Sociology

1. Studying Social Problems In 21st
Century

2. Social Problems and Theory

4. Sociological Perspectives:

5. Structure Functionalist Perspective:
• August Comte was the pioneer of ‘Functionalist Perspective’.
 Acc to it, Society develops like a living organism.
 Herbert Spencer-- an organ of human body correlates with other parts and
make a living body.
 Functions are in totality.
 If institutions do not work properly, then social problem arises, they call it
‘dysfunction’. Dysfunction is harmful for society.
Structure Functionalism
Family
Religion
Government
Economy
Education

6.  If coordination stops.. Social problems will arise.
 Society is considered as a social system.
 Transfer of duties in in ‘Functionalist Perspective’.
 ‘Tendency towards equilibrium and balance among it’s parts and
forces’.
 Functionalist assume almost all members of society agree upon
what is desirable and worthy and what is undesirable and evil and
worthless.
 Do not deal with the social change.
 Acc to this perspective, society is going well, there are no problems
and if problems are arising, they’ll deal with it.

9. Conflict Perspective:
 Originated from the efforts of Karl Marx.
 Sustained by Wright Mills in some years later.
 Societies have a tendency of being in conflict.
 Distribution of power and wealth remains unequal.
 Dominant groups employ power and authority in
controlling most or all the other social structure
aspects.
 Alternative to functionalism

10.  Macro sociological theoretical perspective
 Resentment and hostility are constant elements of
society
 Power differences among social classes
 Fight over scarce resources of society
 Society was a two-class system:
 Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production)
 Proletariat (workers)
 Idea of Classless Society

11.  Acc to Herbert Mead– ‘Survival of the fittest’ every individual
should have wealth, power, prestige then only you have right to
survive.
 German Sociologist George Mead said there should be ‘social
order’ in society
 George Simmal : social order comes from ‘competing forces’.
 ‘Harmony and Disharmony’ is a result of conflict on system.
 Conflict is an important factor.
 Harmony can only come by resolving conflicts, adjustments
and balancing.
 We recognize ‘harmony’ from ‘disharmony’.

12.  Acc to conflict school of thought, society actually exists b/c
of conflict.
 Inequality of power, wealth is the main origin of conflict.
 Conflict depends upon change; social change.
 Awareness of depression is necessary , role of individual is
important a/c to Karl Marx.
 Constitute new policies.
 Rebel with system a/c to Marx, can bring change.
 All these views are based upon ‘social change’.

14. Symbolic Interactionist:
 Focuses on the interaction of individuals with each other
• Symbol
– Anything that represents something else
• Symbolic interaction
– Using symbols while interacting with others
 The interactionists also focus on the role that symbols play in our daily
lives.

15.  A symbol is anything that represents something else.
 In order for something to be a symbol, everyone in a
society must agree on what it means/stands for.
 Examples of symbols: American flag, Uncle Sam, Bald
Eagle are all symbols of America.
 Interactionists also focus on how people use symbols
when they interact. Its called Symbolic Interaction.
 How people act, and then seek to determine what
meanings individuals assign to their own actions and
symbols, as well as to those of others.