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Critically evaluate sociological concepts
Critically evaluate sociological concepts
Critically evaluate sociological concepts
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Lenses are all different shapes, sizes and have different viewpoints. The lenses that sociologist look through are the same; they are as if looking through a big lens, macro or a smaller lens, micro. There are three lenses that sociologist use: Symbolic interactionism theory, functional analysis theory or conflict theory. These lenses that Henslin (2015) discussed place ideas into a, “conceptual framework to determine how some parts of the world fit together and how they work” (pg 12). Whether it’s the symbolic interactionism theory, functional analysis theory or conflict theory lens, they all will shift the viewpoint and perspective of what is being viewed. Symbolic interactionism theory focuses on looking at things on a micro level. Henslin …show more content…
This theories key concept is how all parts of society come together and work as a whole. This can be compared to how Herbert Spencer viewed society as, “a person’s body that has organs that function together to run smoothly” (as cited in Henslin, 2015, pg 15). Sometimes society works the way that people think it should work, but sometimes it doesn’t go the way as planned. Society though has to figure out a way to function together. This can be compared to people in communities. People who work on farms to grow food don’t have time to teach education or make clothes, or vice versa, so people work their specific occupations. The farmer’s works on growing food for the whole community, the people making clothes make clothes for the whole community and the teachers educate the whole community. By running society this way, it will be able to work as a harmonious whole. Everyone is pitching in their own skills to run a smooth and functional community. These are the ideas that the functional analysis sociologist run …show more content…
This theory runs on the negative aspects associated with society. They believe that there is constant conflict and competition for power in societies. They stress, as stated by Henslin (2015), that “society is composed of groups that compete with one another for scarce resources” (pg 17). They believe by running on conflicts is how society is able to keep functioning. It looks to be running smooth and perfectly on the outside, but look a little deeper and you can see all the conflict that goes on in society to keep it running. People are constantly trying to balance the conflict and the decision of who is in power. There is also a fight for the top spot. Henslin (2015) states an example of this when he talks about how, “powerful groups control our institutions” (pg 106). Those powerful groups just want to maintain the social order which then keeps them on top of the food chain. Henslin (2015) described how these people are in control of the lawmakers, which then makes them in control of all of the major decisions that are made for our country (pg
Structural Functionalism is the sociology theory that emphasizes how everything and everyone has a purpose in society. That each and every one of us is a puzzle piece that comes together in order to form a society, any missing puzzle piece would result in the downfall or shortcomings of the whole society. Whether this may be religion, education, economy, etc, all of these structures much work together in order to have a flourishing society where everyone works uniformly. Stability is achieved when everyone fulfills their duty is society.
Functionalism is a theory in which various social institutions and processes in society serve a significant function in order for society to continue
This theory concentrates on different parts of society to see how it works, for example, a church, family and government this perspective looks at these to see what contribution this play to the entire social system. Durkheim states that the social system work’s like an organic system it can be he same way the body works which parts of the body are all depended on another, this theorist explains society is like this. We Must “Analyse the contribution which practises the institution makes to the continuation of society as a whole” (Giddens p.710 1995)
The functionalist paradigm focuses on the integration of society, and how society how its own groups which has their own functions to help improve the peoples lives. Functionalist paradigm fits in the category of macro-sociology, because it focuses on the patterns that shape an entire society. Functionalists believe that society is maintained through the thought of trust and consensus on moral values for ideal behavior. Working together will result in a stable social environment that will create equality. Conflicts or dysfunctions will be view as a disease in the social system. Social conflict paradigm believes that society is divided into many groups that have their own goals, and that certain parts of the world have the luck of benefiting economic dominan...
The main points of the Symbolic Interactionism perspective is that symbols are what shape how we communicate and how we view the world. Our changing ideas affect how we understand and view different things around us. Without symbols society would be not be very coordinated, people wouldn’t be able to specify a specific time for school or where to meet for lunch. The main points of the Functional Analysis perspective, is that society is made up of several individual parts that work together for society to function properly. Each of these smaller parts has functions that are beneficial consequences of people actions and dysfunctions that are harmful and threaten the equilibrium. In this perspective the smaller parts are look at to see how they
"The functionalist perspective is a sociological approach which emphasizes the way that parts of a society are structure to maintain its stability,"(Schaefer & Lamm, 1998). This perspective looks at a society in a positive manner and sees it as stable, with all the parts working together. Under the functionalist view every social aspect of a society contributes to the society's survival, and if not, the aspect is not passed to the next generation.
Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education, such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there is a disturbance in any one of the parts, is when you can see the interdependence. But what is important about this theory is that “there will always be some reorganization and tendency to restore equilibrium” (Wallace and Wolf 17). Functionalist do not believe it’s crucial that the people involved in the society to be aware of this interconnectedness anymore than the brain and heart consciously realize that they work together as an organism.
1 Most sociologists interpret social life from one of three major theoretical frameworks or theories: symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, or conflict theory. Describe the major points and key concepts of each framework. List at least one sociologist who is identified with each of these three frameworks.
One of the major sociological perspectives is Functionalism. Functionalism is centered around the work of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Robert Merton. Functionalism is described as a system of connected parts that are designed to achieve
Functionalism is the oldest and most commonly used theoretical approach used to understand social issues. Functionalism is a macrosociological perspective that presents the idea that society consists of different components working together to help a society function as one. Sociolog...
Sociologists view functionalism as both a macro and a micro perspective. From a macro perspective, functionalism promotes the ideal that everyone and everything has a particular place within society, which in turn influences the structure of society. A macro example of Functionalism is seen by sociologists through the interactions of a national school system. Primary school prepares children for the possibility of a higher education that will prepare them for a job, instilling the order and ideals of society within youths so that they understand its expectations. Afterward, they head off to secondary school to apply what they have learned and choose a profession that will best benefit them and society. This promotes the large-scale organization
Emile Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory is predicated on the ideologies that society is composed of components that are dependent on each other. Auguste Comte developed functionalism; Durkheim compared society to the human body. The body consists of different, interrelated organs that support it to survive; society consists of different workings that enable it to survive. There is a state of stability within society and if any component of that society alters it will reorganize itself to maintain stability. Functionalism will interpret the components of society in terms of contributions to the stability of the whole society. Social accord, direction and integration are paramount views of functionalism; society will endure and grow due to the shared norms and values; all individuals have a goal and vested interest to conformity and thus conflict is minimized (Pope, 1975).
Structural Functionalism or what I call just functionalism, is just another theory that has society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through the macro-level of orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes that society has evolved like organisms. This approach looks at both social structure and the social functions. Functionalism has society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms and customs, traditions, and institutions. There is a common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer that presents these parts of society as "organs" that works towards the proper functioning of the "body" as a whole. In the most basic terms, it simply emphasizes "the effort to impute and the rigorously as possible, to each feature, custom, or even practice the effect on the functioning of a supposedly stable and cohesive system.
Sociologists employ three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today. They are the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionism. The structural-functionalist perspective is done at a macro level and its focus is on the relationships between the parts of society. The Conflict perspective is done at a macro level and its main focus is on how the wealthy controls the poor and weak. Symbolic Interactionism is done at a micro and it focuses on the use of symbols and face to face interactions.
We see many of fields of society for example; government, educational, cultural and many more. Sociology is importantly the basis for almost all policies and idea which shape the world we are in. For example; Harriet Martineau, first female sociologists brought attention to ignored topics such as marriage, children, domestic and religious life and race relations. Without this idea being brought it up it would have always been an issue from society. Solving topics are so beneficial to making our society a better place. On a personal level it’s really changed my vision in the world. This enables us to understand paradigms. Structural functionalism was inspired partly by Durkheim, he stated that society is defined as a social system, with structures organized in an orderly way to form an organic, stable whole. This system enables us to understand and meet the circumstances in order to