To understand social problems, sociologists must observe society, rather than the individuals themselves, to gain a better understanding of social problems and how they came about. This is because sociologists believe that despite the personal experiences that individuals might undergo throughout their life, it is social forces and social structures that construct their behaviours and actions (Thio & Taylor, 2012). Furthermore, this paper will discuss social problems and the constraints that they place on society. Also, homelessness in Australia will be analysed and discussed. What homelessness is and recent statistics will be analysed in order to prove how homeless is a social problem from which society benefits from. Homelessness will then
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The weaknesses present with the functionalism theory is that the theory ignores the lack of consensus within the society such as the influences of power and wealth on the formation of society. Another weakness present when analysing this theory is that it fails to recognise that social inequalities cause an imbalance within the society. For example, the rich are more capable of receiving a better education than the poor or working class. This then provides the higher socio-economic class to receive higher wages and the opportunity to dictate structures within society such as learning curriculums in schools (Covington, 2008). A strength of the functionalism theory is that it focuses on social structures, not individual motivations. This, as a result, contrasts this theory from previous theories where the individuals behaviours and actions were focused on (Rex, 1961). This is a strength as psychological theories cannot always explain certain deviances or social problems within the society. Another strength is that conflict within the society is avoided by its citizens. This is because conflict is perceived as causing dysfunction within the society. Another strength is that the functionalist theory argues that dysfunctional behaviours or social problems that are causing dysfunction could, in fact, be functional and beneficial for the majority of society (Andersen & Taylor,
The weaknesses present with the functionalism theory is that the theory ignores the lack of consensus within the society such as the influences of power and wealth on the formation of society. Another weakness present when analysing this theory is that it fails to recognise that social inequalities cause an imbalance within the society. For example, the rich are more capable of receiving a better education than the poor or working class. This then provides the higher socio-economic class to receive higher wages and the opportunity to dictate structures within society such as learning curriculums in schools (Covington, 2008). A strength of the functionalism theory is that it focuses on social structures, not individual motivations. This, as a result, contrasts this theory from previous theories where the individuals behaviours and actions were focused on (Rex, 1961). This is a strength as psychological theories cannot always explain certain deviances or social problems within the society. Another strength is that conflict within the society is avoided by its citizens. This is because conflict is perceived as causing dysfunction within the society. Another strength is that the functionalist theory argues that dysfunctional behaviours or social problems that are causing dysfunction could, in fact, be functional and beneficial for the majority of society (Andersen & Taylor,