Structural Functionalism

Structural-Functional paradigm. Structural-Functional is also known as Structural
Functionalism. What is Structural Functionalism? Structural Functionalism is a macro-level orientation. It concerns broad patterns that shapes society as a whole. If there is a macro-level, there will be a micro-level. Macro-level consists of many types of micro-level. The model of
Structural Functionalism is made up of institution. For example, school is a micro which is also a social institution. School is a one of the micro-level. Government is also a micro-level which is also another social institution in our society. There are still a lot of social institutions in our society such as banks, hospitals, shopping malls, church, families, education, religion

It is actually talking about a group versus another group and how groups function and work to affect another group. How groups function their group’s behavior to influence another group and vice versa. (Notes on Structural Functionalism and Parsons-
2002, November 15). The definition of Structural Functionalism is viewing the society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability for our next generation. According to Herbert Spencer, Herbert Spencer’s idea of Structural Functionalism is viewing society as a human body. (Elwick, J. ,2003) He compared society to the human body. His idea is saying that the organs in the human body are interdependent to each other. If one of the organs of the human body dysfunctions or not working well, it will affect the other organs and influence the whole human body. Similarly, we view society as a complex system, complex system is like the human body. There are many social institutions combined together to become a complex system. Each social institutions have their own function, they have their own jobs ,if each social institution function well ,it will produce a smooth running of society and to promote solidarity and

According to Robert K Merton, he thinks that something may have consequences that are generally dysfunctional or which are dysfunctional for some and functional for others(R.K Merton). If one of the social institutions dysfunctions or is not working well, it will influence the other social institutions and affect the whole society. If this situation occurred, it will produce a social problem and a social change. The social order will also be disrupted and the society has to generate and achieve a new social order to maintain the smooth running of society.
And it will take a very long time to achieve the new social order. For example, nowadays, people in society need pay various taxes to government. Normally people in society just need pay the normal taxes. But If the government decides to include a new tax such as GST, GST will disrupt the social order. Then people in the society will be affected. People in the society need to start