Functionalism is often referred to as the consensus theory because it does not address the issue of conflict in society, and functionalists believe that society operates in a harmonious way that maintains itself in a state of balance, remaining healthy and co-ordinated and any sudden practices that may upset the balance are rejected: "Sociologists who use functionalist theory assume that society is an organised system of interrelated parts held together by shared values and processes …showed first 75 words of 1979 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1979 total…community_sport/equity_in_sport Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (2004), Activity Co-ordination Team, (online), DCMS, last accessed on 17 October 2004 at URL: http://www.culture.gov.uk/sport/community_sport/ACT Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (2004), Sport, (online), DCMS, last accessed on 17 October 2004 at URL: http://www.culture.gov.uk/sport National Statistics Online, (2004), Health: Diet and Nutrition, (online), National Statistics, last accessed on 9 November 2004 at URL: http://www.nationalstatistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget