Theoretical Perspectives In Sociology Essay

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Sociologists study social phenomena at many different levels and different perspectives. They look at the small and large details of the society and the social behaviors. Sociologists today make use of three primary theoretical perspectives knows as the: the symbolic interactionism, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective. These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical models to explain how society influences people, and contrariwise. Each perspective theorizes society, social forces, and human behavior.
The symbolic interactionism, aims at the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other in their daily basis. People have attached meaning to symbols and they act according to the interpretation of these symbols. Anything can be used as a symbol as long as it has a meaning behind it. Although symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber's claimed that individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world, the American philosopher George H. Mead introduced this viewpoint to American sociology in the 1920s. …show more content…

For example the government provides education for the children of the family, then the family pays taxes. The state depends on taxes to keep running. If this structure keeps the society running productively then it is the right procedure, but it there are problems occurring, then the society help each other out to figure out new ways so that stability and productivity can occur. Functionalists believe that society is held together by social agreement, or unity, in which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole. This credit for this approach is given to Aguste Comte, who pointed out the needs

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