Structural Functional Theory

Abstract Structural functional theory is a sociological paradigm that was once dominant within the discipline of sociology. As of the early twenty‐first century, it is most relevant in the study of families, where its influence is still guiding and shaping scholarship and inquiry. As a theory, it explains institutions, practices, and social structures by focusing on how they help address societal needs. The most influential functionalist scholars were G. P. Murdock and Talcott Parsons, who reached the height of their influence in the middle of the twentieth century. As a theoretical framework, functionalism has been criticized for universalizing and normalizing social structures that can be seen as problematic or oppressive.