1. Theoretical Perspectives
Ch1Sec3 Sociology
Theoretical Perspectives

2. The Role of Theoretical Perspectives
Perception – the way you interpret the meaning of an image or event
Depends on beliefs, values, what you focus on
Sociolological theoretical perspective – set of assumptions about the workings of society

3. Major Sociological Perspectives
Each perspective has a different slant on human social behavior
I. Functionalism
Views society as an integrated whole
II. Conflict Perspective
Emphasizes competition, change, & constraint
Class, race, and gender struggles
III. Symbolic Interactionism
Focus more on the way people interact with each other
How individual use shared symbols as they interact

4. TURN TO PG 27 AND COPY THE CHART

5. Auguste Comte
Positivism – scientific observation in study of social behavior
Social statics – stability & order
Social dynamics- social change

6. Functionalism
Contributions made by each part of society-how they work together
Ex) family, economy, religion parts of society
Family –provides for reproduction & care for members of society
Economy- production of goods and services for society
Religion – beliefs and practices related to sacred things of society
Change in one part affects another part of society
Ex) Industrial Revolution affected family life

7. Functionalism Function - contribution made by some part of society
Manifest functions – intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of society
Ex)school-teach math skills
Latent functions- unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of society
Ex)school-development of close friendships
Dysfunction- negative consequence of an aspect of society
Ex)being treated as a “number” by bureaucratic government agency
Give an example of each of these terms.

8. Functionalism Each component of society affects each other
Sociologists:
Herbert Spencer
Emile Durkheim

9. Emile Durkheim Society exists because of broad consensus
Mechanical solidarity- Preindustrial society
Widespread consensus of values & beliefs, conformity, tradition, family
Organic solidarity- Industrial society
Social interdependency, specialized roles, dependent on one another

10. Conflict Perspective Conflict Perspective Functionalism
Reverse of functionalism
Disagreements among groups in society and between societies (competition)
Contest for power (ability to control others)
Those with most power get the largest share of what is valuable in a society (wealth, prestige, privilege)
Some groups have more power, some have less
Basic agreement on values within society
Cooperation, common goals

11. Karl Marx Concern for poverty, inequality, working class
Not just study world but change it
2 main social classes
Bourgeoisie (capitalists)-those who own the means for producing wealth
Proletariat – work for bourgeoisie, paid just enough to stay alive
Class conflict – clash between 2 classes
Wage workers overtake capitalists – classless (communistic) society
Planned revolution could speed up change from capitalism to communism
Felt capitalism would self- destruct anyway

12. Which Perspective is Better?
Neither!– different focus
Functionalism – consensus, stability, cooperation of a population
Conflict – constraint, conflict, change in a society
Each deals with large social units
Ex) Economy, broad social processes, conflict
Last perspective focuses on ways people interact

13. Max Weber Most important influence
Humans act on the basis of their own understanding of a situation
Sociologists must discover personal meanings, values, beliefs, attitudes
Verstehen – understand behavior by putting self mentally in someone else’s place
Rationalization- use of knowledge, reason, planning

14. Symbolic Interactionism
Focus on interaction among people
Symbol- represents something else
Object, word, gesture, facial expression, sound
Ex) American flag – symbol of US
Meaning is determined by those who create/use symbol- must be understood by whole group

15. 3 Basic Assumptions
I. We learn meaning of symbols by others’ reactions
Ex) Latin America, whistling at end of performance is bad, in North America, booing at end is bad
II. We base our behavior on those meanings
Ex) Avoid encore if you hear whistling in LA, booing NA
III. We use meanings of symbols to imagine how others will respond to our behavior before we act
Dramaturgy – human interaction like theatrical presentation (dress, gestures, tone of voice)

17. Guess Which Perspective
Societies are in relative balance.
Power is one of the most important elements in life.
Religion helps hold a society together morally.
Symbols are crucial to social life.
Many elements of a society exist to benefit the powerful.
Social life should be understood from the viewpoint of the individuals involved.
Social change is constantly occurring