he
following theories will be reviewed in this study:
i. Functional theory
ii. Conflict theory
iii. Anomie theory
FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Talcott parsons (1902 - 1979) a Harvard University sociologist
was a key figure in the development of functionalist theory (Schaefer and
Lamm 1997).
He
saw any society as a vast network of connected parts, each
of which contributes to the maintenance of the system as a whole.
In line with the above, Haralambos and Holborn (2000) View society as a
system, that is as a set of interconnected parts, which together form a whole.
The early functionalists often draw an
analogy between society and an organism such as the human body. They argued that an understanding of any
organ in the body, such as the heart
or lungs, involves an understanding of its relationship to other organs and, in particular, its contribution towards the maintenance of the organism. According
to him an understanding of any part of society requires an analysis
of its relationship to other parts and most
importantly its contribution to the maintenance of society.
In continuing this analogy, functionalists argued
that just as an organism has certain basic needs that must be
satisfied if it is to survive, so society has basic needs that must
be met if it is to continue to exist. Thus social institutions such as the
family and religion are analyzed as a part of the social system
rather than as isolated units. In particular they are understood
with reference to the contribution they make to the system as
a, whole. In the family, the husband/father, wife/mother and
children are its parts that function to maintain the whole.
CONFLICT THEORY
According to Ntunde (2003) the chief exponent of conflict theory is Ralf Dahrendorf. Like functionalist,
conflict theories are oriented toward
the study of social structures and institutions. In this theory, I will like to review the conflict
theory. The conflict perspective
assumes that social behaviour is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing
groups. According to him, every social
institution has two classes - the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Karl Marx viewed struggle between social classes as inevitable, given the exploitation of
workers under capitalism (Schaefer
and Lamm 1997).
Owo (1994) observed that there is a continuous state
of conflict
between the classes. They have conflicting interest which results in societal disequilibrium.
ANOMIE THEORY
Robert
Merton's Theory of Anomie will be reviewed here. Merton's has the reputation
of being pre-eminently sociological theory of deviant
behaviour. In line with Durkheim, he argued that all social structures
have two characteristics. That is goals and means (norms). The
goals are those things that are worth striving for. The means are
the approved methods for achieving the goals. So when the
goals are accepted while the means is rejected. It result to
deviant behaviour (Onu, 2003).