This document discusses the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Functionalism emphasizes how parts of society work together, conflict theory focuses on social disagreements and competition for power/resources, and symbolic interactionism examines how people interact based on shared symbols and meanings. The perspectives provide different lenses for analyzing and interpreting social phenomena.
3. Vocabulary
• theoretical perspective: a set of assumptions accepted as true.
• functionalism: approach that emphasizes the contributions made by each part of society.
• manifest functions: intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of society.
• latent functions: unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of society.
• dysfunction: negative consequences of an aspect of society.
• conflict perspective: approach emphasizing the role of conflict, competition, and
constraint within a society.
• power: the ability to control the behavior of others.
• symbol: anything that stands for something else and has an agreed upon meaning attached to
it.
• symbolic interactionism: approach that focuses on the interactions among people based
on mutually understood symbols.
• dramaturgy: approach that depicts human interaction as theatrical performances.
4. Role of Theoretical Perspectives
• Perception is the way the brain interprets an image or
event
• Also how you interpret the meaning of an image or
event
• Which image you see depends on your focus
• Your perspective influences what you see
• One perspective of an event vs. another
8. Theoretical Perspective
• Set of assumptions about an area of study
• About the workings of society
• Sometimes theories are competing or
conflicting with each other
• Sociology has three overarching
perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory
and symbolic interactionism
9. Functionalism
• Emphasizes the contributions (functions) of each part of a
society
• Family, economy, religion, etc.
• See parts of a society as an integrated whole
• Change in one part leads to changes in others
• e.g. Major change in the economy may change the family
(Industrial Revolution)
• Consensus on values - most Americans believe in desirablity
of some values
10. Stability
• Functionalism assumes societies return to a state of stability after
some upheaval has occurred
• 1960s: Student unrest and protest
• American public no longer accepts involvement in all wars as
legitimate
• Universities are now more responsive to students’ needs and
goals
• Public is more aware of the importance of environmental
protection
• Revolutionized America?
11. Functional Aspects
• Most aspects of society exist to promote a society’s
survival and welfare.
• Two kinds of positive function: manifest and latent
• Manifest functions are intended and recognized
(schools: manifest function ➙ teach math skills)
• Latent functions are unintended and unrecognized
(schools: latent functions ➙ develop close friendships)
• Negative consequences: dysfunction (bureaucracies)
12. Conflict Perspective
• Emphasizes conflict, competition, change and
constraint within society
• Reverse of functionalism
• Functionalism emphasizes ways people cooperate
to reach common goals
• Conflict perspective focuses on disagreements in
society or between societies
13. Power
• Social living is a contest; those who have power have
the most wealth, power and privileges
• Have the most motivation to constrain, or limit the
less powerful
• As balance of power among groups shift, change
occurs
• e.g. women’s movement
14. Symbolic Interactionism
• Charles Cooley and George Mead, late 19th century
sociologists developed the insight that members of
groups influence each other’s behavior
• Symbolic Interactionism focuses on actual
interaction among people
• Focuses on symbols, that represent something else
• American flag, school mascot, etc
15. Symbolic Interactionism
• Formal definitions of symbols that convey meanings
about the group
• Interactions based on mutually understood symbols
16. Three Assumptions
• Three assumptions central to this perspective:
• We learn the meaning of a symbol from the way we
see others reacting to it (Latin American whistling)
• Once we learn the meaning of symbols, we base our
interaction on them. (Avoid encore)
• We use the meanings of symbols to imagine how
others will respond to our behavior (internal
conversations)
17. Dramaturgy
• To better understand human interaction,
sociologists developed dramaturgy
• Depict human interaction a theatrical
performance
• Presentation of self; or impression
managment