Robert Merton introduced the distinction between manifest and latent functions. Manifest functions are the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern or institution, whereas latent functions are the unrecognized and unintended consequences that also contribute to social stability.

Anomie, a concept popularized by Émile Durkheim, refers to a state of normlessness or a breakdown of social bonds between an individual and their community. In an anomic society, the traditional rules and guidelines that govern behavior are weakened or absent, leading to social instability, confusion, and a lack of clear moral direction for individuals within that society.

In functionalist sociology, a dysfunction refers to any social pattern or process that disrupts the stability or operation of society. While manifest and latent functions describe the intended and unintended positive consequences of social structures, dysfunctions represent the negative impacts that can lead to social instability or the failure of institutions to meet the needs of the population.

Functionalism views culture as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Functionalists emphasize how shared values act as the 'social glue' that holds society together by providing a common framework for behavior and social integration, ensuring that the needs of the social system are met.

Robert Merton proposed 'middle-range theories' as a bridge between grand, abstract theories and empirical research. Relative deprivation, which explains how individuals feel disadvantaged compared to others, serves as a specific, testable framework that fits within this middle-range category rather than being a broad macro or micro theory.

Sutherland's theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through social interaction with others, primarily within intimate personal groups. This learning process includes techniques of committing crimes and the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes. It emphasizes that deviance is a social product rather than an individual pathology or biological trait.

Functionalists often view society as a system seeking equilibrium. While they acknowledge that change occurs, they emphasize that the underlying social structure remains relatively constant. They focus on the stability and unity of society, arguing that change is often a gradual process that allows institutions to adapt while maintaining the overall persistence of social norms and order.

Functionalism, often associated with thinkers like Durkheim and Parsons, views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. It emphasizes that shared values and moral consensus are the 'glue' that holds society together, ensuring that individuals perform their roles effectively to maintain the equilibrium of the social structure.

Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. While functionalists study many aspects of society, they often analyze how social structures contribute to the maintenance of the social order, including the functional necessity of stratification and inequality.

Functionalism is a macro-sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and solidarity. Functionalists focus on how social institutions, such as family, education, and religion, contribute to the maintenance of social order and consensus within the broader social structure.