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Functionalism theory and its explanation of deviance.
Member rating: No Rating | Words: | Submitted: Tue Jun 20 2006
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Functionalism theory and its explanation of deviance. Various sociological perspectives that exist help us to define, set goals and choose strategies to achieve them. They also enable us to ask important questions and interpret information. My essay will describe the functionalist theory and its development by exploring its main concerns and some of the underlying assumptions. And further look at Durkheim and Parsons approach in relation to functionalism. Then discuss how functionalism helps to explain deviance and crime. I will then explain how my understanding of deviance and crime is relevant to social work values and practice. Functionalism is defined as a; "Framework that conceptualises society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability" (Macionis and Plummer, 1997. p. 19-20). Its development through the works of Comte, Spencer, Pareto and Durkheim later on Brown, Malinowski and Parsons, was based on a biological scientific model called "organic system-comparison...
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