Download Ch1S3Presentation

Lesson 3
Presentation
Modern Perspectives
Main Idea
• Sociology employs three major
theoretical perspectives—
functionalism, which focuses on
order and stability; conflict, which
focuses on power relations; and
interactionism, which focuses on
how individuals interact with one
another in everyday life.
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
2
Focus Questions
• 1. In what ways do the three major theoretical
perspectives in sociology differ in terms of
their focus?
• 2. How do the theoretical perspectives differ in
terms of their levels of analysis.
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
3
Sociological Perspectives on
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
4
Major Theoretical
Perspectives
• In effort to explain
the social world,
sociologists
developed theories
(explanations) of the
relationship among
particular
phenomena
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• They provide
guidance in their
work
• They help to
interpret their
feelings
5
Major Theoretical
Perspectives
• Sociologists also
adopt broad
theoretical
perspectives to
provide a foundation
for their inquiries
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• A theoretical
perspective (a
school of thought) is
a general set of
assumptions about
the nature of social
life
• Outline specific
ideas about the
nature of social life
6
Major Theoretical
Perspectives
• Three broad
perspectives form
the bases of modern
sociology
• Functionalist
• Conflict
• Interactionists
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Each one is a lens
that presents a
slightly different
image of society or
focuses on different
aspects of social life
7
Reading Focus
• Recall: According to
functionalist, what
holds society
together?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Consensus – an
agreement by most
people on what is
best for society.
8
Reading Focus
• In what ways do the
three major
theoretical
perspectives in
sociology differ in
their focus.
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• FP – focuses on the
structure of society.
• CP – focuses on the
forces of society.
• IP – focuses on how
individuals interact
with one another in
society
9
Functionalist Perspective
• Crime→ disrupts the
working of society
as a whole and
create social
problems
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Can lead to social
change because to
reestablish social
stability the various
elements of society
must adapt and
adjust
• Can be positive or
negative→ manifest
or latent
10
Functionalist Perspective
• Is broadly based on
the ideas of Comte,
Spencer, &
Durkheim
• Sociologists view
society as a set of
interrelated parts
that work together to
produce a stable
social system
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Focuses heavily on
the structure of
society→ structural
functionalism
• Society is held
together through
consensus
11
Functionalist Perspective
• Most people agree
on what is best for
society and work
together to ensure
that the social
system runs
smoothly
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Types of interest
• The functions of
family
religion
education
the economy
And what they serve in
the society
12
Functionalist Perspective
• Functionalists view
the various
elements in society
in terms of their
functions, or their
positive
consequences for
society as a whole
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Recognize that not
everything in society
operates smoothly
• Label certain
elements as
dysfunction→ is the
negative consequence
an element has for the
stability of the social
system
13
Functionalist Perspective
• manifest function→
is the intended and
recognized
consequence of
some element of
society
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Example:
automobile→ provide
speedy transportation
from one location to
another
14
Functionalist Perspective
• Latent function→ is
the unintended and
unrecognized
consequence of an
element of society
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Example:
Automobile – is to gain
social standing
through display of
wealth
15
Teaching Notes
• How does a teacher
in front of a class of
students illustrate
the functionalist
perspective?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Functionalists view
society as a set of
interrelated parts that
work together to
produce a stable social
system. One way that
school works to produce
stability is to transmit
accepted culture,
values, and accepted
behavior to society’s
younger members.
16
Conflict Perspective (CP)
• Focuses on the
forces in society that
promote competition
and change
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• CP theorists are
interested in how
those who possess
more power in
society exercise
control over those
with less power in
society
17
Reading Focus
• Draw Conclusions:
In what way is
power a key
element in social
conflict?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Because power is
essential in
establishing rules to
control wealth,
those in power
attempt to gain
more, thus creating
social conflict.
18
Conflict Perspective
• CPs do not limit
their attention to
acts of violent
conflict
• CP also interested
in nonviolent
competition
between various
groups in society
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Men and Women
• People of different
ages
• People of different
racial or national
background
19
Conflict Perspective
• Topics researched
• Decision-making in
the family
• Relationships
among racial groups
• Disputes between
workers and
employers
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Competition over
resources is at the
basis of social
conflict
Poverty and wealth are
in limited supply competition
20
Conflict Perspective
• When in control of
society’s resources
they tend to
establish rules and
procedures that
protect their
interests at the
expense of other
groups
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Leads to social
conflict which leads
to social change –
see social change
as an inevitable
feature of our
society
21
Conflict Perspective
• Feminist Theory
(FT) – focuses on
the area of
inequality – theirs
• FT involves viewing
society as a
“sex/gender” system
in which men
dominate women
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• That which is
considered
masculine is more
highly valued than
that which is
considered feminine
22
Conflict Perspective
• FT charge it is
created by society
and is not the result
of biology
• Is reinforced by
social institutions→
family and religion
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• FT argue that the
study of sociology
has played a role in
perpetuating this
system of gender
inequality
23
Conflict Perspective
• FT state the
experience of
women should be
central to the study
of social life
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
24
Teaching Notes
• How does a school
principal represent
the conflict
perspective?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Conflict theorists are
interested in the
ways power and
authority are
exerted in society.
The principal is part
of the school’s
hierarchy of
authority.
25
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• IP focuses on how
individuals interact
with one another in
society
• IP are interested in
the ways in which
individuals respond to
one another in
everyday situations
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• IP are interested in
the meanings that
individuals attach to
their own actions
and the actions of
others
26
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• IP are indebted to
the work of Mex
Weber→ principle of
Verstchen
• IP is used to study
topics such as
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
•
•
•
•
Child development
Relationships
Within small groups
Mate selection
27
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• IP are particularly
interested in the role
that symbols play in
our daily lives.
• A symbol is
everything that
represents
something else
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
•
•
•
•
•
Such as
Physical object
Gestures
Words
Events
28
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• 4th of July and Uncle
Sam, the American
flag, the bald eagle
are examples of
symbols
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• gestures→ a salute
is accepted as a
sign of respect for
authority
• A raised, shaking
fist signifies a threat
of physical harm
29
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• IP focuses on how
people use symbols
when interacting
• Symbolic interaction
– has three
essential elements
• Meaning
• Language
• Elements
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The individual
responds to people
and things based on
the meaning he/she
gives to those
people/things
30
Interactionist Perspective (IP)
• Meanings arise out
of social interaction,
through the vehicle
of language that the
individual has with
others
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The individual
adjusts and modifies
these meanings
through thought –
internal
conversation
31
Teaching Notes
• How do a group of
students talking
among themselves
illustrate the
interactionist
perspective?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Interactionists are
interested in the way
that individuals
interact with one
another in society.
Interaction among
students can influence
the way students,
teachers, and school
administrators
behave.
32
Info to Know
• Feminism – Feminisms as a political
movement began in the 19th century and
moved into the 20th century as women fought
for voting rights. A new wave of feminism
began in the 1960s when women lobbied for
equal rights in the workplace and in
education. Today feminism has a global
appeal as women throughout the world seek
social and political equality.
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
33
Biography:
• Betty Friedan (1921-2006) feminist, writer,
activist. Friedan wrote Feminine Mystic
(1963), which is credited with inspiring women
to seek careers outside of the home and take
new social roles.
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
34
Direct Teach: Reading Focus
• 2. How do the three
theoretical
perspective differ in
terms of their level
of analysis?
• Functionalist and
conflict perspective
study large-scale
systems or society
as a whole – the
level called
macrosociology.
(continued)
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
35
Direct Teach: Reading Focus
• 2. How do the three
theoretical
perspective differ in
terms of their level
of analysis?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The interactionalist
perspective studies
small-scale settings
and the everyday
face-to-face
interactions among
group members –
the level called
microsociology.
36
Levels of Analysis
• Major difference
among the major
sociological
perspectives is the
level of analysis that
each one employs
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• FT & CT is called
macrosociology→
involves the study of
large-scale systems
in society as a
whole
• Includes the
analysis of longterm processes industrialization
37
Levels of Analysis
• IP is referred to
microsociology→
involves looking at
small group settings
and the everyday
face-to-face
interactions among
group members
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• Would be used to
measure the impact
of teacher
expectations on
student academic
performance
• Which provides the
best explanation of
the social world?
38
Levels of Analysis
• Which provides the
best explanation of
the social world?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The “big-picture”
provided by the
macrosociology
approach is of the
utmost value
• Society consists of
individuals
interacting with each
other
39
Levels of Analysis
• Define: What is
globalization?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The development of
economic, political,
and social
relationships that
stretch worldwide.
40
Levels of Analysis
• Each level of
analysis can assist
you in your study of
society
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• globalization→ is
the development of
economic, political,
and social
relationships that
stretch worldwide
• this process
requires
41
Drawing Conclusion:
• Why is an
understanding of
globalization
important?
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
• The instantaneous
nature of trade and
communication
today extends a
country’s social life
beyond its physical
borders.
42
Levels of Analysis
• This process
requires sociologists
to look at social life
not only in terms of
their own society but
also in a global
context
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
43
Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
44