The Four Main Theotetic Perspectives

1. Sociological Perspectives
Chapter 1 Continued

2. What informs our sense of what is true?
1. Values and Norms
2. Journalism
3. Personal Experience
4. Fiction

3. Mostly we don’t think about it
and we are not always sure of the source of our information

4. Sociologists have created theoretical
frameworks to explain social phenomenon
We will examine

5. Structural Functionalism
Talcott Parsons Emile Durkheim
• Social institutions play a key role in keeping society alive and stable.
• Institutions train individuals into their social roles
• Educational institutions train people for their future statuses or jobs they will fill
• The family is in charge of socializing new members of society.
• Religion helps reaffirm values and morals to maintain social ties.

6. According to functionalists….
Even dysfunction and deviance has a purpose.
• Question: How could the drug trade, prostitution, war, cat-fishing be
somehow functional to society?

7. The Conflict Perspective
Karl Marx Feminist Theorists
• Dominant classes subordinate the lower classes
• The structure of society is a source of inequality
• The focus is on how institutions promote division and inequality
• Conflict is the basic , animating force for social change and society in general.
Are the opportunities/consequences the same for all?

8. Symbolic Interaction
Blumer Goffman
• Unlike functionalism and conflict which are macro approaches to structures in
society, SI examines the micro-level, day to day interaction with people.
• Takes place within a world of symbolic communication.
• The symbols we use, language, gestures, posture are influences by the larger group or
society.
• Society emerges from countless interpersonal communications that individuals have.
• When you play the role as the student and I as the professor, we reinforce the larger
institution of the University.

9. Irving Goffman

10. Date 5 September 2009
Source Own work
Author Rcragun