Functionalist perspective views society as which of the following?

Functionalist perspective views society as which of the following?

• A. A system driven by class struggle
• B. A set of individuals pursuing self-interest
• C. A collection of micro-level interactions
• D. All parts of society perform functions to maintain the whole

Answer: (D)

The functionalist view sees society as a system of interdependent parts that work together to keep the whole stable. Each part—family, education, economy, religion, laws, etc.—has a function that helps maintain social order and cohesion. When these parts operate as they should, society runs smoothly; if one part falters, others adapt to restore balance, and over time this helps explain how social order persists. That’s why the idea that all parts perform functions to maintain the whole best captures the functionalist perspective. The other ideas correspond to different ways of looking at society. Thinking in terms of class struggle aligns with conflict theory, focusing on power and inequality. Focusing on individuals pursuing self-interest fits more with approaches that emphasize individual agency or utilitarian views. Emphasizing micro-level interactions aligns with symbolic interactionism, which zooms in on day-to-day interactions rather than the organism-like view of society as a whole.

The functionalist view sees society as a system of interdependent parts that work together to keep the whole stable. Each part—family, education, economy, religion, laws, etc.—has a function that helps maintain social order and cohesion. When these parts operate as they should, society runs smoothly; if one part falters, others adapt to restore balance, and over time this helps explain how social order persists. That’s why the idea that all parts perform functions to maintain the whole best captures the functionalist perspective.

The other ideas correspond to different ways of looking at society. Thinking in terms of class struggle aligns with conflict theory, focusing on power and inequality. Focusing on individuals pursuing self-interest fits more with approaches that emphasize individual agency or utilitarian views. Emphasizing micro-level interactions aligns with symbolic interactionism, which zooms in on day-to-day interactions rather than the organism-like view of society as a whole.