Sociological Perspectives - Activity 1

For this assignment I am going to write about my understanding and acknowledgement of the sociological perspectives and the approaches of sociology in the health and social sector. I will also include the concepts of sociology within health and social care while exploring the elements of health and illness. Sociology is the study of how society is organised and how people experience life, it is based on global issues that can affect the living beings. Sociology helps us to understand the structure and the dynamics of society and the connections between how people behave and individual life changes. It helps examine ways in which the forms of social structure, groups, communities, organisations and other social interactions with how they affect attitude, opportunities and actions. In sociology there are six principal perspectives they are Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Interactionism, Postmodernism, Collectivism and New Right.

Functionalism

In 1951, Talcott Parsons introduced the Functionalist view which studies the social structure fully of how it functions and how each social structure is crucial in the interests of society. Functionalism believes that humans and society have basic needs, institutions. Governments may be responsible to meet the required needs also Functionalist may consider that the different kinds of sources may limit the individual’s behaviour within the chosen society, which may mean that society will behave appropriately based on their behaviour while having the same values. However the Functionalists view does recognise that there may be errors or inequalities within the society but bearing in mind this could be functional for society. There has been criticism against Functionalism as some may ignore conflict and diversity within individuals in the society. Talcott Parson’s sees inequalities as a well function to society as it helps settlement in the running of society and community. The main idea of Functionalism is to ensure and smooth running of society and this can be done through the structures of family and households. The weakness of Functionalism does not address conflict clearly that may arise in a society and does not allow individual’s free will because the individuals are socialised into their own social roles. Talcott Parson has created an image for Functionalism as a way of living positive and having a function in society. For example governments have built schools for children with physical disabilities as public schools would not be able to give the children the right help they need physically or mentally. Building these schools gives these children the same chance to develop properly.

The Functionalist approach to health is studying the relationship between the sick individual and the society as a whole. Parsons stated that using the traditional Functionalist approach for the society to function efficiently the members of the