Sociological Schools of Thought Different Ways of Looking at Sociology and Theories of the Foundations of Society

Structural Functionalism Theory: Institutions or structures shape society and work together to meet the needs of individuals Institutions exist because they have a positive function

Structural Functionalists

Conflict Theory Society is shaped by the conflict between different groups for power. This theory is shaped by the theories of Karl Marx According to Marx the conflict is between the wealthy and the working class others have shifted the place of conflict to gender, race or other factors

Feminist Sociology This school of thought focuses on gender inequality in power, economics, even their own bodies they examine symbols, values and norms of their society Dorothy Smith: women are “alienated from their experiences” global feminism

1890's caricature of gender role reversals (satire of the "New Woman"), with a smoking woman aggressively pursuing a coy man. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kvinde-emancipation.gif

Symbolic Interactionism focus is on the micro (individual) level theory is individual is at the centre of society and social values and roles are formed by individual interpretation we need to see ourselves in social roles and see ourselves reflected in the experiences of those around us

behaviour is rooted in how others respond to us we can adjust our personality to different situations How would a symbolic interactionist interpret the experiences of immigrants adjusting to life within a new society? How would you adjust to a new job/school/ university or college?

Max Weber rationalization: social actions motivated by efficiency or benefit, not custom or emotion liberation through bureaucracy (large administration or agency that pursues a wide variety of goals) bureaucracy can de-humanize (make us cogs) or it can elevate (social services)

Chicago School focus: how physical environment and social structures determine individual behaviour how does community shape behaviour The sociologists would immerse themselves in urban environments and conduct ethographies and participant observation: study social trends in their setting

Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead and the Looking-Glass Self society and individual are interconnected individuals shape society as society shapes individual through the primary group a primary group is a set of people with whom an individual has strong emotional and personal connections we influence through these relationships

The Looking-Glass Self The primary group is essential to developing social identity - we become a reflection and a representative for the primary group. OUR SENSE OF SELF IS MIRRORED AND REFLECTED BY OTHERS. like our avatars

There are three main components of the looking- glass self (Yeung, et al. 2003). We imagine how we must appear to others. We imagine the judgment of that appearance. We develop our self through the judgments of others.

George Herbert Mead looked at the way that language, symbols, and communication influence relationships Mead suggests we take on a variety of roles depending on the social situation (masks) these theories provide a basis for analysis of individual socialization (the process where an individual learns appropriate behavioural patterns, skills, values)

C. Wright Mills and Sociological Imagination sociological imagination is the ability to connect experience to social reality, where we need to understand the society and structures as well as historical forces that create the sense of imagination society is a living organism capable of change where problems can be eradicated in time

Conclusion schools of thought provide different lens or philosophies through which to view how we are socialized in society, from the macro or whole society level, to the micro or individual level