Which theoretical perspective relates societies to the functioning of a human body?

The theoretical perspective that relates societies to the functioning of a human body is functionalism. This perspective posits that society operates in a way similar to a living organism, where different parts of society work together to maintain stability and order. Just as various organs and systems within a body function interdependently to sustain life, societal institutions—such as family, education, and government—are seen as interrelated components that contribute to the overall functioning of society.

Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social structures and their roles in promoting social equilibrium. When each part of the society performs its function properly, social cohesion and harmony are achieved, much like a healthy body where each organ performs its designated role. This analogy reveals how functionalism views disruptions in societal functions as akin to illnesses in a body, leading to social instability.

The other perspectives, such as conflict theory, focus on power dynamics and inequality, symbolic interactionism examines individual interactions and meanings, and postmodernism questions overarching narratives and truths. None of these directly compare society to a human body in the same structural and functional manner as functionalism does.