Three Sociological Perspectives This paper discusses three approaches that can be taken when studying Sociology. There are many subjects to be studied and discussed in the field of Sociology, and the approach chosen to study a particular subject is called a perspective. There are three different perspectives, and they are functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives. This paper compares and contrasts these different perspectives with one another. When studying in the field of Sociology everyone is going to approach topics in a different manner. No two people are going to have the exact same view on a particular subject. There are however, three major categories in which people might choose to approach topics. The approaches are know as sociological perspectives and are the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives. These perspectives name different ways in which different people choose to analyze a subject, and how they look at a society as a whole. The following paragraphs compare and contrast the three, and identify major characteristics of each. Functionalist Perspective Definition "The functionalist perspective is a sociological approach which emphasizes the way that parts of a society are structure to maintain its stability,"(Schaefer & Lamm, 1998). This perspective looks at a society in a positive manner and sees it as stable, with all the parts working together. Under the functionalist view every social aspect of a society contributes to the society's survival, and if not, the aspect is not passed to the next generation. Founders There are two people who where mainly involved in the development of the functionalist perspective, they are Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons. Durkheim contributed to the functionalist perspective when she was studying religion, and how it was responsible for people feeling solidarity and unity in groups. Parsons was a sociologist from Harvard University who was greatly influenced by Durkheim. In return, he influenced Sociology by dominating the field, with his functionalist views, for four decades (Schaefer & Lamm, 1998). Characteristics When approaching a subject with the functionalist perspective, manifest and latent functions as well as dysfunctions are looked at and studied. A manifest function of an institution is one that is stated and expected. A latent function is one that is unexpected or can show a hidden purpose of an institution, and a dysfunction is a component of a society that can cause instability (Rothman, 1998). These functions and dysfunctions are use in analyzing a society.
Sociology cannot be clearly explained as there are many different theories and theorists; so far none of them have been defined as a correct answer. Although with all this information of theories and theorists sociology is relatively explained as agreed philosophies that delivers a reason for human society. Sociological theories are like most other theories, they are selective, and there is no quantity of theory to explain everything or define the infinite amount of information that exist or comprehend the methods of observing reality. Sociological theories vary and can be linked to each other according to various criteria. The two main perspectives of sociology are the micro sociological approach and the macro sociological approach. The micro sociological approach is based more on the persons being capable of their own independent thoughts feelings and behaviour; therefor society is built through their interactions amongst each other and the significances they attach to them. This approach is defined using Social Action Theory and Symbolic Interactionism. The Macro Sociological approach is on a much bigger scale and consists of a person being born into a current society which will then shape their behaviour. It centres on the organisations, values and the culture of that particular society and how it impacts an individual and their role in life. This approach is made clearer using Functionalism, Feminist and Conflict Theories.
The functionalist paradigm focuses on the integration of society, and how society how its own groups which has their own functions to help improve the peoples lives. Functionalist paradigm fits in the category of macro-sociology, because it focuses on the patterns that shape an entire society. Functionalists believe that society is maintained through the thought of trust and consensus on moral values for ideal behavior. Working together will result in a stable social environment that will create equality. Conflicts or dysfunctions will be view as a disease in the social system. Social conflict paradigm believes that society is divided into many groups that have their own goals, and that certain parts of the world have the luck of benefiting economic dominan...
Sociaologist have alway attacked problems and anylized social issues that occur over long periods of time or short period of times. These ocurences usually show a trend or a pathway rather to how it has led up to a certain point of an issue occurring, or just a trend in the interaction of different groups, ethnicities, race, and culture. These anylizations differ from issue to issue, such as a micro level analysis of small social patterns to a macro level analysis of large social patterns. The foundation of sociology is based on three theoretical perspectives which are, the conflict theory, functionalism, and lastly symbolic interactionism. Being compared and contrasted in this essay will be the conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.
Functionalism developed out of the positivist observation that 'all positive speculations owe their first origin to the occupations of practical life' (Comte, 1865, pg 11) and the boundaries of scientific knowledge can not go further than empirically observable truths and views societies as holistic systems where 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts' (Taylor et el, 1997, pg 662). Functionalist analysis draws on three assumptions essentially seeking to transform society into a theoretical system of reality. The first assumption is that there are zero independent parts operating within the system, secondly that the parts identified need to be understood in terms of their contribution to the functioning of the system and, finally, that the constituent parts have a positive function, or role to play, in the systems overall functioning and effectiveness (ibid, pg 668).
Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education, such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there is a disturbance in any one of the parts, is when you can see the interdependence. But what is important about this theory is that “there will always be some reorganization and tendency to restore equilibrium” (Wallace and Wolf 17). Functionalist do not believe it’s crucial that the people involved in the society to be aware of this interconnectedness anymore than the brain and heart consciously realize that they work together as an organism.
Functionalism is that all things in society have a function or role within that society. In the terms of prejudice have a role in society it can give people a sense of higher status or lower status. For example, African Americans in the past after slavery was over still are being judged by skin color in society and this plays are role in determining future job they want to obtain. This place a role in society aspects because it created meaning and structure to be separate by skin color during the time of the jim crow laws. This lead to discrimination to happen among African
Functionalism is a structural-consensus perspective that views society as a system (Stevens, 2008). One of the benefits for functionalism is that can be correlated in almost every kind of system, especially a system that is created for the power of integration, socialization, and legitimization for society. Religion is something that provides individuals with particular morals, values, and guidance to venture through life.
Sociologists analyze human society and interaction using varied ideas and trends. There are three main thought processes used when deciphering social interactions. Structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism are used to understand how society works. There are strengths and weaknesses that are attributed to each of the theories.
“In sociology, a theory is the framework for analysis that outlines what to focus on and provides predictions about logical outcomes within the framework.” (Durkin & Carrothers, 2015, Ch. 1.3, para 1) Sociologists have been trying to create a single theory to give explanations and understandings towards social and human behavior. However, this has only caused more theoretical perspectives to sprout and has led to the creation of three main theoretical perspectives within sociology. These perspectives are used to explain the social behavior and phenomena that are experienced and shown by humans. The perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction. This paper will focus on conflict theory and the influence that Karl
There are two kinds of people in the world when analyzing a problem; one kind that search for details to break the problem down and the other that view the subject as a whole. Each type of method works in today’s world on many disciplines. In the field of sociology, symbolic interactionism and structural functionalism are two of the main theories to apply as sociologists are analyzing social problems. The two perspectives are quite different on the usual level of analysis; Symbolic interactionism examines small patterns of social interactions while structural functionalism examines large-scale patterns of society. An analogic thinking can be applied to the two theories whereas symbolic interactionism is like looking subjects through microscope
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 sociological perspectives that best address the research question include the symbolic interactionist perspective, functionalism perspective as well as the conflict theory perspective. This is due to the reason that different authors take different perspectives and/ or approaches to communicate their ideologies based on the research question. Lastly, it can be concluded that the best approach to be used while conducting this research study would be to employ a literature review study since the material already exists in scholarly databases online.
Functionalism is often related with thoughts of Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), a French sociologist (Coakley & Dunning, 2004). He used biological, organic analogies to explain society as a whoe.to keep the whole organism/system (that is society) it is important that all it parts works well together. These keepings parts can also be named as natural balance develops through common values and also through different point view of the society like family, education, religion, spots and so on. (Coakley, 2004). So the family’s share is to reproduce new members as well as socialism them, teaching them the values that need in the society. The educational system comes through schools where the members are likely to be taught by the teachers and also learn from
Many sociologists question, whether the sociological approach is an appropriate discipline to undertake when studying society. As society and individuals are continually changing it makes researching our social world much more difficult. Especially when choosing the correct method to utilize if wanting to achieve appropriate results. Although, sociology is viewed as a form of science the research methodologies differ. Nevertheless, when studying about society, sociology is seen as effective, however, various scientific methods may be used to organize the research and gain the most accurate results.
It sees society as a body of all institutions working together to make a society. Functionalism theory helps you observe society in order to understand the functions and institutions working together to sustain society as a whole. Functionalism theory weakness is being unable to social change, it will cause a conflict. Changing the elements will affect other elements in the system and cause a change in the whole balance. Functionalism does not inspire people to take a change in social environment, even when it will benefit them. Functionalism believes that if one has social change then different parts of society will compensate in a seemingly natural way for any problems that may