THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

THEORECTICAL PERSPECTIVES FUNCTIONALISM – The viewpoint that emphasizes the smooth functioning of society CONFLICT THEORY – Looks at problems caused by groups that oppose each other SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM – Looks at interactions based on shared symbols

COMPARING THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES FUNCTIONALIST CONFLICT SYMBOLIC INTERACTION EMPHASIS ON…ORDER AND STABLITYCONFLICT OVER SCARCE RESOURCES SHARED MEANING OF SYMBOLS SOCIETY IS VIEWED AS… A SYSTEM OF INTERRELATED PARTS DOMINANT AND SUBORDINATE GROUPS IN CONFLICT OVER SCARCE AND VALUED RESOURCES A SERIES OF INTERACTIONS DEPENDANT ON SHARED SYMBOLS KEY QUESTIONS IS…HOW DOES A PART CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL FUNCTIONING OF A SOCIETY? WHO BENEFITS FROM A PATTERN OR SOCIAL ARRANGEMENT, AND AT WHOSE EXPENSE? HOW ARE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS CREATED? MAJOR CRITICISMSIT DEFENDS EXISTING SOCIAL ARRANGEMENTS IT EXAGGERATES TENSION AND DIVISIONS IN SOCIETY IT OFFERS NO SYSTEMATIC EXPLANATION FOR HOW MEANINGS PERSIST OR CHANGE

HOW DO THE PERSPECTIVES VIEW SOCIETY? THE BIG PICTURE Functionalist and conflict perspectives take a macro approach – they look at social institutions and processes by examining whole societies, large-scale structures and social systems THE SMALLER PICTURE Symbolic interactionism is more likely to study small groups and group dynamics

Sociology looks at the Internet Turn to page Divide class into 3 groups and determine merits of assigned perspective. Each perspective present findings to class.

Which approach would you take to study the following cases or events? Why? 1.Changes in family values – Functionalism – focuses on how a change in 1 part of society affects changes in other parts 2.Increasing economic inequalities – Conflict – these problems focus on tensions in society 3.Work styles in Japan – Symbolic interactionists – look at how groups and people in groups related and respond to one another 4.Drug use in inner cities – Conflict – these problems focus on tensions in society