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Structural functionalism views society as a structure with interrelated parts that work towards the proper functioning of the whole, similar to a biological organism. It emphasizes how social institutions, norms, and traditions function to contribute to social order and stability. Conflict theory, associated with Marx, focuses on power differentials and social inequality, critiquing dominant ideologies and highlighting existing conflicts within social structures. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes micro-scale social interactions and how people derive meanings and develop their identity through interpreting symbols within social interactions.

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59 views

Assignment Cruz

Structural functionalism views society as a structure with interrelated parts that work towards the proper functioning of the whole, similar to a biological organism. It emphasizes how social institutions, norms, and traditions function to contribute to social order and stability. Conflict theory, associated with Marx, focuses on power differentials and social inequality, critiquing dominant ideologies and highlighting existing conflicts within social structures. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes micro-scale social interactions and how people derive meanings and develop their identity through interpreting symbols within social interactions.

Uploaded by

Julo R. Taleon
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Structural functionalism, or in many contexts simply functionalism, is a broad perspective in sociology and anthropology which sets out to interpret

society as a structure with interrelated parts. Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions and institutions. A common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer, presents these parts of society as "organs" that work toward the proper functioning of the "body" as a whole. Functionalist thought, from Comte onwards, has looked particularly towards biology as the science providing the closest and most compatible model for social science. Biology has been taken to provide a guide to conceptualizing the structure and the function of social systems and to analysing processes of evolution via mechanisms of adaptation ... functionalism strongly emphasises the pre-eminence of the social world over its individual parts (i.e. its constituent actors, human subjects). Anthony Giddens The Constitution of Society 1984,

Conflict theories are perspectives in social science which emphasize the social, political or material inequality of a social group, which critique the broad socio-political system, or which otherwise detract from structural functionalism and ideological conservativism. Conflict theories draw attention to power differentials, such as class conflict, and generally contrast historically dominant ideologies. Certain conflict theories set out to highlight the ideological aspects inherent in traditional thought. Whilst many of these perspectives hold parallels, conflict theory does not refer to a unified school of thought, and should not be confused with, for instance, peace and conflict studies, or any other specific theory of social conflict. The chief form of social conflict that Durkheim addressed was crime. Durkheim saw crime as "a factor in public health, an integral part of all healthy societies."[4] The collective conscience defines certain acts as "criminal." Crime thus plays a role in the evolution of morality and law: "[it] implies not only that the way remains open to necessary changes but that in certain cases it directly prepares these changes."[5] Of the classical founders of social science, conflict theory is most commonly associated with Karl Marx. Based on a dialectical materialist account history, Marxism posited that capitalism, like

previous socioeconomic systems, would inevitably produce internal tensions leading to its own destruction.[6]. Marx ushered in radical change, advocating proletarian revolution and freedom from the ruling classes. It may be noted that Marxism is no less "structural" (or "top-down") in its approach, even if its methodology differs; its major point of difference with Durkheimian functionalism is broadly political. symbolic interactionism is a major sociological perspective that places emphasis on micro-scale social interaction, which is particularly important in subfields such as urban sociology and social psychology. Symbolic interactionism is derived from American pragmatism, especially the work of George Herbert Mead and Charles Cooley. Herbert Blumer, a student and interpreter of Mead, coined the term and put forward an influential summary of the perspective: people act toward things based on the meaning those things have for them; and these meanings are derived from social interaction and modified through interpretation. Blumer was also influenced by John Dewey, who insisted that human beings are best understood in relation to their environment.[1] Sociologists working in this tradition have researched a wide range of topics using a variety of research methods. However, the majority of interactionist research uses qualitative research methods, like participant observation, to study aspects of (1) social interaction and/or (2) individuals' selves. Participant observation allows researchers to access symbols and meanings

Symbolic Interaction Theory


Explanations > Theories > Symbolic Interaction Theory Description | Research | Example | So What? | See also | References

Description
People act based on symbolic meanings they find within any given situation. We thus interact with the symbols, forming relationships around them. The goals of our interactions with one another are to create shared meaning. Language is itself a symbolic form, which is used to anchor meanings to the symbols. Key aspects are:

We act toward others based on the meaning that those other people have for us. Meaning is created in the interactions we have with other people in sharing our interpretations of symbols.

Meanings are modified through an interpretive process whereby we first internally create meaning, then check it externally and with other people. We develop our self-concepts through interaction with others. We are influenced by culture and social processes, such as social norms. Our social structures are worked out through the social interactions with others.

So what?
Using it
Pay attention to the symbols within the persuasive context and utilize them. You can place the symbols there. How people interpret them includes how you interpret them.

Defending
Pay attention to the symbols within the persuasive context and notice how they are affecting what happens.

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