Final answer:
The term for any social pattern that may disrupt society's operation is 'social dysfunction.' This term is aligned with functionalist sociology, which considers the consequences of such patterns for the stability and solidarity of society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society is social dysfunction. Social dysfunctions are social patterns that have undesirable consequences for the operation of society. This concept is key to functionalist perspectives in sociology, which posit that all elements of society serve a function to promote solidarity and maintain order and stability. However, when parts of the society do not function properly, it leads to a state known as dynamic equilibrium in sociology—a stable state where all parts of a healthy society work together properly is disturbed. In the context of functionalism, any action or social pattern that undermines the stability of society could be considered a dysfunction, which may include a wide range of phenomena from social inequality to behaviors that deviate from societal norms. This understanding is rooted in the work of early sociologists like Émile Durkheim, who characterized a well-functioning society as having 'organic solidarity' with a shared set of norms and values that guide behavior.