Aim: What are the prominent theories in Sociology?

What do these images mean to you?

Symbolic Interactionism: Microsociological-deals with individuals’ behavior in face to face situations. All larger structures are the products of people interacting. People do not respond directly to the world around them, but rather to the meaning they collectively apply to it. It is possible to change your perspective and assign different meanings to things

Looking Glass Self: Charles Cooley: We use other people as a mirror to ourselves –we imagine how others see us, and we imagine their judgment of that appearance. –this is how we form our own self image

Functionalist Theory: Macrosociological(applies to large-scale social phenomena), Says that all social groups, regardless of size, are systems whose parts are interdependent. A change in one element will lead to changes in the others. If one part of a social system ceases to serve a function, it will fade away.

Conflict Theory: Macrosociological, based on works of Karl Marx Not harmonious and cooperative as in Functionalism. Conflict theory states that society is an arena where different individuals and groups struggle with each other in order to obtain scarce and valued resources.

Feminist Perspective: Relatively new Focuses on marginal groups Challenges the notion that research on male subjects can explain all of society Takes into account race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation Can be linked to symbolic interactionism and conflict perspective