SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Sociology is the study of social life, change, causes, and consequences. It can also be called a study of human behavior. Basically, there are three principal theories in socially:
I. Structural-Functional Perspective
II. Social Conflict Perspective
III. Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective
Structural-Functional Perspective:
The structural-functional perspective analysis level is macro (big). From the Structural functional perspective, the population is represented by ’N’. A social structure is a hierarchy of social-political-economic power. Social Structure’s way of analyzing components are mobility, cultural background, religion/confession, political attitude, rate of unemployment, level of education, age structure and social stratification. The soccer field, the human brain and a factory are some good examples of Structural Functional Perspective. It reflects the working of the system as a whole. In this perspective, every component works in its domain and gets output as a whole. In soccer, different players play at different positions in order to win the game. Similarly in the brain different layers work differently but work in a form of structure. In factories, different parts of machinery work in a structure to get good results. Structure from a structural-functional perspective is viewed as a complex system of parts (i.e. structures). Function in structural-functional perspective fits all together to perform as a whole. A society term in Structure-function perspective is:
• Values that are social ideals of unity
• Norms that are rules/ expectations of social interaction
• Attitudes that are predispositions of thinking and feeling
• Beliefs of experienced knowledge
Structural-Functional Perspective Change is disruptive; must be gradual.
The focus of the Structural-Functional Perspective is Macrosociology which is of big overview.
Society is a system that is an Internal organization.
Society is a system Self-defining.
Famous Structure-Function Perspective Theorists are as follow:
- Auguste Comte(1798–1857) was a French Theorist who coined the term “sociology.” Auguste Comte believed society could be studied like any other science.
Its key concepts are:
• positivism
• sociology the “queen” of sciences
• social engineering
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) was also a French Theorist who founded sociology as an academic discipline. Emile Durkheim was famous for his study on suicides (1897). He used statistics in sociology.
Its key concepts are:
Social facts
Social structure
Social solidarity
Collective conscience
Mechanical and organic solidarity anomie
Social Conflict Perspective:
System: Society is a system defined by Rules and Regulations. In Structure, Function theory must keep in balance.
Stability: Otherwise becomes dysfunctional.
Society: System of interrelated parts that are relatively stable.
Each part works to keep society working in an orderly way.
Members generally agree on what is morally right and wrong.
The social Conflict perspective is a Marxist-based social theory in which social class within a society have differing amounts of material and non-material resources (the extreme difference between the wealthy vs. the poor).
There are limited resources
A key principle is a scarcity. Scarcity is a human-made condition. Those in power control the resource and its access. Powerful groups use their power to exploit groups with less power. Capitalism is differing amounts of material and nonmaterial resources (wealthy vs. the poor). Limited (controlled access of) resources (principle of scarcity). More powerful groups using their power in order to exploit groups with less power. Social Conflict Theory-Society is an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social change. Society is a dynamic entity constantly undergoing change. Unrest is good. It leads to change to relieve tension.
Change is inevitable, often beneficial and it can be violent. The theory emphasizes the role of coercion and power in producing social order. The Source of change comes from Conflict between the classes because some groups prosper at the expense of others. Theorists examine social behavior that originates from conflicts between competing groups. Materialist View of History: Everything of value in society results from human labor. The real or true foundation of society is its economy. Conflict Theory; It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness.
Those in power, the consumers, and the workers are making society and creating the conditions of their own existence. Marxist theory and its Problems
Separating contributions from his predictions
Marx predicted stages:
• Stages of development
• Ignored the changing conditions underlying generation
Conflict is universal. Macrosociology-society operates as a whole.
Karl Marx (1818–1883) was a German Theorist. He was the founder of the political/economic theory of socialism (communism). Karl Marx considered the founder of the conflict perspective. He wrote the Communist Manifesto and co-wrote Das Kapital (with Friedrich Engels). Its Key concepts are the proletariat, bourgeoisie, capitalists, social class, dialectics (thesis, antithesis, synthesis)
Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective:
In Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective Society is viewed through individual and small group interactions (the micro view). It focuses on everyday interactions basis for the development of society and changes in society. Symbolic Interaction happens through negotiating shared symbols gestures and nonverbal communications. Interactionism views humans as social actors. Social processes such as conflict, cooperation, identity formation are known as human interaction. Theorists raise questions about social cognition and how one understands other people, considers bodily behaviors and intentions. Interactionist theory-not is as materialistic as S-F and Conflict emphasizes thinking; cognition, gestures and nonverbal communications, facial expressions, body language, tone of voice. Interactionist theory is not particularly tangible. Its Key concept is Dramaturgical.
George Herbert Mead (1863–1961) was an American Theorist. He was a Symbolic/Interactionist theorist. George Hebert Mead believed that the self was a social product acquired by observing and assimilating the identities of others. Its key concepts are “I” & “me”, significant other, generalized other, role-taking, preparatory stage, play stage, game stage.
Charles Horton Cooley (1864–1929) was an American Theorist. He was a Symbolic interactionist theorist. We develop a sense of who we are in a society based upon interaction with others and how we feel others perceive us-The” Looking Glass Self”
Erving Goffman (1922–1982) was an American Theorist. He was a Symbolic interactionist theorist. Erving Goffman believed we play roles and present a “face” for public view. Its key concepts are dramaturgical approach, frontstage & backstage selves, presentation of self.
Dramaturgical is the study of dramatic composition and it is the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. The word dramaturgy was coined by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. We operate in different settings and some situations have clear norms for behavior. We can also think of ‘front stage’ behaviors and ‘backstage behaviors.
Face (how others perceive you)
• Saving face (regain credibility)
• Losing face (be invalidated by others)
• Having face(be sanctioned)
According to Erving Goffman and Dramaturgy:
Life is like theatre — We can be both con artists and just plain actors
• A role is a performance — Content vs. style(what we say or do and how we say it or do it)
There are 8 factors that define a being(self) in a society which includes:
1)Society
2)Culture
3)Social Institutions(Economics, Politics, Education, Religion)
4)Social Inequality(Class, Race, Gender)
5)Groups
6)Roles
7)Socialization
8)Interaction
9)And then comes the Self
Thanks for reading!