1. Structural functionalism
The basics

2. Background Social systems theory Anthropology Chicago School Spencer
Durkheim
Marx
Weber
Anthropology
Radcliffe-Brown
Malinowski
Chicago School
Organic analogy
Mass society theory

3. Background Formal structural functionalism Parsons Merton
Functional prerequisites
Patterned role expectations
Merton
Dysfunctions
Manifest and latent functions
Functional alternatives

4. Structural functionalism
Heavy use of analogy
Organic
Mechanistic

5. Structural functionalism
A form of systems theory
Looks at systems and subsystems
Interrelations among parts
Processes
Maintenance, equilibrium
Adaptation and change

6. Structural functionalism
Structures
Repetitive behaviors
Functions
Implications for system maintenance
Early, conservative S—F assumed maintenance was the main (positive) goal

7. Structural functional analysis
Identifies the structures of a system
Defines the part played by such structures
Examines the consequences of social phenomena for the systems of which they are a part, and
Examines how new structures emerge

8. Assumptions: The conceptual assumptions underlying the approach can be divided into two basic areas:
the social system is the prior causal reality and the system parts are functionally interrelated,
all social phenomena have functions for the larger social system. Concerning these functions:
they may be functional for the whole system or only part of it,
there may be functional alternatives,
there may be multiple consequences from particular phenomena, and finally,
dysfunctions account for tension and change in the system.
The approach assumes that systems can be identified and specified, that the boundaries are measurable.

9. Structural functional explanation
Recurring behaviors (structures) are thought to exist because they in some way contribute to system maintenance (function)
The identification of structures and the ways that they contribute are major goals
Society is thought to maintain an equilibrium state (organic analogy) and if forced out of that state will adjust in ways that tend to reinstate equilibrium (though not necessarily the original equilibrium)

10. Structural functional explanation
Certain functions are required for the existence of the system (society)
Functional prerequisites
In some cases, more than one structure can provide the same function
Functional alternatives

11. Okay, maybe, but systems change
Change is generated mainly from outside the system, as the system will normally maintain its status quo
A second source of change is the existence of dysfunctions (actions that break down the system)
Implications of a structure for different subsystems may conflict

12. Manifest v. latent (Merton)
Manifest functions are commonly recognized
Latent functions are not commonly recognized
Often they are still the reason for structures to exist
May be the “real” reason

13. Culture Basis for consensus
Main means of integration of parts (communication)
Consensus brings pressure to bear on “deviates” in order to maintain equilibrium
Deviation considered a problem to be dealt with
The role of social control is to maintain system
(in the interest of the population overall)
Source of deviance unclear
Socialization through a wide array of social institutions, including the media

14. Advantages of structural functionalism
Provides a wide-ranging explanation for many social phenomena
Has guided a great deal of valuable research
Latter models allow not only for stability, but also for conflict, social change, and power relationships
Has contributed useful concepts to the field

15. Disadvantages of structural functionalism
An ideal model of society rather than an empirically derived one
Operational definitions are hard to come by
At its outset had a tendency to value stability, consensus
Cannot explain the existence of societies in the first place

16. Structural functionalism
Cannot easily explain rapid social change or breakdown of societies
Social change and social conflict became significant topics in the latter period of functionalist dominance
Rests on assumptions that are hard (perhaps impossible) to test
Explanations can be tautological

17. Lasswell’s functions
“The communication process in society performs three functions: (a) surveillance of the environment, disclosing threats and opportunities affecting the value position of the community and of the component parts within it; (b) correlation of the components of society in making a response to the environment; (c) transmission of the social inheritance.”

18. Lazarsfeld and Merton
“Increasingly, the chief power groups, among which organized business occupies the most spectacular place, have come to adopt techniques for manipulating mass publics through propaganda in place of more direct means of control.”
“these media have taken on the job of rendering mass publics conformative to the social and economic status quo”
Fear that mass media lower the ‘esthetic tastes’ of their audiences

19. Status conferral function
“The mass media confer status on public issues, persons, organizations and social movements.”
“Recognition by the press or radio or magazines or newsreels testifies that one has arrived, that one is important enough to have been singled out from the large anonymous masses, that one’s behavior and opinions are significant enough to require public notice.”

20. Enforcement of social norms
“The mass media may initiate organized social action by “exposing” conditions which are at variance with public moralities.”
Publicity closes the gap between “private attitudes” and “public morality.”

21. Narcotizing dysfunction
“this vast supply of communications may elicit only a superficial concern with the problems of society, and this superficiality often cloaks mass apathy.”
“As an increasing meed of time is devoted to reading and listening, a decreasing share is available for organized action. The individual reads accounts of issues and problems and may even discuss alternative lines of action. But this rather intellectualized, rather remote connection with organized social action is not activated. The interested and informed citizen can congratulate himself on his lofty state of interest and information and neglect to see that he has abstained from decision and action.

22. “In short, he takes his secondary contact with the world of political reality, his reading and listening and thinking, as a vicarious performance. He comes to mistake knowing about problems of the day for doing something about them. His social conscience remains spotlessly clean. He is concerned. He is informed. And he has all sorts of ideas as to what should be done. But, after he has gotten through his dinner and after he has listened to his favored radio programs and after he has read his second newspaper of the day, it is really time for bed.

23. Social conformism
“Since the mass media are supported by great business concerned geared into the current social and economic system, the media contribute to the maintenance of the system.”
Advertisement of products
Stories contain some element of approval of current structure of society
Fail to raise essential questions about the structure of society

24. Esthetic tastes Hard to determine overall effect
Widening of audience for higher arts
Accessibility vastly increased

25. Conditions for media effects
Monopolization
Little or no opposition in media to the diffusion of values, policies or public images
Canalization
Rather than attempting to change or create attitudes or behavior, directing pre-existing behaviors and attitudes in the direction you want
Supplementation of media presentation with interpersonal communication

26. The Field Lasswell’s classic definition of the field:
Who Says
What
In Which Channel
To Whom
With What Effect?
Often cited (and used as a model) in subsequent research
The “transmission” view of communication