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Structural functionalism theory pdf
Strengths and weaknesses of symbolic interactionism
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There are three major theoretical perspectives that make up society: structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. However, everyone views the world differently; it is vital to know the different theoretical perspectives in order to understand how society functions as a whole. The first theoretical perspective is structural functionalism. Structural functionalism is a macro-level theory that “views a society as a complete unit” ( Larkin, Ch.2 ). Society is seen as a system of interaction, where everyone has their own role (Harpercollins). Therefore, society is seen as a system with different parts and how these parts operate together. Structural functionalism also focuses on social stability which is seen as a societal …show more content…
Society is constantly undergoing change as a result of competition over scarce resources. According to conflict theory, inequality exists because those that have more control have a disproportionate share of society’s resources and actively defend their advantages. This would be considered as the upper class and the lower class. For example, when working at a clothing store, one will immediately notice the inequality between a sales associate and the head manager. A sales associate has to overcome many obstacles for a low salary. For example, a sales associate has to help everyone in the store for long periods of time and late at night, while struggling with many other different tasks. The head manager can sit in the back of the store, and get paid twice as much as the hard-working sales associate. This is a perfect comparison to society. This exploitation of the lower class by the upper class demonstrates how the upper class has more control and can use their control to their …show more content…
With structural functionalism, change is viewed as threatening or disruptive (Larkin, Ch.2), but there is constant change (whether it be technology or new discoveries). Also, society is deals more with competition over power or resource rather than how people work together as a unit. Symbolic interactionism focuses too much about roles; not everyone has a role because there is homeless and ill people that may not be able to benefit or play a role in society. According to Larkin, symbolic interactionism doesn’t see society as a whole but by the interactions that share a meaning. Conflict theory is more realistic to the world today because it is based on the challenges people go through and does not focus on relying on one
Structural Functionalism is the sociology theory that emphasizes how everything and everyone has a purpose in society. That each and every one of us is a puzzle piece that comes together in order to form a society, any missing puzzle piece would result in the downfall or shortcomings of the whole society. Whether this may be religion, education, economy, etc, all of these structures much work together in order to have a flourishing society where everyone works uniformly. Stability is achieved when everyone fulfills their duty is 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 main points of the Symbolic Interactionism perspective is that symbols are what shape how we communicate and how we view the world. Our changing ideas affect how we understand and view different things around us. Without symbols society would be not be very coordinated, people wouldn’t be able to specify a specific time for school or where to meet for lunch. The main points of the Functional Analysis perspective, is that society is made up of several individual parts that work together for society to function properly. Each of these smaller parts has functions that are beneficial consequences of people actions and dysfunctions that are harmful and threaten the equilibrium. In this perspective the smaller parts are look at to see how they
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 the oldest and most commonly used theoretical approach used to understand social issues. Functionalism is a macrosociological perspective that presents the idea that society consists of different components working together to help a society function as one. Sociolog...
Each theory – the Structural Functional theory, Social Conflict theory, and Symbolic Interaction theory- are both similar and different, though the main difference is what each theory effects. The Structural Functional theory, based off of many theorists such as Emile Durkheim and, consists of the idea that society operate through subcultures, such as gender, kinship or ethnicity, and religion. One of the most common analogies used to describe this theory is that society is the “body” and the subcultures it consists of are the “organs”. The Social Conflict theory, based off of Marxist ideals, displays the differences between economic, social, and or societal role a person plays in comparison towards others. This could be the difference between a child raised in an upper class family and a child raised in poverty, the wealthier child is offered more throughout their life and the other is gains less.
Erik Erikson composed a theory of psychological development that was composed of eight stages. Erikson’s theory focuses on how personalities evolve throughout life as a result of the interaction between biologically based maturation and the demands of society. According to Erikson, “Each stage of human development presents its characteristic crises. Coping well with each crisis makes an individual better prepared to cope with the next.” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2013, p. 314) According to Erikson’s eight stages of development, I have only been through six of the eight stages.
Structural Functionalism or what I call just functionalism, is just another theory that has society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through the macro-level of orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes that society has evolved like organisms. This approach looks at both social structure and the social functions. Functionalism has society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms and customs, traditions, and institutions. There is a common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer that presents these parts of society as "organs" that works towards the proper functioning of the "body" as a whole. In the most basic terms, it simply emphasizes "the effort to impute and the rigorously as possible, to each feature, custom, or even practice the effect on the functioning of a supposedly stable and cohesive system.
.... Functionalism is much too conservative, and does not have a way to explain major changes in society. The conflict theory does not explain some of the more orderly and stable parts of society. They both make good points, and both have good arguments. I however, cannot endorse one over the other for the simple reason that they are both essentially wrong and right at the same time. A conflict theorist is correct in saying that money and power do give you special considerations, and conflicts are at the base of most social change, however, they are wrong in assuming that all social institutions are unstable. A functionalist is correct in saying that the society is made up of interdependent and interacting parts, but wrong in their conservative assumptions. A blend of the two would probably provide the greatest base for an argument and would probably be the most real.
Therefore, society evolves as an organism with various structures, which perform different distinct functions. Scholar Jennie McIntyre, who believes in this approach, addresses the society in the realms of important functions played by the distinct elements of the societal structures. The structures here include customs of a particular society, its traditions, the norms applicable in the society, and the institutions that surround a particular society (Kingsbury & Scanzoni,
Although, the business model is not the same that strategy, it refers the system it operates and how it produces value for its investors, therefore, the strategy is the plan of action designed to develop the business model, and the tactics is an action plan , in short term. (Casadesus-Masanell, R., and Ricart, J.E., 2010)
We see many of fields of society for example; government, educational, cultural and many more. Sociology is importantly the basis for almost all policies and idea which shape the world we are in. For example; Harriet Martineau, first female sociologists brought attention to ignored topics such as marriage, children, domestic and religious life and race relations. Without this idea being brought it up it would have always been an issue from society. Solving topics are so beneficial to making our society a better place. On a personal level it’s really changed my vision in the world. This enables us to understand paradigms. Structural functionalism was inspired partly by Durkheim, he stated that society is defined as a social system, with structures organized in an orderly way to form an organic, stable whole. This system enables us to understand and meet the circumstances in order to
The symbolic interactionist perspective is also knows as symbolic interactionism. “It directs sociologists to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.” George H. Mead was the sociologist that introduced this perspective to American sociology in the 1920s.
The structural theory of Functionalism is a vast perspective in social science which directs to the attention of the social structure of the function and its components. Those components are called norms, values, status and role. Structural theory is also called Macro theory. That theory or perspective enables us to analyze the way our whole society works and fits together. The sociologist TALCOTT PARSONS used a different system of approach. What he done was to view all the different societies as distinguished and able to supply to their own needs without external assistance. T...
There were a great number of sociologist that dealt and helped create the structural-functional approach. Two of those well known men were Emile Durkheim and Robert K. Merton. The structural functional theory “is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability” (Macionis, page 14). This approach corresponds with social structure and a structure’s social functions. Social structure is “any relatively stable pattern of social behavior” (Macionis, page 14). This structure gives our lives dynamic in many perspectives such as: in our families, careers, schools, and communities. Social functions is “the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society