The document outlines three major sociological perspectives: structural functional, social conflict, and symbolic interaction. The structural functional perspective sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability. The social conflict perspective sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict, focusing on how factors like class, race and gender relate to unequal distribution of resources. The symbolic interaction perspective sees society as produced by everyday interactions between individuals at both the macro and micro levels. Major theorists associated with each perspective are also mentioned.
3. Structural functional perspective is a
framework for building theory that sees
society as a complex system whose parts work
together to promote solidarity and stability.
This paradigm points out two things
• Social Structure
• Social Function
Social Structure:
Any relatively stable patterns of social behavior. Social structure gives
our lives shape, whether it be in families, workplace, or in class room.
Social function:
Consequences for the operation of society as a whole.
Structural Functional Approach
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4. • There are two types of social function
that was described by Robert.
– (K Merton).
• Manifest functions:
The recognized and intended
consequences of any social pattern.
• Latent function:
The unrecognized and unintended
consequences of any social patterns.
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5. Major Sociologists which support
Structural Functional Paradigm
1. August comte
2. Emile Durkheim
3. Herbert Spencer
4. Talcott Parsons
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6. • Social conflict perspective is a framework for
building theory that sees society as an arena of
inequality that generates conflict and change.
• This perspective investigates how factors such as
social class, race, ethnicity, gender, and age are
linked to the unequal distribution of money,
power, education, and social prestige. A conflict
analysis rejects the idea that social structure
promotes the operation of society as a whole,
pointing out instead how social patterns benefits
some people depriving others.
Social Conflict Perspective
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7. • Gender-conflict approach:
A point of view that focuses on inequality
and conflict between women and men.
• Race-conflict approach:
A point of view that focuses on inequality
and conflict between people of different
racial and ethnic categories.
• Major sociologists of this perspective:
Karl Marx. C. write Mills.
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8. The symbolic interaction perspective is
a framework for building theory that
sees society as the product of the
everyday interactions of individuals.
The Symbolic Interaction
Perspective
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9. • Macro-Level Orientation:
A broad focus on social structures
that shape society as a whole.
• Micro level Orientation:
A close-up focus on social
interaction in specific situations.
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10. • Major Sociologists of this
Perspective:
1. Max Weber
2. George Herbert Mead
3. Erving Goffman
4. Peter Blau
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