Analyse the usefulness of functionalism for understanding society.

Firstly, functionalism has been deemed useful for understanding society on the grounds that it successfully demonstrates that social institutions are connected to, and dependent on one another. Functionalists view society as a system - a structure of integrated parts which fit together to form a whole. This is often compared to the workings of a human body, which is why this explanation is often referred to as an 'organic' analogy. Essentially, this means that if one institution (or human organ) stops working, the whole system (or body) collapses. Functionalists such as Durkheim have illustrated this by investigating the role of social institutions; such as the family and the education system. Both of these aforementioned institutions are "agencies of socialisation", insofar that they teach children important values and beliefs shared by society as a whole. Therefore, if one of these institutions breaks down, it potentially has disasterous consequences for others, as for instance, children may arrive at school not having been predisposed to discipline and authority, which may then hinder their progress at school (which is founded on such ideals). Thus, functionalism is useful in this regard as it illustrates the interconnected relationship between societal institutions. 

Secondly, functionalism is also useful for understanding society because functionalists themselves have devised a number of useful concepts which have influenced the study of society. For example, Durkheim's notorious concept of 'social facts' (something which has social causes), is a term which is still utilised even today, after Durkheim himself used it in relation to his positivist Suicide Study which took place in 1867.