HHS4U/CIHHS4U/CI

Theoretical Theoretical PerspectivesPerspectives

Learning GoalsLearning Goals

By the end of this lesson you will By the end of this lesson you will understand seven theoretical understand seven theoretical perspectives.perspectives.

You will be able to compare the You will be able to compare the theories to each other.theories to each other.

You will be able to evaluate the You will be able to evaluate the usefulness of each theory.usefulness of each theory.

Success CriteriaSuccess Criteria

On the unit test you will be able to On the unit test you will be able to use the theories to explain case use the theories to explain case studies as well as explain why one studies as well as explain why one theory is more useful than another in theory is more useful than another in a particular situation.a particular situation.

TheoriesTheories

When scientists explain their When scientists explain their observations, their answers reflect their observations, their answers reflect their theoriestheories

Some theories have been used to Some theories have been used to explain human behaviour for many yearsexplain human behaviour for many years

Other theories have been revised and Other theories have been revised and replacedreplaced

Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts to explain evidenceto explain evidence

MICRO vs MACRO MICRO vs MACRO PerspectivesPerspectives

MACRO theories study the interaction MACRO theories study the interaction between society and institutions such between society and institutions such as the law, family, politics, etc.as the law, family, politics, etc.

MICRO theories emphasize the MICRO theories emphasize the relationships within individual relationships within individual familiesfamilies

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism Systems TheorySystems Theory Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories Conflict TheoryConflict Theory Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory

Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism

MACRO ApproachMACRO Approach Attempts to explain how society is Attempts to explain how society is

organized to perform required organized to perform required functionsfunctions

Focuses on how institutions, such as Focuses on how institutions, such as the law, political system, and the the law, political system, and the family functionfamily function

Assumes societies are stable when Assumes societies are stable when structures function to benefit societystructures function to benefit society

Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism Examines the roles individuals play to contribute to Examines the roles individuals play to contribute to

the bigger picturethe bigger picture Status = a specific position within a social groupStatus = a specific position within a social group Role = the set of behaviours an individual is Role = the set of behaviours an individual is

expected to demonstrate within a statusexpected to demonstrate within a status Norm = most prevalent behaviours in that roleNorm = most prevalent behaviours in that role

Example: An individual with a “father” status is Example: An individual with a “father” status is expected to take on behaviours such as working, expected to take on behaviours such as working, child care and providing to fulfill his role. It is the child care and providing to fulfill his role. It is the norm for a father to work outside the household.norm for a father to work outside the household.

Structural FunctionalismStructural Functionalism Strengths of Approach:Strengths of Approach:

Explains how family interacts with societyExplains how family interacts with society Emphasizes family strengths rather than Emphasizes family strengths rather than

weaknessesweaknesses • • Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach:Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach: • • does not explain why societies or families does not explain why societies or families

change. change. Change and individual differences are seen as Change and individual differences are seen as

disruptionsdisruptions • • only one acceptable form of family rather only one acceptable form of family rather

than many variationsthan many variations • • doesn’t deal with interpersonal relationshipsdoesn’t deal with interpersonal relationships

Systems TheorySystems Theory

MICRO AND MACROMICRO AND MACRO Attempts to explain how groups of Attempts to explain how groups of

individuals interact as a system and individuals interact as a system and influence each otherinfluence each other

A system is a set of interrelated partsA system is a set of interrelated parts Family systems have a complex Family systems have a complex

organizationorganization Individuals within the system influence Individuals within the system influence

each other in a reciprocal wayeach other in a reciprocal way

Systems TheorySystems Theory

The family system changes when a The family system changes when a change in one person’s behaviour causes change in one person’s behaviour causes the behaviour of another to evolvethe behaviour of another to evolve

The larger family system contains The larger family system contains subsystems (father-child, mother-father) subsystems (father-child, mother-father)

A genogram diagram depicts the A genogram diagram depicts the relationships within a family systemrelationships within a family system

Systems TheorySystems Theory Advantages: Advantages:

Explains the behaviour of individuals as Explains the behaviour of individuals as inseparable from the groupinseparable from the group

Explains why behaviour continues in destructive Explains why behaviour continues in destructive patterns even through generations patterns even through generations

Disadvantages: Disadvantages: Can be difficult to determine how others within Can be difficult to determine how others within

the family are influencing an individuals the family are influencing an individuals behaviourbehaviour

Overlooks experience of individualsOverlooks experience of individuals Social/Structural factors, such as Social/Structural factors, such as

unemployment are not taken into considerationunemployment are not taken into consideration

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

MICRO ApproachMICRO Approach A psychological theory that attempts to A psychological theory that attempts to

explain how individual choose how they explain how individual choose how they will act based on their will act based on their perceptionsperceptions of of themselves and of othersthemselves and of others

People define and interpret their People define and interpret their experiences and give meaning to themexperiences and give meaning to them

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

““Me” =objective qualities (tall, male, Me” =objective qualities (tall, male, student)student)

““I” = subjective self (good student, I” = subjective self (good student, shy, lonely)shy, lonely)

Role taking = being able to anticipate Role taking = being able to anticipate how other’s will respondhow other’s will respond

Communication requires common Communication requires common language and use of shared symbolslanguage and use of shared symbols

Cooley’s Looking Glass SelfCooley’s Looking Glass Self

““I am not what I think I am. I am I am not what I think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am”what I think you think I am”

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism AdvantagesAdvantages

Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual perception and interpretations into considerationperception and interpretations into consideration

Sense of individual controlSense of individual control Explains importance of shared symbols and Explains importance of shared symbols and

communicationcommunication DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Observations of researchers may be influenced by Observations of researchers may be influenced by the researchers interpretationsthe researchers interpretations

Pays little attention to the impact of wider society Pays little attention to the impact of wider society and does not explain society-wide changes in and does not explain society-wide changes in familiesfamilies

Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory

MICRO approachMICRO approach A psychological theory that attempts A psychological theory that attempts

to explain the social factors that to explain the social factors that influence reciprocal relationshipsinfluence reciprocal relationships

People act to maximize the benefits People act to maximize the benefits and minimize costs to themselvesand minimize costs to themselves

Individuals interpret their experiences Individuals interpret their experiences in terms of costs vs benefitsin terms of costs vs benefits

Social Exchange TheorySocial Exchange Theory

Relationships are stable when the Relationships are stable when the benefits that each person receives benefits that each person receives balance the costs of the relationshipsbalance the costs of the relationships

This theory is used to explain how This theory is used to explain how individuals make decisions to form individuals make decisions to form and maintain relationships that may and maintain relationships that may be seen as unacceptable to othersbe seen as unacceptable to others

Social Exchange TheoriesSocial Exchange Theories

WeaknessesWeaknesses A limitation of this theory is that A limitation of this theory is that

some people are offended by the some people are offended by the cost/benefit analysiscost/benefit analysis

Attempts to explain individual Attempts to explain individual behaviour and needs and pays less behaviour and needs and pays less attention to family dynamicsattention to family dynamics

Developmental Developmental TheoriesTheories

An interdisciplinary MICRO approach to An interdisciplinary MICRO approach to describe patterns to explain growth and describe patterns to explain growth and change throughout the human life cyclechange throughout the human life cycle Developmental Tasks = role expectations Developmental Tasks = role expectations

that challenge people to developthat challenge people to develop Erik Erikson – people develop individual Erik Erikson – people develop individual

identities separate from their parents to identities separate from their parents to make the transition to adulthoodmake the transition to adulthood

Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories

Examine biological, psychological, social Examine biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that influence and cultural factors that influence developmentdevelopment

Different factors at different agesDifferent factors at different ages Outline predictable stages marked by Outline predictable stages marked by

normative events normative events At each stage there are developmental At each stage there are developmental

prerequisitesprerequisites One must complete on developmental task One must complete on developmental task

to move onto the nextto move onto the next

Developmental TheoriesDevelopmental Theories

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Not all stages will fit all families or Not all stages will fit all families or

individualsindividuals Some families will experience non-Some families will experience non-

normative events such as death of a normative events such as death of a child, etcchild, etc

Stages make the theory restrictive Stages make the theory restrictive because they do not always occur in because they do not always occur in order, or occur at allorder, or occur at all

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

A MACRO interdisciplinary A MACRO interdisciplinary sociological and political theorysociological and political theory

Explains how power holds a society Explains how power holds a society togethertogether

Conflict exists because of inequalitiesConflict exists because of inequalities Groups compete with each other to Groups compete with each other to

meet their needsmeet their needs

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Unlike functionalists, conflict theories Unlike functionalists, conflict theories question “Functional for whom?”question “Functional for whom?”

Conflict Theories explain WHY Conflict Theories explain WHY societies changesocieties change

Society is divided according to powerSociety is divided according to power Karl Marx – The bourgeoisie vs the Karl Marx – The bourgeoisie vs the

proletariatproletariat Friedrich Engels – the division between Friedrich Engels – the division between

the sexes in marriage parallels that the sexes in marriage parallels that between the classesbetween the classes

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Describes the relationship of men Describes the relationship of men and women within a family as one of and women within a family as one of exploitation and oppression, and is exploitation and oppression, and is used for analyzing power and used for analyzing power and authority within the familyauthority within the family

Disadvantage Disadvantage Negative approachNegative approach

Feminist TheoriesFeminist Theories A branch of conflict theoriesA branch of conflict theories Developed in the second half of the Developed in the second half of the

2020thth century to explain the impact of century to explain the impact of sex and gender on behavioursex and gender on behaviour

Considers issues from the point of Considers issues from the point of view of womenview of women