CH1SEC3 SOCIOLOGY

Theoretical Perspectives

The Role of Theoretical Perspectives

Perception – the way you interpret the meaning of an image or event Depends on beliefs,

values, what you focus on

Sociolological theoretical perspective – set of assumptions about the workings of society

Major Sociological Perspectives

Each perspective has a different slant on human social behavior I. Functionalism

Views society as an integrated whole

II. Conflict Perspective Emphasizes competition,

change, & constraint Class, race, and gender

struggles III. Symbolic

Interactionism Focus more on the way people

interact with each other How individual use shared

symbols as they interact

TURN TO PG 27 AND COPY THE CHART

Auguste Comte

Positivism – scientific observation in study of social behavior

Social statics – stability & order

Social dynamics- social change

Functionalism

Contributions made by each part of society-how they work together Ex) family, economy, religion parts of society

Family –provides for reproduction & care for members of society

Economy- production of goods and services for society

Religion – beliefs and practices related to sacred things of society

Change in one part affects another part of society Ex) Industrial Revolution affected family life

Functionalism

Function - contribution made by some part of society Manifest functions – intended and recognized

consequences of an aspect of society Ex)school-teach math skills

Latent functions- unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of society Ex)school-development of close friendships

Dysfunction- negative consequence of an aspect of society

Ex)being treated as a “number” by bureaucratic government agency

Give an example of each of these terms.

Functionalism

Each component of society affects each other

Sociologists:

Herbert Spencer

Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim

Society exists because of broad consensus

Mechanical solidarity- Preindustrial society Widespread consensus of

values & beliefs, conformity, tradition, family

Organic solidarity-Industrial society Social interdependency,

specialized roles, dependent on one another

Conflict Perspective

Reverse of functionalism Disagreements among

groups in society and between societies (competition)

Contest for power (ability to control others) Those with most power get

the largest share of what is valuable in a society (wealth, prestige, privilege)

Some groups have more power, some have less

Basic agreement on values within society Cooperation,

common goals

Conflict Perspective Functionalism

Karl Marx

Concern for poverty, inequality, working class Not just study world but

change it 2 main social classes

Bourgeoisie (capitalists)-those who own the means for producing wealth

Proletariat – work for bourgeoisie, paid just enough to stay alive

Class conflict – clash between 2 classes Wage workers overtake

capitalists – classless (communistic) society

Planned revolution could speed up change from capitalism to communism Felt capitalism

would self-destruct anyway

Which Perspective is Better? Neither!– different focus

Functionalism – consensus, stability, cooperation of a population

Conflict – constraint, conflict, change in a society

Each deals with large social units Ex) Economy, broad social processes,

conflict Last perspective focuses on ways people

interact

Max Weber

Most important influence

Humans act on the basis of their own understanding of a situation Sociologists must

discover personal meanings, values, beliefs, attitudes

Verstehen – understand behavior by putting self mentally in someone else’s place

Rationalization- use of knowledge, reason, planning

Symbolic Interactionism

Focus on interaction among people Symbol- represents something else

Object, word, gesture, facial expression, sound Ex) American flag – symbol of US

Meaning is determined by those who create/use symbol- must be understood by whole group

3 Basic Assumptions

I. We learn meaning of symbols by others’ reactions Ex) Latin America, whistling at end of

performance is bad, in North America, booing at end is bad

II. We base our behavior on those meanings Ex) Avoid encore if you hear whistling in LA,

booing NA III. We use meanings of symbols to

imagine how others will respond to our behavior before we act

Dramaturgy – human interaction like theatrical presentation (dress, gestures, tone of voice)

Guess Which Perspective

Societies are in relative balance. Power is one of the most important elements

in life. Religion helps hold a society together morally. Symbols are crucial to social life. Many elements of a society exist to benefit

the powerful. Social life should be understood from the

viewpoint of the individuals involved. Social change is constantly occurring