Functionalism

Functionalism: Society is Like a Human Body 

This week in class we discussed Functionalism and what it looks like in society. The first example that was given was a family. For example, families have children to raise and train a new generation. That would be a Manifest Function. A Latent Function of a family would be security, knowing that no matter what you had family to stand by you. Manifest function is the main reason, and Latent functions are underlying reasons.

We then look to see how Functionalism related to the human body. Each part of the body works in harmony with the other parts, just like each part of society works in harmony with all the other parts. We went on to think of other similarities such as the body needs the brain to work, just like society needs government to function.  

This picture shows a person looking at an object, and you see its brain compartmentalizing what should be done. It is showing how this persons brain is working to comprehend the picture. It is showing his manifest plan being the big compartment on top, and his latent functions in the smaller compartments.