Perhaps Merton greatest contribution to functionalism and sociology is that he
A) showed Parsons's system did not exist.
B) showed that system components may or may not be "in sync."
C) proved Parsons's system to be foolproof.
D) confirmed Parsons's notion of deviant sex-roles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Merton's contribution was to highlight the possibility of dysfunction within functional systems, which contradicted Parsons's belief that social institutions were inherently stable and functional. Merton argued that social structures and institutions could have both manifest (intended) and latent (unintended) functions, which may or may not be "in sync" with each other, leading to dysfunction. This concept of dysfunction has become a key aspect of functionalist theory in sociology.

Perhaps Merton Greatest Contribution to Functionalism and Sociology Is That