What is a functionalist society?

There are three sociological perspectives or ways of looking at the world. One of these perspectives is called the functionalist perspective. It views society as having various interconnected parts. For instance, the family may produce and raise children. Another part, the schools, transmit knowledge to the children. So a functionalist society is one having various interconnected parts which all come together ultimately to produce a harmonious, balanced and stable society. The idea of functionalist societies is based largely on the work of Herbert Spencer, a social Darwinist who believed in survival of the fittest and also on the work of Emile Durkheim.

Some functions in society are considered manifest while some are considered latent. For example a manifest function of schools is to educate our children - it is an obvious function. Yet a latent, hidden or unrealized function of schools, is to provide a place where young people can learn to socialize. For example students often find a mate in college.