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Kayla Angeline Professor Connor Sociology 101-43-D April 1st, 2015 General Education Competency Assignment In the world of sociologists, there are three theoretical perspectives that seem to stand out. Sociologist theories help us explain, understand, and predict the world we live in. These three perspectives are: symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and the conflict theory. These theories provide us with different perspectives on how we view the social world. Each of these perspectives offers a variety of explanations. When sociologists are using these theories they do not just use one, but instead they also use the theories as well. The first theory we will go in detail with is symbolic interactionism. The significant idea to this theory is that symbols are the key to understanding how we view the world and communicate with on another. George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley developed this theory. People use symbols in everyday life. Without symbols we would have no sense of relationships with people. With the use of symbols, we are able to tell the difference between our aunt and uncle or brother and sister. If we didn’t have symbols to tell us the difference between the two we would have no idea what our relations to that person may be. If you think someone is your aunt you will behave …show more content…
Race and gender are both fundamentals that can be looked at. Race and gender are both socially constructed based on what we believe is true (Crossman, Symbolic Interaction Theory). We use these socially constructed meanings to help us pin point who we are interacting with and sometimes even how we are interpreting the meaning of a persons actions or words. However, critics of symbolic interactionism say that the big picture of social interpretation is overseen. Instead of looking more in depth to something and looking at the “big picture” the social interactionists often miss the larger issue of
Sociology is the study of society and the interactions that occur within society itself. There are numerous methods of analyzing societies and the way the function, nonetheless, most methods fall in micro and macro level theories. Micro level theories allow sociologist to study smaller relationships such as individual or compact groups of people. On the other hand, macro level studies permit for larger scale investigations to take place. With both of these theories there are three theoretical perspectives used in sociology. Micro level theories include symbolic interactionism which focuses in interactions done with language and gestures and the means which allow such interactions to take place. Macro level theories include structural functionalism
Symbolic interaction is a theory based on the premise that humans depend on and interpret meaning during social interactions with one another. Symbolic interactionism attempts to explain social interactions by analyzing how people attach various interpretations to words, symbols and ideas, which identify with them and society. Herbert Blumer introduced the theory of Symbolic interaction and it was based on concepts and observations by earlier social scientist such as George Mead. Mead believed that human’s thoughts, self-concepts and shared societal views were all created through communication. This theory consists of three core concepts: meaning, language, and thought. Through Communication people can determine a personal and social identity. Through meaning, Blumer proposed “humans act towards people or things on a basis of the meaning that they assign to those people or things.” Blumer believed that
Social theories provide us with a new perspective in the social world. With new perspectives, new opinions can be made. also, they can provide answers or explain a specific social spectacle. Social theories can help clarify and predict the way the social world works. The three major sociological perspectives are functionalism, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interaction theory. Each theory is different and can help answer many questions about human behavior in a social world.
The three major sociological paradigms are conflict, functionalist, symbolic interactionism. The Conflict Theory states that issues such as race, gender, social class, criminal justice, and international relations is a macro orientation because it studies how the struggle for resources embraces society together(Pg.60 Think Sociology). A paradigm is a theoretical framework through which scientists study the world (Pg. 6 Think Sociology). Functionalism views society as a system of interrelated parts is a macro orientation because it studies exactly how social structures affect how a society works (Pg.60). The third paradigm is the symbolic interactionism, believes the root of society comes from its symbols society is fluid, meaning it is constantly in the process of change because the symbols we use and their interpretations change. Disputes arise when people do not share the same definitions of symbols. (Pg.60 Think Sociology book)
There are three main types of sociological perspectives in which you can perceive different sociological issues and concepts; structural-functional, symbolic-interaction, and social conflict. Structural-functional looks at society as a whole and how it works together. Symbolic-interaction is how different symbols spark particular thoughts and emotions by examining the meanings that people impose on objects, events and behaviors. Social conflict studies how power and coercion affect social order. Based off these types of perspectives, an analysis on teen depression and suicide can be evaluated from a sociological standpoint.
The theory of symbolic interactionism grew from the understanding the mind was not a thing or structure, but was a process of thinking (Ritzer, 2000). This process comprised of three stages, which includes defining objects in the social world, outlining possible modes of conduct and seeing the consequences of alternative actions and elimination of unlikely possibilities allowing a focus on selecting the most optimal course of action (Ritzer, 2000), this process allows the “self” the ability to adjust with interactions with others. (Ritzer, 2000)
When sociologists apply the sociological perspective to different social issues, in this case, teenage drug abuse, they look at functionalism, conflict theory, and interaction theory. Through these different theories, sociologist can analyze social issues and have a better understanding of them. Teenage drug abuse has grown in society over the past few years. Using the sociological perspective, sociologists can better understand teenage drug abuse and other social issues.
Sociologists employ three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today. They are the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionism. The structural-functionalist perspective is done at a macro level and its focus is on the relationships between the parts of society. The Conflict perspective is done at a macro level and its main focus is on how the wealthy controls the poor and weak. Symbolic Interactionism is done at a micro and it focuses on the use of symbols and face to face interactions.
The symbolic interactionist approach is, quite literally, how we interpret the world around us, given the symbols which construct society; essentially, it is how we interpret the meanings of the goings-on around us in the everyday world. We interpret these meanings based off of learned meanings, which are derived from a societal interpretation that is reproduced both consciously and unconsciously through the members of a society every day. The symbolic interactionist approach exists from a social constructionist standpoint in the assumptions that something is real in its consequences to us; in essence, it is our social reality.
George Herbert Mead and one of his colleagues developed a theoretical perspective known as symbolic interaction. Symbolic interaction-a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another. Mead felt that with out symbols everything and everyone who be the same and wouldn’t be able to differentiate. A symbol gives uniqueness. Mead was never successful in publishing one of his articles which included his theory. He is most well known for Mind, Self and Society, which is used in many lectures nowadays. Symbols helped create a language that was needed by the...
Sociology is broken up into three main ideas that can help people understand it. The three theoretical perspectives of sociology include symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism, and the conflict theory.
The Symbolic Interaction theory refers to ways in which a family or society attaches meaning to verbal communication, non-verbal communication, people, and objects. We are taught from a young age communication using verbal language and accepted ways to express our needs. The theory represents perception of objects or actions (Macionis, 2007, p.17).
To Quote Anthony Giddens: "Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behaviour as social beings. The scope of sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street up to the investigation of world-wide social processes“(1989). Gidden’s statement describes sociology as a study that helps us understand our own behaviour as human beings in a social word. Sociologist study everything from the interaction between people in the street to the interaction between different countries. Sociologists aim to study how societies have changed over, how societies are structured and organized, the norms of society. It’s also important to understand that not all sociologists agree with each other, Sociologists often debate with one another to prove/disprove certain theories and concepts. By studying Sociology is it helps us analyze social conflicts on a micro and macro scope. Through a macro level, we can study large-scale social organization and large social categories it also examinees social processes and patterns society as a whole. We can analyze individuals much deeper on a micro level. This way we study a human by face-to face interactions. Its important as humans to understand the way our society came together and the reasons to how elements work and function together. Sociology gives us a deeper
Sociological theories are based on how individuals perceive, understand and explain the acts and behaviors in societies. Throughout history, many individuals have developed their own assumptions on how social life is explained. In order to explain how theorists assumptions apply to society, specifically education, an analysis of functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interaction issues can be viewed.
Before the SI theory came about, sociologists studied society in order to understand individuals. However, SI, or symbolic interactionism, takes a small-scale view by focusing on the relationships and interactions between individual people. Many of my teachers helped me to realize that if I wanted to get out of the small town I grew up in, I had to focus on my education. By focusing on the individual, symbolic interactionism can explain society as a whole. Education is one of the most important aspects of our society, and it is clearly shown by acknowledging the relationship between a student and a