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Sociology / Unit 1   Soc 0033 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Structural Functionalism

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The idea

Structural functionalism treats society as a system of interdependent parts, each doing work that keeps the whole stable and functioning.

In practice

Schools, families, and courts each supply something the society needs; disturb one and the others take the strain.

Where people slip

Explaining what a part does never establishes that it should exist, or that it does the work well.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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