Final answer:
Functionalism is a sociological theory that compares society to a living organism, where each part works together to maintain societal stability. It explores how social institutions fulfill the biological and social needs of individuals and contribute to societal cohesion. Key contributers to this theory included Herbert Spencer, who emphasized the interdependence of social structures for stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functionalism is a theoretical perspective in sociology that investigates how various parts of society work together to maintain cohesion and stability. It likens society to a living organism where each part, such as the government, education, family, healthcare, religion, and the economy, functions like organs that work collaboratively to keep the organism alive. This perspective explores relationships and functions of social structures, addressing how they meet the biological and social needs of the individuals within a society. One of the key figures in the development of functionalism is Herbert Spencer, who saw similarities between society and the human body, suggesting that just as the organs maintain the body's functionality, social institutions support societal functioning.
Functionalism also investigates the purpose of social stratification and examines societal issues such as population, urbanization, and how they contribute to the stability of the society. This theory suggests that social institutions operate in a way that promotes solidarity and order, leading to stability. When issues such as inequality or discrimination arise, they may cause temporary dysfunction, prompting changes within the system to restore balance or to achieve a new equilibrium.