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The Chosen People edited
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The Chosen People
The functionalist perspective of sociology holds that each aspect in society depends on other aspects and plays a role in society’s stability together with its functioning. Any society takes the course that fits it well given the conditions that exist that particular society, and provided that that action helps to preserve the society (Farley and Flota 53). The situations in which different societies exist are very different, for example, the different climatic conditions (Farley and Flota 53).
Emile Durkheim defined a society as a system of interrelated parts (Ferrante 28). According to Ferrante (28), functionalists use the human body, comparing it with society. Similarly, in group action, people join efforts to achieve a certain goal. Just like the human body, the society is made up of many parts, such as schools, laws and norms, sports and religion. Each of these systems plays a role that contributes to the society’s stability. The interdependence of the systems brings the aspect of the principle of interdependency according to Farley and Flota (53). The view was also shared by Comte and Spencer while developing their social theories, which is still more relevant to date since society has become more complex and interdependent. For example, in a school setting, a faculty member is required to teach, and students are needed to learn. However, effective learning depends on several other people and organizations (Farley and Flota 53). All the involved parties must undertake their respective roles and functions effectively in order to achieve the goal of effective learning. The principle of function comes in at this point.
According to Brym and Lie (9), each structure’s function plays a role in the stability of the society at large. Durkheim put it that social stability leads to social order, which, if it lacks, there exists high suicide rates and many strikes from workers (Brym and Lie 9). In line with this, consensus and cooperation principles of this theory are essential. Every society has some values that almost everyone in the society agrees with. For example, most of the Americans agree that they need freedom and democracy, which they all fight for (Farley and Flota 54). People come into consensus in order to achieve cooperation, like in group action, which is necessary for interdependency to be achieved. People cooperate when they feel that they share some things in common, which leads to solidarity. Durkheim viewed social solidarity as the moral cement that binds people together (Brym and Lie 9).
Functionalist theorists also came with the principle of equilibrium, which has it that once a society reaches a form best suited to its situation; it reaches a state of balance. The society remains in that condition, until some other conditions sets in and makes it to change (Farley and Flota 56). Some of the things factors that can distort the equilibrium state include climate change, advancement in the level of technology or the interactions with other societies. The society undergoes some changes that enable it to adapt to the new situations and eventually reach an equilibrium state. Functionalists argued that reestablishing equilibrium could help in solving social problems (Brym and Lie 9).
Merton said that parts of a social system could have dysfunctions, which could either be latent or manifest. Manifest dysfunctions are the anticipated interruptions that occur to order and stability in the society, for example, shortage of clean public toilets and piled garbage (Ferrante 29). Latent dysfunctions are unintended disruptions to order and stability. For example, celebrating excessively which leads to missing classes or work. Any system that is functional today can become dysfunctional in the future, so it is important to consider all aspects when studying any element of the social structure (Farley and Flota 56).
Works cited
Brym, Robert and Lie, John. Sociology: Your compass for a new world, brief edition: Enhanced edition. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Farley, John and Flota, Michael. Sociology, sixth edition. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers, 2011. Print.
Ferrante, Joan. Sociology: A global perspective, enhanced. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
CSPI Issues Justified
CSPI Issues Justified?
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CSPI Issues Justified?
Since CSPI was founded in the year 1971 by Michael Jacobson and other two fellow scientists, the group has really brought changes in nutrition, health, alcohol policy and food safety. Despite the positive changes brought by Michael Jacobson, he has received widespread criticism for trying to change the restaurant industry. Some of the changes that CSPI is advocating for in the restaurant industry include the elimination of trans-fats from the restaurant and food labeling. CSPI has even gone ahead to eliminate trans-fat from the restaurant by asking the FDA to label all foods that contain cholesterol-raising trans-fats.
With regard to being a consumer advocacy organization, CSPI aims at reducing food contamination and food-borne illness. In order to effectively carry out its duty in food safety, the project has supported the establishment of a single agency by combining the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The group also advocates against alcohol. Through the “Alcohol policies project” the group discourages alcohol campaigns that is directed to the youthful drinkers. George hacker heads the project that aims at reducing alcohol problems.
In conclusion, there are some issues advocated by the CSPI that affects the restaurant industry, but so important to consumers health. Restaurants should change as instructed by the CSPI in order to protect consumers from bad health. CSPI issues are justified because the changes they advocate for are aimed to protect consumers from bad products. Restaurants should accept changes in order to promote good health to its customers.
References
Barrow, C. and Powers, T. (2008). Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry. New Jersey: CSPI Issues Justified.
Nature of Groups
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Nature of Groups
I am a member of the OasisMega group, a group that consists of 10 members, formed by us as classmates two years ago. The main purpose of OasisMega is to ensure the social development of every member in the group. We realized that we have come of age, and some of us were experiencing problems in relationships, and matters of love and spouses. We decided to form this group as an avenue for developing one another in terms of spouses, love and relationship. In the group’s constitution, we outlined that this group will be dissolved once every person in the group gets a spouse and marries. We meet once every week to assess the progress of each member in love relationships and marriage issues. The group is thus meant to accomplish this activity, which we have approximated to last in a period of five years. This is in line with Galenes and Adams (10) explanation of a secondary group.
I would classify our group as a personal development group. The main purpose of our group, from the beginning, was a personal, social development of all the members. According to Galenes and Adams (11), a personal growth group is a therapy and support group, meant to help the members with personal insights and act as an avenue for discussing the problems of the members. They further explain that the needs of the members are met in the group by the group members (11). These reasons warrant in classifying our group as a personal growth group since it is dedicated to the personal, social development of the members.
The OasisMega group is very much in line with the elements of the system, as described by Galenes and Adams (61). The group is registered in a lager body, a religious organization that supplies us with mentors. Our group is thus as a subsystem within the large system. In the group, we have smaller, subcommittees, like the finance committees, led by the treasurer. In terms of inputs, we have 10 members; we contribute funds monthly, and we have some tangible resources for the group. We borrow our beliefs that guide behavior in the group from our culture and religion. In terms of throughput variables, we have a structure in the system, and we make decisions and take actions on issues. We also cooperate in our activities and solve conflicts together. In terms of outputs (Galenes and Adams 65), we have realized significant development in the group, in regard to social development. The group cohesiveness has also strengthened, and the members have been very instrumental in solving one another’s problems.
Although we have set an ethical code of conduct in our group, we have experienced various types of members as social loafers and observer participant as discussed by Galenes and Adams (15). Some member’s contributions are very minimal in the group, while others dominate. However, the members of our group have performed very well in embracing diversity, observing integrity, and upholding honesty, in line to the ethical behavior in groups described by Galenes and Adams (16). Communication has been upheld highly in the group. Gathering and dissemination in the group has also been observed with decorum. As Galenes and Adams (17) propose about respect, the members of our group have been very respectful to one another and the group leaders. The respect, honesty, effective communication and integrity are the qualities that have led to the development of positive attitude towards the group. I view the group as the best avenue for personal development.
Work cited
Galenes, Gloria and Katherine Adams. Effective group discussion: Theory and Practice. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill Education, 2012. Print.