Answer to Question #102416 in Sociology for Dikeledi Sekwena

Question

What are the major criticisms of functionslism

Answer 1

Functionalism theory defines social institutions as a collective means for individuals to meet their personal and other social needs. However, the theory has been criticized from different angles, which can be collectively categorized into two, downplaying the role of individual action and failure to account for social changes. By downplaying the role of individual actions in the society, it is ideal that the society ends up failing considering how individual actions may alter the social institutions in that particular society. On the other hand, by the fact that functionalism theory studies society as a collective aspect, it is ideal that it often disregards the social changes due to its intent to focus on social order and equilibrium.