LEARNING AS ONE NATION
Expanded Project
SHS
LEARNING
ACTIVITY
Name:
Grade and Section:
Strand:
 STEM
 ABM
 HUMSS
Subject: Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (DISS)
Type of Activity:
6Concept Notes
 Performance Task
DISS_12A
 Skills: Exercise/Drill
 Essay/Report
Score/Mark:
Date:
 ICT (TVL Track)
 Illustration
 Others:
Activity Title:
12-A. Structural-functionalism
Learning Target: To discuss the historical context of structural-functionalism.
To define and explain key concepts in structural-functionalism.
References:
Retrieved on December 4, 2018 from www.study.com and
(Author, Title, Pages) www.reference.com; M.S. Acenas and C.T. Añana, CVIF Learning Activities
Structural-functionalism is a dominant approach in the social sciences that
sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity
and stability. It is basically concerned with how each of the social systems functions
and works together with others for continued existence of the society. Structuralfunctionalism came about in the 19th century through the works of Emile Durheim,
in particular, "The Division of Labor in Society ". It was then further developed by
Herbert Spencer and Robert Merton in the late 19th century.
Key Concepts in Structural-functionalism
The important concepts in structural functionalism are social structure, social
function, social dysfunction, manifest function, and latent function.
Social Structures are relatively stable patterns of social behavior or
relationships that exist in a society. To know what social structure a society has, it
is important to understand the existing social institutions and their combinations.
There are five fundamental bases for social institutions in a society: family,
education, economics, religion, and government. These social institutions work with
its social function to fulfill an identified role or need within the society. Two types
of social function are proposed: manifest and latent function.
 Manifest functions – intentional and known functions that people
acknowledge and anticipate being fulfilled by the institutions.
 Latent functions — unintended or unexpected effects of institutions.
The concept of social dysfunction covers the negative effects of institutions
on the society.
Example: The government implements laws to protect the rights of its people and
assure equality for all. However, when some provisions of the
implemented law increase cases of graft and corruption, there is a
resulting social dysfunction in the society.
Exercise: Give an example each of manifest and latent functions of the government
as a social institution. Describe a specific example of social dysfunction arising
from negative effects of the institution.