Sociological Perspectives
Purpose of Paradigms and Theory Sociology has different ways of approaching the world and ideas in it
● Each one has its own assumptions, and own perspective on how to explain a particular social problem or phenomenon Theories are explained of the relationship between two or more concepts
● Theories provide a way for organizing facts about some phenomena
● Theory : A statements of how and why particular facts are related There are three major paradigms in sociology :
● Structural Functionalism
● Social Conflict
● Symbolic Interactionism Macro vs. Micro Structural Functionalism (MACRO) ● Functionalism compares society to an organic unit like the human body
If something is found in our body, it must serve some purpose and have a consequence for the operation of the overall system
Society, like the body, is a stable system (equilibrium) ● Each part of society contributes to the overall functioning of the social system
Three major underlying assumptions of this theory are that every part of society exists because of it Contributes something positive to the overall stability and functioning of society
It serves some purpose It fulfills some basic need ● From a functionalist perspective a social problem stems from a breakdown in one or more structures of society
The breakdown is called
Dysfunction
Big Names in Structural Functionalism Auguste Comte
Viewed society like a living organism Herbert Spencer
The parts of a society work together to form a society
Society is like a system a change in one part produces a change in other parts of the system Emile Durkheim added the concept that society has needs that have met if a society is to function well
When all parts fulfill their functions society is in a state of balance
in order to understand society one needs to study both the structures and their functions Robert Merton and
● Each one has its own assumptions, and own perspective on how to explain a particular social problem or phenomenon Theories are explained of the relationship between two or more concepts
● Theories provide a way for organizing facts about some phenomena
● Theory : A statements of how and why particular facts are related There are three major paradigms in sociology :
● Structural Functionalism
● Social Conflict
● Symbolic Interactionism Macro vs. Micro Structural Functionalism (MACRO) ● Functionalism compares society to an organic unit like the human body
If something is found in our body, it must serve some purpose and have a consequence for the operation of the overall system
Society, like the body, is a stable system (equilibrium) ● Each part of society contributes to the overall functioning of the social system
Three major underlying assumptions of this theory are that every part of society exists because of it Contributes something positive to the overall stability and functioning of society
It serves some purpose It fulfills some basic need ● From a functionalist perspective a social problem stems from a breakdown in one or more structures of society
The breakdown is called
Dysfunction
Big Names in Structural Functionalism Auguste Comte
Viewed society like a living organism Herbert Spencer
The parts of a society work together to form a society
Society is like a system a change in one part produces a change in other parts of the system Emile Durkheim added the concept that society has needs that have met if a society is to function well
When all parts fulfill their functions society is in a state of balance
in order to understand society one needs to study both the structures and their functions Robert Merton and