This document outlines three major sociological perspectives: symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism, and social conflict theory. It also discusses concepts such as social consensus, human functions, class conflict, cultural variation, social change, and political identities in the Philippines. Symbolic interactionism focuses on the meanings of everyday symbols and how people interact. Structural functionalism views society as a system whose parts contribute to stability. Social conflict theory sees society as groups struggling over resources. The document provides an overview of key concepts and theories in sociology.

1. THREE
PERSPECTIVES
IN SOCIOLOGY

2. Symbolic
Interactionism
•Considers the symbol and
details of everyday life, what
these symbols mean, and how
they interact with each other.
•Gives serious thought on how
people act, and then seeks to
determine what meanings
individuals assign to their own
actions and symbols, as well as
to those of others.

3. Structural
Functionalism
•Each aspect of society is
interdependent, and
contributes to society’s
functioning as a whole.
•Society is seen as a complex
system whose parts work
together to promote stability
and social order.

4. Social
Consensus or
Cohesion
•Under functionalism,
society is held together by
social consensus or
cohesion which means:
•Members of society agree
upon and work together
to achieve what is best for
society as a whole.

5. Two Kinds of
Social
Consensus
•Mechanical Solidarity
-a form of social cohesion that
arises when people in a society
maintain similar values and beliefs,
and engage in similar types of work.
ex. Family of farmers, fisher
folks, etc.
•Organic Solidarity
•Is a form of social cohesion that
arises when the people in a society
are interdependent, but hold to
varying values and beliefs, and
engage in varying types of work.
ex. Metropolitan societies

6. 2 Types of
Human
Function
(Robert
Merton)
•Manifest Functions:
intentional and obvious
•Ex. Going to school to learn.
•Latent Functions:
unintentional and not
obvious
•Ex. Going to school to make
social connections.

7. Social Conflict
Theory
•Views society as
being composed of
different groups that
struggle over scarce
resources- like power,
money, land, food, or
status.

8. Class Conflict
(Karl Marx)
•Views society as having
different classes based on
their relationship to the
means of production.
•Two Classes under
Capitalism
•Bourgeoisie- owns the
means of production.
•Proletariat- sells their
labor to survive

10. Cultural
Variation
•Refers to the diverse social
practice that different
cultures observe.
•Ex. Different customs of
people living in cities, and
in provinces.
•Difference between
generations X, Y, and Z.
•Extended Family
•Machismo
•“Maria Clara”

11. Social Change
•Refers to any significant alteration
over time in behavior patterns,
and cultural values and norms.
•A movement that yields social
consequence
•Ex. Industrial Revolution,
Abolition of Slavery, Feminism,
Martial Law, People Power,
Modernization, Diaspora
•Social Movements inspire
discontented members of a
society to bring about social
change.

12. Political
Identities
•Refers to a specific
political party
affiliation or partisan
identity. For many
voters, belonging to a
political party is not
simply a voting
decision.

13. Factors Affecting Political Identity
ECONOMIC
CLASS
GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION
EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT
IDEOLOGIES

14. Philippine name English name Leader Founded Ideology
Lakas–Christian
Muslim
Democrats
People Power-
Christian
Muslim
Democrats
Martin
Romualdez
1991
(original),
2008
(current)
Christian democracy
Partido Liberal Liberal Party Leni Robredo 1946 Liberalism
Nacionalista
Party
Nationalist
Party
Manuel Villar 1903 Conservatism
Nationalist People's Coalition
Eduardo
Cojuangco, Jr.
1991 Social conservatism
Partido
Demokratiko
Pilipino-Lakas ng
Bayan
Philippine
Democratic
Party-People's
Power
Rodrigo
Duterte
1982 Socialism

15. Recommended
Reading:
• The March to Progress in the Philippines
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/vie
wfinder/2014/11/march-progress-
philippines-2014112122317640995.html

16. Links for
References
• https://www.quora.com/What-does-
political-identity-mean
• https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-
guides/sociology/the-sociological-
perspective/three-major-perspectives-in-
sociology