The document outlines three main sociological theories - structural functionalism, social conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism - and provides examples of how each would analyze various social phenomena like college education, banned books, expensive weddings, Pokémon Go, Facebook, baby names, and presidential debates. Structural functionalism focuses on how social institutions serve societal needs, conflict theory examines social inequalities and power struggles, and symbolic interactionism analyzes shared meanings between individuals.

1. PERSPECTIVES

2. Three MainTheories
■ STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL = interlocking systems
■ CONFLICT = power struggles
■ SYMBOLIC INTERACTION = shared meanings

3. Structural
Functionalism
■ Society an organism
■ Manifest – Explicit & Clear Functions
■ Latent – Hidden functions
■ Could be dysfunctional and inviting change
■ ASK:What function does it serve?
EMILE DURKHEIM
TALCOTT PARSONS
Consider College Education
Training next generation
Latent function – delaying job market entry

4. Social Conflict
■ Hierarchies
■ How does society maintain these hierarchies
■ Lower levels can rebel/revolt causing social change
■ Ask:Who benefits?
KARL MARX
MAXWEBER
Consider College Education
Higher education, testing, admissions, construction
all big $$
Reinforces societal divisions
George W Bush went toYale so did George HW Bush

5. Symbolic Interaction
■ Shared meanings of symbols, language,
behavior
■ Meanings can change over time
■ ASK:What do others think it means?
GEORGE HERBERT
MEAD
ERVINGGOFFMAN
Consider College Education
■ Degree has symbolic value

7. Military Cut
Think about what? Who? Where? Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?

8. Banned Books
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Mainstream voices
• “Moral” voices
• Keeps out stories of the
other
• Who’s calls for bans are
listened to?
Who Loses?
• Outsiders
Society benefits?
• Protects young readers
• Agreeing on the banned
reinforces group cohesion
Dysfunction?
Meanings?
• Changes over time what is
acceptable
• Used to be sex and Languge.
• Still that plus LGBT or
ethnically diverse views

9. Banned Books
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
CBS this MorningVIDEO

10. Banned Books
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Mainstream voices
• “Moral” voices
• Keeps out stories of the
other
• Who’s calls for bans are
listened to?
Who Loses?
• Outsiders
Society benefits?
• Protects young readers
• Agreeing on the banned
reinforces group cohesion
Dysfunction?
Meanings?
• Changes over time what is
acceptable
• Used to be sex and Languge.
• Still that plus LGBT or
ethnically diverse views

11. Start an interesting question list

12. Expensive
Weddings
Think about what?Who? Where? Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

13. ExpensiveWeddings
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Wedding Industry
• DeBeers and diamonds
• Prestige with beautiful
wedding
• Feminist perspective GIVING
bride away, still?
Who Loses?
• Those too poor for the
perfect wedding
• Those groups denied legal
marriage
Society benefits?
• Maintains wedding industry
• Reinforces the ‘specialness’
of marriage
• Reciprocal attendance
cements social bonds
• Reinforces family unity
Dysfunction?
• Overemphasizes wedding
over marriage
Meanings?
• Good = expensive
• Pinterest/Facebook
expectations
• Vows
• Personalized but just like
what seen online
• Bridezilla expectations

14. Pokemon Go
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

15. Pokemon GO
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Corporate Game developers
• Phone companies
• App developers
Who Loses?
• Property owners
• Public spaces
• Those who are not welcome
in public spaces
Society benefits?
• Creates ‘common social
space’
• Shared social experience
Dysfunction?
• Public space cannot support
game – Lake Park
Meanings?
• Language understandable to
fellow players
• Cooperative game
• Shared rituals

16. Facebook
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist
ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO
Picture: People are silhouetted as they pose
with mobile devices in front of a screen
projected with a Facebook logo, in this
picture illustration taken in Zenica
October 29, 2014 REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

17. Facebook
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Those with the most
followers
• Companies that collect data
• Alt news sources can be
distributed
Who Loses?
Society benefits?
Connections across the globe
between families and friends
Dysfunction?
• Time sink
• Loss of deeper connection
• Politics!
Meanings?
• Who likes and doesn’t like
• Who chooses what to share
• Facebook life vs real life

18. Baby Names
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist
ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

19. Baby names
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Those whose name signals
status
Who Loses?
• Those judged by an ethnic or
female name
Society benefits?
• Creates ‘common social
space’
• Shared social experience
Dysfunction?
• If knowing gender matters
than gender neutral names
cause dysfunction
Meanings?
• Confounds expectations
• Some considered inventive
others stupid
• Gender confusion/fluidity

20. Presidential
Debates
Think about what? Who? Where? Why?
List what questions each kind of theorist
ask?
Conflict VIDEO
Functional VIDEO
Symbolic-Interaction
AD examples DOG Whistle Body
Language

21. Political Debates
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Two main parties
• Leading candidates
• TV stations (now)
Who loses?
• Third parties
Society benefits?
• Information for voters
• Moderated with questioners
• Gaeg
Dysfunctions?
• More theater than issues
Meanings?
• DogWhistle talk – on the
surface race-neutral but
heard as a race/ethnic
warning
• Interruptions
• Body language
• Code switching depending
on which group

22. Outliers, Chp 2
■ Compare notes
■ Compare summaries.
■ FOCUS: Quote lead in and explanation
■ Revise your summary
■ Consider your main agree/disagree