What does Functionalism analyze?

Functionalism is a major theoretical perspective in sociology that focuses on understanding how various parts of society work together to create a stable and functioning whole. This approach examines the structure and function of each component of society, whether it be family, education, or religion, and analyzes how these elements contribute to overall social stability and cohesion.

By emphasizing the role that different societal institutions play, functionalism helps to explain how each part interacts with others, maintaining order and contributing to the larger system's health. This perspective is particularly interested in the ways in which familial roles, norms, and values support social continuity and help meet the needs of individuals and the community.

The other options do not align with the core principles of functionalism. The focus on interpersonal relationships, family system evolution, and individual influences are better suited to other sociological approaches, such as symbolic interactionism or conflict theory, which examine social behavior in different contexts or highlight change and power dynamics rather than the structural stability emphasized in functionalism.