Hegemonic how one situations is more powerful than the other. E.g no matter how rich you are, we couldn’t put your car plate license the same as the royal family.

Sociology

Is sociology a science?

-Sociology is:-

• Systematic
• Based on evidence
• Critical

Objective or subjective?

1. Positivist - Objective , this is because positivists see the world in scientific approach;

whereas

2. Interpretivist - Subjective, since interpretivists tend to involve feelings as well as the opinions by others.







Reference:

• Case studies : Durkheim's classic study of suicide ; and
• D.J. West's study of schoolboys.