Structural functionalism-level of analysis, image of views about society?

Question

Structural functionalism-level of analysis, image of views about society?

Answer 1

Structural Functionalism was the dominant theory from the 1930's-1960's, created by Talcott Parsons.

Level of analysis: macro. Parsons was interested in large-scale social systems and institutions.

Image of views about society: very politically conservative. He emphasizes consensus, ignores race/ethnicity. Very supportive of capitalism & democracy. Functionalists in general think that all social structures exist for a reason; they have survived because they are functional. Therefor, stratification is good because it incites competition, etc. Not a popular theory in modern sociology.