THE THREE MAJOR THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES/PARADIGMS IN SOCIOLOGY

The discipline sociology is a systematic study of human society. Weaving observations into understanding brings us to another dimension of sociology: theory. Theory is a statement of how and why specific facts are related. It organizes a set of concepts in a meaningful way by explaining the relationship between them. (Recall that Emile Durkheim observed that some categories of people like men, women, Protestants, the wealthy, and the unmarried have higher suicide rates than women, Catholics and Jews, the poor and the married. He explained these observations by developing a theory: a high risk of suicide results from a low level of social integration). If a theory is valid, it will correctly predict that identical relationships will occur in the future if the conditions are identical. Although it is sometimes thought that the facts speak for themselves facts do nothing of the kind. They are silent. They have no meaning until we give meaning to them, and that meaning is given by theory. A. The Structural-Functional Paradigm Is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Proponents are Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, August Comte, Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton Assumptions of the perspective: 1. Our lives are guided by social structure just as any organism has a structure 2. Social structures can be understood in terms of their functions 3. Not all effects of social structure benefit everyone in a society Social structure- relatively stable patterns of social behavior. (This is what gives shape to the family, leads people to exchange greetings on the street and guides events in a College classroom) Social Functions consequences for the operation of a society 2 types of function 1. Manifest recognized and intended consequences of a social pattern 2. Latent largely unrecognized and unintended consequences Social dysfunctions undesirable consequences for the operation of society A. Conflict Perspective

Views society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social change derives its inspiration from Karl Marx, who saw the struggle between social classes as the engine of history and the main source of social change later conflict theorists include W.E.B. Du Bois, C.Wright Mills and Lewis Coser guided by this paradigm, sociologists investigate how factors such as social class, race, ethnic ity, gender and age are linked to the unequal distribution of money, power, education and social prestige. A conflict analysis suggests that, rather than promoting the operation of society as a whole, social structure typically benefits some people while depriving others.

A. Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm Framework for building theory that sees society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals Both the structural-functional and social conflict paradigms share a macro-level orientation, meaning a focus on broad social structures that shape society as a whole, while symbolic-interaction provides a micro-level orientation, meaning a focus on social interaction in specific situations Symbolic Interaction interaction that takes place between people through symbols such as signs, gestures, shared rules and most important, written and spoken language

References: Macionis, John. Introduction to Sociology. Schaefer, Richard & Lamm, Robert. Sociology, A Brief Introduction. Robertson, Ian. Sociology, 3rd edition.