Page 40 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes Postulate Propounded by Predecessor Functionalists of Merton

Functional Utility Universal Functionalism Indispensibility
1. Postulate of Functional Unity of Society: Redcliff Brown and Malinovisky says about
several units of social structure that they maintain unity in the society. The way in which
the different organs of an organism are related mutually in form of unity, the same way
each unit of the social structure remain related with one-another functioning in organised
manner.
Merton, by giving example of religion evaluated this property. He says that if people prac-
tising more than one religion live in a society then communal riot caused in them due to
religion. Therefore the belief of Durkheem, Redcliff Brown, Malinovisky, etc., is partially
true. Units are functional but they also perform dysfunction or destructive acts.
2. Postulate of Universal Functionalism: Earlier to Merton, the sociologists and social hu-
manists believe that where there is human society, social units fulfill any of the need there.
Malinovisky who was a strong functionalist says that, “Every unit fulfills any of the im-
portant function on every place.” He also says that only those units exists in social structure
which fulfills any need in social management.
Merton had evaluated this charactor giving example of religion. Merton told that religion
do many destruction even through it exists as a units in social structure. In Hindu Society,
caste-system, child-marriage, Sati custom, untouchability, widow, female-illiteracy, etc.,
were due to religion., In west, in many societies, religion is a hurdle against many means of
family planning and in abortion.
3. Postulate of Indispensibility: It is a belief of several scholars that units in social structure
or their functions from the structures are indispensible and functions can not be separated
from the structures. But Merton studied the view and articles of different scholars and in
them clearly it is not found that —(i) Function is indispensible or (ii) Unit is indispensible or
(iii) Function and unity both are indipensible. Kingley Davis and Moor had told indispen-
sible to religion, because religion plays to control the society. Merton says that in modern
societies, the social control is done without religon also.
Merton after critical evaluation of his predecessor functionalists told the following charac-
ters and properties of function—
4. Function, Non-function and Dysfunction: Merton says that the function of units of social
structure can be divided in three main parts —(1) Function (2) Non-function or (3) Dysfunction.
When units of structure do that work which helps in maintaining social management and
adjustment then these units are called functional.
Some units are such which under the study is not related in an way to the social manage-
ment. They do not play any role in maintaining management or doing mismanagement.
This is called their Non-function.
Some units of structure, in social management play role of increasing management on re-
ducing adaptation or adjustment. They have destructive effect and this is called their dys-
function.
5. Manifest and Latent Function: Merton had divided the main functions of the units of social
structure in two sub-functions—Direct and Indirect. Direct functions are those multiple
results which in management contributes in adjustment and adaptation and are wanted by
the persons taking part in management and are recognised. These direct function can be

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