Have functionalist tended to exaggerate the importance of the socialization process?
...e informal as an approved or disapproving glance or smile; or it can formal as a reward or fine given by an official body. This is a major part of the mechanism of social control that is concerned with the maintenance of order in society. Another set of guidelines of culture is values. These, however, are more specific and general than norms. A value is a belief that something is important and worthwhile. An example of a value is honesty. Shared values are essential for the well being of society as well as producing social solidarity in order for the society to unite and cooperate to run smoothly. Without shared values, there would be pulling in different directions which would result in disruption and conflict. Besides norms and values, society also has statuses. Statuses are positions occupied by an individual in society. Many of the statuses that an individual adopts are ‘ascribed’, which means that they determined by birth or without regard to one’s wishes-the status of a child or title of an Earl or duke. Other statuses are ‘achieved’, which is a result of some degree of purposive action and choice. Every status in society is accompanied by a role. A role is a number of norms, which defines appropriate and accepted behaviour for those who occupy a particular status. Roles allow persons to order their behaviour and predict the behaviour of others. As an aspect of culture roles provide guidelines and directives necessary for an ordered society. As earlier stated, functionalism views society as a system; a set of interrelated and interconnected parts, which form a whole. Functionalist observes the behaviour in society as being structured by norms and values. The behaviour of an individual is seen as constructed and structured by social forces, which are emphasized by major aspects of the social structure. This institution such as the family is made up of the interrelated roles of father, husband, mother, wife, son, or daughter. Thus the individual is said to be a social construct, made and controlled by society, socialized into preset roles and values-a product of the social system. Another aspect of the functionalist analysis shows how each structure functions. A major function of the family is the socialization of new members of society. Primary socialization, the most important part of the process takes place during infancy and usually within the family. Through the contact of their parents, the infants learn language, basic lessons of life and appropriate gender behaviour. Along with the family there are other agencies of socialization such as peer groups, school and mass media. The functions of various parts of social structure have certain imperatives and prerequisites, which must be met in order for society to survive. Functionalist states that these prerequisites are necessary; therefore there must be a system whereby opportunities are provided in order to produce food and shelter, the socializing of new members of society is another prerequisite, the economic system also produces individuals with opportunities for satisfying wants, needs and desires. Social activity promotes goals, which are established by a political system where people are empowered. Thereby the function of any society is its contribution to the maintenance of society. Since society is a system, there, must be some degree of integration, between its parts. A minimal degree of integration is therefore a functional prerequisite of society. The process of society is achieved through maintaining of order and then allowing society to evolve naturally without too much planning. Marxist theory challenged the functionalist analysis of the importance of value consensus as being over emphasized. It is assumed that consensus is the solution to the problem of social order from a functionalist’s view (Talcott Parsons) rather than it is shown to exist. Value consensus is seen as merely a legitimation of the position of the dominant group in society. Functionalism does not give much significance to social classes and class conflicts. Agreement and consensus in society is seen as overestimated and it fails to highlight the extent to which classes differ in culture and values. Society is treated as if it was a perfectly integrated and harmonious whole devoid of conflicts. Functionalist, Talcott Parsons fails to recognize conflict of interest, which tend to produce instability and disorder. Conflict is seen as a...