Which theory of social organization (structural functionalism or postmodernism) best approximates your own perspectives on social life? What are the benefits and limitations of each perspective with regard to generalist social work practice?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Through this discussion students are encouraged to consider their own perspectives about community, and how their perspectives influence their views of community practice. Students should be encouraged to react to the following theories or concepts by describing how they may be applicable or sensible in their own lives:

• Consensus
• Goal attainment functions
• Adaptation (to the environment) functions
• Integrative functions
• Pattern maintenance functions
• Postmodernism (societies becoming less cohesive and more fragmented, comprised of subgroups that may have little interaction or commonality with one another. This perspective rejects “inclusive” theories of communities, and emphasizes a greater interest in local and personal narratives as sources of knowledge
• Postmodernism also emphasizes:
• Social and cultural pluralism, and the lack of a basis for social, national, and ethnic unity
• Skepticism of notions of general social progress
• A sense of personal fragmentation, with people having multiple, conflicting identities
• A rise in alternative family units, marriage models, partnering, and child raising
• A loss of effectiveness in centralized social control functions
• A rising dominance of popular culture
• Personal identification with smaller groups
• A sense of indeterminacy about what factors “causes” social phenomena