Structural Functionalism Essays (Examples)

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But how, then one might ask, to structural functionalists explain deviance at all? "ithout deliberate planning on anyone's part, there have developed in our type of social system, and correspondingly in others, mechanisms which, within limits, are capable of forestalling and reversing the deep-lying tendencies for deviance to get into the vicious circle phase which puts it beyond the control of ordinary approval-disapproval and reward-punishment sanctions" (Parsons, cited by Gingrich, 1999, from the Social System, pp. 319-320). In short, although 'normal' people' exist within an approval-disapproval and reward-punishment network, and their behavior can be modified and controlled through schemas of approval and disapproval, rewards and punishments, psychologically deviant or anomalous persons like criminals ignore these networks. Also, deviant circles can themselves generate positive rewards and an approval and disapproval micro system that rewards 'bad' behavior, forming a subculture. As this subculture becomes eradicated, crime goes down, but as law-abiding behavior….

One could, for instance, examine the role that the authority structures of the Catholic Church have had in shaping the formation of societies and they way that they function. This form of analysis can also be extended to other religions - such as the role of power and conflict in a Muslim world and the role that religion plays in the coercive structures of many Middle Eastern societies.
On the other hand, one can also use the theoretical and methodological tools that are provided by structural functional theory to analyze the way that religious institutions act as an integrative and cohesive structure in society. This could also be extended to less prolific but influential religion such as the Mormon Church that helped to shape society and integrate people in regions of the United States.

Interactionist theory also provides a very useful method of analyzing the way that various religious groupings are….

In the case of violence, there are no clear problems, but rather a broad range of contributing factors that impact the level of violence in American society. The broad-based, integrative approach of structural functionalism is well-suited to understanding how this broad range of factors influences violence because it examines each factor not only individually but in context with each other as well.
There are a number of preferred solutions to the social ill of violence. Norms and customs are often the target of such solutions. For example, public education programs are utilized to help convey that violence is unacceptable in society. The issue is often dealt with in terms of both prevention and intervention strategies (Eisenbraun, 2007). This flows from an approach focused on reducing the structural antecedents of violence, while allowing that there are times when violence but be addressed on an individual and specific level owing to the….

" (Dafler, 2005) Dafler relates that for more than thirty years children who were 'half-caste' "were forcibly removed from their families, often grabbed straight from their mother's arms, and transported directly to government and church missions." (Dafler, 2005) This process was termed to be one of assimilation' or 'absorption' towards the end of breeding out of Aboriginal blood in the population. At the time all of this was occurring Dafler relates that: "Many white Australians were convinced that any such hardship was better than the alternative of growing up as a member of an 'inferior' race and culture." (2005) it is plainly stated in a government document thus:
The destiny of the natives of Aboriginal origin, but not of the full blood, lies in their ultimate absorption by the people of the Commonwealth, and [the commission] therefore recommends that all efforts be directed towards this end." (eresford and Omaji, Our State….


Hermeneutics (interpretive) paradigm

This is a more complex approach to the explanation of the social events live poverty. Basically it deals with a detailed interpretation of written/oral histories to explain current social order and the social happenings like poverty among other factors. There are varies backgrounds that people come from, an in each community or society or even culture, there is always the stories of people and how they lived with each other. Therein are the details of the people who were once rich within that society as well as those who were poor (Joe eichertz, 2012).

The historical poverty within a given group of people is a thing that is found among all religions and all cultural groupings. Even in the Bible, there are those who were historically known to be from the richer tribes and those from the poorer tribes. It is on the same vain that the historical material….

Social conformity inhibits the individuals' referentiality that was an intrinsic governance of the self. Although neither Durkheim nor Giddens arguments are without merit, it would seem, therefore, as Elias argued, neither society nor the individual can exist in total isolation from the other. In many ways they are defined by each other and the actions of the collective. Society can serve as the barometer by which individual identity is measured, and the converse is true. Interdependencies exist between individuals and society.
eferences

Bourdieu, P 1977, Outline of a Theory of practice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Cleaver, F 2007, 'Understanding Agency in Collection Action' Journal of Human Development, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 223.

Cuff, E, Sharrock, W, & Francis, D 1984, Perspectives in Sociology, 3rd edition, London,

outledge.

Elias, N 1995, 'Introduction: Figuration and Process Sociology' Culture

and Economics, vol. 34.

Elias, N 1996, 'Problems of Involvement and Detachment', British Journal of Sociology, vol. 7, pp228-240.

Elias, N….

Perspective on the Family
PAGES 3 WORDS 932

Family Theoretical Perspective
The family is a social institution that has attracted a lot of research. There are many things that revolve around this institution and hence the reason why it attracts a lot of attention and consequent research. The topic of this paper is family and the chosen article is, "Beyond the nuclear family: The increasing importance of multigenerational bonds."

The structures of family forms vary just as their definitions. There is no single form of true family. In earlier years the nuclear family that comprises of a single set of biological parents and their children was prevalent. However, there has been a trend towards multiple generations of the same family living and working together in the same household. Today, there are many types of family forms that can be seen and they are due to the evolution of the family that started off as a result of a shift in….

Town in Turmoil
A Town in Conflict

Every story can be told a number of different ways. Each person in a given narrative understands what went on from a particular perspective. Sometimes, if that person is especially perspicacious and especially curious, then she or he can see a particular event from the perspective or one or two other people. But the individual's perspective is always limited, and this is a good thing. If we cannot see the world from our own point-of-view then we have no hope of understanding our own virtues and vices, our own sense of cause and effect.

But it is also true that there is an important place in the world for understanding an event from a larger perspective. This is the role (or, at least, one of the roles) that scholarship plays in our lives. Scholarship provides that larger lens, that broader focus on the world that….

Gallant, J. (2016). Alleged sex abuse victim's fight for justice turns into bureaucratic nightmare. Toronto Star. 2 Dec, 2016. Retrieved online: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/12/02/alleged-sex-abuse-victims-fight-for-justice-turns-into-bureaucratic-nightmare.html
In this article, Gallant (2016) describes the ongoing legal battle between Sveta Kholi and her former neurologist, Paul O'Connor. Kholi has accused O'Connor of sexual abuse. After the complaint was lodged formally, a complex bureaucratic process ensued whereby the entire case appears to have been stalemated. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has a committee that formally handles complaints, and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) is a civilian body that hears appeals specifically from that very same College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

However, the bureaucratic complications become even trickier. According to the journalist, the College of Physicians and Surgeons also has an Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee. The HPARB has ordered on two separate occasions for the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee to….

Perhaps the best example of a structural-functionalist theory in action is at Google, where specific types of organizational institutions, such as free lunches and yoga classes, create a common organizational culture and generate a community of freedom, openness, tolerance, and constant mutual exchanges of thoughts and ideas. A negative example of organizational structures, such as the cutthroat competition that encouraged irresponsible lending practices at many investment banking firms, also demonstrates how organizational structures create certain commonly-accepted standards that people tend to obey to promote social harmony.
Conflict theory, however, would emphasize how within organizations there is often intense factionalism between different groups of people. Particularly in modern organizations where historically discriminated-against groups are gaining traction within managerial positions, but still often experience discrimination, the struggle between opposing forces of change and stasis is manifest (Smith & ogers 2000). Conflict may also be seen after two large organizations merge, meshing two….

Art and Society an Analysis
PAGES 10 WORDS 2935

(176)
In this regard, Nead notes that because she was an art lover, Richardson experienced a moral dilemma in her decision to attack "The Rokeby Venus," but she felt compelled to do so anyway based on her perception that the government was failing to act responsibility towards women in general and the suffragettes in particular. "In her statement during her trial, Richardson appears calm and articulate and nothing is said explicitly about any objections that she might have had to a female nude. Indeed, it was not until an interview given in 1952 that Richardson gave an additional reason for choosing the Velazquez: 'I didn't like the way men visitors to the gallery gaped at it all day'" (emphasis added) (Nead 36).

Figure 1. Velazquez, The Rokeby Venus.

Source: The Social Construction of Gender, 2006.

According to Mann (2002), functionalism could help explain the attack by Richardson on "The Rokeby Venus" based on….

John ommel Case Study
Why would John be considered a deviant? What social foundations of deviance appear to be evident in this case study?

Deviance is defined as the recognized violation of cultural norms. Social deviance is defined as any behavior that violates the social norms within a culture or greater community. This behavior can be criminal but does not necessarily need to violate a law to qualify. Criminal acts such as theft or assault are common types of social deviance, but so are incidental behaviors like lying, excessive drinking, or nose picking. The theory of social deviance is the foundation of the study of criminology and splinters into three classes of deviant behavior: conflict, structural functionalism, and symbolic interactionism.

2.Examine the three theoretical foundations of deviance (structural-functional, symbolic-interaction, and social-conflict). Determine which foundation applied to John's situation, and why. Give specific examples.

British sociologist A.. adcliffe-Brown developed the structural-functionalism theory, a perspective on….

Rules America?' By G. illiam Domhoff
Does the book primarily rely on a structural, symbolic interactionist or conflict theoretical perspective to understand and explain the behavior or event it is studying.

Discuss what your book has to say about social inequality, whether social economic, gender, race, ethnicity or age.

If your book describes a social problem or an undesirable condition in society, discuss the a) discrepancy between the actual and the ideal, b) intended and unintended consequences, and c) "moral crusader."

Domhoff, G. illiam. ho Rules America? Power and Politics in the Year 2000.

illiam Domhoff's ho Rules America is an insightful look into the sociology of modern America. ritten from a conflict and structural functionalist perspective, the book largely feels that individual choices are determined by society. Dumhoff suggests that the root of most social inequalities comes from the existence of a power elite that control social and economic power in the United….

People read the world differently and that explains why they respond to the world differently. For instance my mother is very tidy and neat whereas my father is the exact opposite. When my family is looked at from the social interaction perspective then it can be clearly concluded that symbolic interaction definitely can explain the divorce (Farley, 2012).
The conflict theory looks at how people within a family struggle for power; how they disagree and how they compete for resources. Wealth and prestige form the basis for most of the competitions. When my family is looked at from the conflict theory it can be said that our family underwent conflicts and disharmony. This was due to the fact that there are different dynamics and roles played by my family members. First traditionally the father are seen as the head of the family and it should come naturally. However this was….

Same-Sex Marriages in Canada
Although the debate over whether same-sex marriages should be allowed, a number of countries have legalized these unions in recent years, and the same trends are taking place through North America as well. In fact, given the increasing pace of reform, it is reasonable to suggest that most if not all states in the United States and Canada will have legalized same-sex marriages someday, a process that transform the debate over whether same-sex marriages should be allowed to one that focuses on why it took so long. Because many social and legal benefits accrue to the legal institution of marriage, these are important issues since the legalization of same-sex marriages will convey these social and legal benefits to homosexual partners who believe they are entitled to the same treatment as their heterosexual counterparts. To gain some additional insights into these recent trends and provide an overview of….

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2 Pages
Term Paper

Criminal Justice

Structural Functionalism From a Structural

Words: 684
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Term Paper

But how, then one might ask, to structural functionalists explain deviance at all? "ithout deliberate planning on anyone's part, there have developed in our type of social system, and…

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5 Pages
Term Paper

Sociology

Theoretical Perspectives Structural Functionalism Structural

Words: 1832
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Term Paper

One could, for instance, examine the role that the authority structures of the Catholic Church have had in shaping the formation of societies and they way that they…

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3 Pages
Essay

Sociology

Structural Factors Affecting the Level

Words: 996
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Essay

In the case of violence, there are no clear problems, but rather a broad range of contributing factors that impact the level of violence in American society. The…

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20 Pages
Term Paper

Sociology

Structural Inequality & Diversity Root

Words: 5575
Length: 20 Pages
Type: Term Paper

" (Dafler, 2005) Dafler relates that for more than thirty years children who were 'half-caste' "were forcibly removed from their families, often grabbed straight from their mother's arms, and…

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image
6 Pages
Term Paper

Sociology

Poverty Are the Various Approaches

Words: 1561
Length: 6 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Hermeneutics (interpretive) paradigm This is a more complex approach to the explanation of the social events live poverty. Basically it deals with a detailed interpretation of written/oral histories to explain…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
5 Pages
Essay

Sociology

Individuality Individual Identity Is Almost

Words: 1738
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Social conformity inhibits the individuals' referentiality that was an intrinsic governance of the self. Although neither Durkheim nor Giddens arguments are without merit, it would seem, therefore, as…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
3 Pages
Term Paper

Family and Marriage

Perspective on the Family

Words: 932
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Family Theoretical Perspective The family is a social institution that has attracted a lot of research. There are many things that revolve around this institution and hence the reason why…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
5 Pages
Essay

Sociology

Town in Turmoil a Town in Conflict

Words: 1516
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Town in Turmoil A Town in Conflict Every story can be told a number of different ways. Each person in a given narrative understands what went on from a particular…

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6 Pages
Essay

Sociology - Counseling

sociology article and how it relates to a theory

Words: 1877
Length: 6 Pages
Type: Essay

Gallant, J. (2016). Alleged sex abuse victim's fight for justice turns into bureaucratic nightmare. Toronto Star. 2 Dec, 2016. Retrieved online: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/12/02/alleged-sex-abuse-victims-fight-for-justice-turns-into-bureaucratic-nightmare.html In this article, Gallant (2016) describes the ongoing…

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2 Pages
Case Study

Sociology

Organizational Culture in Organizations Do

Words: 660
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Case Study

Perhaps the best example of a structural-functionalist theory in action is at Google, where specific types of organizational institutions, such as free lunches and yoga classes, create a…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
10 Pages
Term Paper

Art  (general)

Art and Society an Analysis

Words: 2935
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Term Paper

(176) In this regard, Nead notes that because she was an art lover, Richardson experienced a moral dilemma in her decision to attack "The Rokeby Venus," but she felt…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
2 Pages
Case Study

Sociology

John Rommel Case Study Why Would John

Words: 718
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Case Study

John ommel Case Study Why would John be considered a deviant? What social foundations of deviance appear to be evident in this case study? Deviance is defined as the recognized violation…

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image
2 Pages
Term Paper

Sociology

Rules America ' by G William Domhoff Does

Words: 745
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Rules America?' By G. illiam Domhoff Does the book primarily rely on a structural, symbolic interactionist or conflict theoretical perspective to understand and explain the behavior or event it…

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image
4 Pages
Term Paper

Family and Marriage

Sociology Families Are the Basic

Words: 1264
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Term Paper

People read the world differently and that explains why they respond to the world differently. For instance my mother is very tidy and neat whereas my father is…

Read Full Paper  ❯
image
5 Pages
Essay

Women's Issues - Sexuality

Same-Sex Marriages in Canada Although the Debate

Words: 1663
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Same-Sex Marriages in Canada Although the debate over whether same-sex marriages should be allowed, a number of countries have legalized these unions in recent years, and the same trends are…

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