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8/23/2012 Bellwork Take out your ordinary object from home Open Packet to page 27 Complete Sociological Imagination wkst THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY Symbolic Interactionism, Structural-Functionalist, & Conflict Theory Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology A theory is general statement about how some parts of the world fit together/work. Example: Explains how 2 or more different facts are related. Sociologists face 2 basic questions: What issue should we study? How should we connect the facts? FACT: More babies are born on Tuesday. FACT: Cesarean-Section delivery is safer than it used to be. THEORY: More babies are being delivered by Csection, which is scheduled on the doctors most convenient day, Tuesday. Symbolic Interactionism PERSPECTIVE 1: SYMBOLIC INTERATIONISM Framework for building theory that sees society as the product of everyday individuals. How we create our personalities from social experience. Symbols are the key to understanding how we view the world & communicate with each other. Symbols are the basis of social life 1 8/23/2012 Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead specified 3 Core Principles: People act on the basis of their meaning. Meaning is beyond the definition, it’s everything people associate with a symbol (understanding) Meaning is symbolic: In interaction we use language and facial or bodily expressions to express meaning Symbols and meanings allow us to... Define relationships Coordinate actions with others Symbolic Interactionism We learn meanings from social interaction. (interacting with the outside world) Language is the primary tool. People try to interpret others to understand meaning Meaning is subjective: 2 people, 1 symbol, maybe different meaning Meaning can be changed during interpretation. In your notebooks… Create a chart Theoretical Perspective Related Sociologists Symbolic George Interactionism Herbert Mead Level of Analysis ? Make social life possible because we use symbols to understand people. Image of Society Core Questions An ongoing process of social interaction in specific settings based on symbolic communication; individual perceptions of reality are variable and changing. •How is society experienced? •How do human beings interact to create, maintain, and change social patterns? •How do individuals try to shape the reality that others perceive? •How does individual behavior change from one situation to another? Structural Functionalist Conflict Bellwork 2 8/23/2012 Functionalism PERSPECTIVE 2: STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM Structure—How parts of society fit to make the whole Function = beneficial consequences of peoples actions that keep society stable Dysfunction = consequences that undermine stability Manifest = intended, latent = unintended Functionalist study how functions change, how they effect other structures and functions. Society is made up of functional parts—like the human body Example Structure: School Functions to create citizens capable of surviving and continuing the culture. Manifest Functions: Teach basic knowledge, job skills, routine, group work skills. Latent Functions: Teaches social order, can reduces creativity/independence Complete Theoretical Perspective Chart Related Sociologists Level of Analysis Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead Structural Functionalist Robert Merton; Emile Durkheim Theoretical Perspective Image of Society Core Questions ? An ongoing process of social interaction in specific settings based on symbolic communication; individual perceptions of reality are variable and changing. •How is society experienced? •How do human beings interact to create, maintain, and change social patterns? •How do individuals try to shape the reality that others perceive? •How does individual behavior change from one situation to another? ? A system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable because of widespread agreement on what is morally desirable; each part has a particular function in society as a whole. •How is society integrated? What are the major parts of society? •How are these parts interrelated? •What are the consequences of each part for the overall operation of society? Conflict PERSPECTIVE 3: CONFLICT THEORY Society is composed of groups competing for scarce resources PERSPECTIVE 3: CONFLICT THEORY 3 8/23/2012 Karl Marx Example Bourgeoisie: small group that owns means of production Economics: Proletariat: Masses of workers exploited by Bourgeoisie. Other Conflict Theorists have expanded it into any power relationship Changes in society are often connected to changes in power relationship Business owners exploit workers by paying the lowest amount, Unions use their numbers to gain equal footing with employers. Firms move overseas for cheap labor Complete Theoretical Perspective Chart Related Sociologists Level of Analysis Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead ? An ongoing process of social interaction in specific settings based on symbolic communication; individual perceptions of reality are variable and changing. •How is society experienced? •How do human beings interact to create, maintain, and change social patterns? •How do individuals try to shape the reality that others perceive? •How does individual behavior change from one situation to another? Structural Functionalist Robert Merton; Emile Durkheim ? A system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable because of widespread agreement on what is morally desirable; each part has a particular function in society as a whole. •How is society integrated? What are the major parts of society? •How are these parts interrelated? •What are the consequences of each part for the overall operation of society? Conflict Karl Marx ? A system based on social inequality; each part of society benefits some categories of people more than others; social inequality leads to conflict which, in turn, leads to social change. •How is society divided? •What are the major patterns of social inequality? •How do some categories of people try to protect their privileges? •How do other categories of people challenge the status quo? Theoretical Perspective Image of Society Core Questions Level of Analysis Symbolic Interactionism is micro-level or microsociological analysis Conflict and Functionalism are macro-level (or macrosociological). “small-picture” human interaction Study the “big picture.” All 3 perspectives are useful in analysis. Complete Theoretical Perspective Chart Related Sociologists Level of Analysis Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead Micro An ongoing process of social interaction in specific settings based on symbolic communication; individual perceptions of reality are variable and changing. •How is society experienced? •How do human beings interact to create, maintain, and change social patterns? •How do individuals try to shape the reality that others perceive? •How does individual behavior change from one situation to another? Structural Functionalist Robert Merton; Emile Durkheim Macro A system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable because of widespread agreement on what is morally desirable; each part has a particular function in society as a whole. •How is society integrated? What are the major parts of society? •How are these parts interrelated? •What are the consequences of each part for the overall operation of society? Conflict Karl Marx Macro A system based on social inequality; each part of society benefits some categories of people more than others; social inequality leads to conflict which, in turn, leads to social change. •How is society divided? •What are the major patterns of social inequality? •How do some categories of people try to protect their privileges? •How do other categories of people challenge the status quo? Theoretical Perspective Image of Society Core Questions 4 8/23/2012 Trends shaping future sociology Reform or Value Free??? 1st, sociologists were concerned with making the world a better place 2nd, they tried to gain status as a respected field of knowledge, so emphasized basic or pure sociology 3rd (current trend) is toward applied sociology—combine knowledge and practical uses. Never a consensus on which of the above approaches is better. 5