Final answer:
Functionalism views all aspects of society, including behaviors like masochism, as having a potential function to maintain social order. It is challenged by its circular logic and difficulty in explaining social change, but still provides valuable insights into the roles behaviors may play at a macro level within society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functionalism, a theoretical perspective in sociology, would likely view a masochist as someone whose behavior serves a specific function within society, perhaps as an extreme example of societal norms around pleasure and pain. The existence of masochistic behavior does not necessarily challenge functionalism; rather, it would prompt functionalists to inquire into the role such behavior plays in maintaining social order or addressing latent functions of the society. A challenge for functionalism might arise from its difficulty in explaining the role of seemingly dysfunctional or non-normative behaviors and how they could contribute to the overall health and stability of society, as masochist tendencies could be seen to do.
The inability to account for social change and the circular logic of functionalism—that behaviors are functional because they are repeated—pose criticisms. Nevertheless, functionalism provides a macro-level analysis that helps to understand the ways different parts of society contribute to societal health, such as global inequality and the reasons behind it. It sees each part, including behaviors like masochism, as potentially fulfilling a role that is necessary for the society to operate smoothly, even if this role is not immediately apparent.