This document discusses the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Functionalism emphasizes how parts of society work together, conflict theory focuses on social disagreements and competition for power/resources, and symbolic interactionism examines how people interact based on shared symbols and meanings. The perspectives provide different lenses for analyzing and interpreting social phenomena.

1. Theoretical
Perspectives
How Sociologists Attempt to Make
Sense of the World We Live In

2. Objectives
• Students will identify the three major
theoretical perspectives in sociology today.

3. Vocabulary
• theoretical perspective: a set of assumptions accepted as true.
• functionalism: approach that emphasizes the contributions made by each part of society.
• manifest functions: intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of society.
• latent functions: unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of society.
• dysfunction: negative consequences of an aspect of society.
• conflict perspective: approach emphasizing the role of conflict, competition, and
constraint within a society.
• power: the ability to control the behavior of others.
• symbol: anything that stands for something else and has an agreed upon meaning attached to
it.
• symbolic interactionism: approach that focuses on the interactions among people based
on mutually understood symbols.
• dramaturgy: approach that depicts human interaction as theatrical performances.

4. Role of Theoretical Perspectives
• Perception is the way the brain interprets an image or
event
• Also how you interpret the meaning of an image or
event
• Which image you see depends on your focus
• Your perspective influences what you see
• One perspective of an event vs. another

7. Video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8zBC2dvERM

8. Theoretical Perspective
• Set of assumptions about an area of study
• About the workings of society
• Sometimes theories are competing or
conflicting with each other
• Sociology has three overarching
perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory
and symbolic interactionism

9. Functionalism
• Emphasizes the contributions (functions) of each part of a
society
• Family, economy, religion, etc.
• See parts of a society as an integrated whole
• Change in one part leads to changes in others
• e.g. Major change in the economy may change the family
(Industrial Revolution)
• Consensus on values - most Americans believe in desirablity
of some values

10. Stability
• Functionalism assumes societies return to a state of stability after
some upheaval has occurred
• 1960s: Student unrest and protest
• American public no longer accepts involvement in all wars as
legitimate
• Universities are now more responsive to students’ needs and
goals
• Public is more aware of the importance of environmental
protection
• Revolutionized America?

11. Functional Aspects
• Most aspects of society exist to promote a society’s
survival and welfare.
• Two kinds of positive function: manifest and latent
• Manifest functions are intended and recognized
(schools: manifest function ➙ teach math skills)
• Latent functions are unintended and unrecognized
(schools: latent functions ➙ develop close friendships)
• Negative consequences: dysfunction (bureaucracies)

12. Conflict Perspective
• Emphasizes conflict, competition, change and
constraint within society
• Reverse of functionalism
• Functionalism emphasizes ways people cooperate
to reach common goals
• Conflict perspective focuses on disagreements in
society or between societies

13. Power
• Social living is a contest; those who have power have
the most wealth, power and privileges
• Have the most motivation to constrain, or limit the
less powerful
• As balance of power among groups shift, change
occurs
• e.g. women’s movement

14. Symbolic Interactionism
• Charles Cooley and George Mead, late 19th century
sociologists developed the insight that members of
groups influence each other’s behavior
• Symbolic Interactionism focuses on actual
interaction among people
• Focuses on symbols, that represent something else
• American flag, school mascot, etc

15. Symbolic Interactionism
• Formal definitions of symbols that convey meanings
about the group
• Interactions based on mutually understood symbols

16. Three Assumptions
• Three assumptions central to this perspective:
• We learn the meaning of a symbol from the way we
see others reacting to it (Latin American whistling)
• Once we learn the meaning of symbols, we base our
interaction on them. (Avoid encore)
• We use the meanings of symbols to imagine how
others will respond to our behavior (internal
conversations)

17. Dramaturgy
• To better understand human interaction,
sociologists developed dramaturgy
• Depict human interaction a theatrical
performance
• Presentation of self; or impression
managment