FUNCTIONALISM  AND  CULTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
Functionalism was the prevailing sociological paradigm in mid-twentieth-century U.S.A., with Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) as its leading exponent, especially in the 1930s to 1950s/early 1960s. But since the late 1970s,  Functionalism has been much criticised.
 It had its origins in combining the approach of Emile Durkheim (French, 1858-1917) with parts of the interactionist approach of Max Weber (German, 1864-1920). Durkheim has been called "the father of Functionalism" but it is equally valid to see Durkheim as commentator on modernity and the bad effects of industrialization and equally it is possible to see Durkheim as a radical, as opposed to the generally conservative stanceof Functionalism.
 Functionalism relies on shared assumptions and provides a grand theory of society: a meta-narrative. It is an approach to Sociology which is concerned with structure not individuals (this is one of the principal reasons why it has fallen out of favour).
 Functionalism relies on making comparisons with Biology; especially Human Biology. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but each part has a vital function in the human body.
 In Functionalism, the various parts of society are inter-dependent but together they form a complete system where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. The structure of society is the sum of all social relationships. Major aspects of the social structure are Family, the Economy, Education, Work, and Politics.
 These institutions provide roles for each individual together with norms which govern behaviour thereat together with values which should be defended.
 Each part of society has a function.  However, function (in this context) has several meanings.
 1. the relationship between parts of the structure and the relationship of each part to society as a whole.
 2. effect
 3. contribution to the maintenance and survival of the social system.