1. Major Theoretical
Perspectives

2. Functionalist Perspective
 Emphasizes the way that parts of society
are structured to maintain its stability
 This approach holds that if an aspect of
social life does not contribute to society’s
stability or survival- if it serves no func tio n
or promote value consensus among
members of society- it will not be passed
on from one generation to the next.

3. Manifest and Latent Functions
 Manifest : Open , stated, and conscious
function
 Latent: unconscious or unintended
function; hidden purpose

4. Dysfunctions
 This refers to an element or a process of
society that may actually disrupt a social
system or lead to decrease in stability

5. Conflict Perspective
 Assumes that social behavior is best
understood in terms of conflict or tension
between competing groups
 Conflict however need not be violent

6. The Marxist View
 Marx: struggle between social classes is
inevitable, given the exploitation of
workers under capitalism
 Social scientists have come to see conflict
not merely as a class phenomenon but as
part of the everyday life in all societies.

7.  Conflict theorists are interested in how
society’s institutions may help to maintain
the privileges of some groups and keep
others in subservient position.
 Their emphasis on social change and
redistribution of resources makes them
more “radical” and “activist” than
functionalism.

8. An African American View
 W.E.B. Du Bois:
- First black to receive a doctorate from
Harvard University
- Challenged the status quo in both
academic and political circles

9. -Later helped organize the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People ( NAACP )
- He believed that knowledge was essential
in combating prejudice and achieving
tolerance and justice

10. -Sociology he says should draw on scientific
principles to study social problems….
- His contribution was his in-depth studies
of urban life- both white and black

11. The Feminist View
 Embraced in the 1970s
 This view sees inequity in gender as
central to all behavior and organization
 Contemporary feminist theorists often view
women’s subordination as inherent in
capitalist societies

12.  Radical feminist theorists view the
oppression of women as inevitable in all
male-dominated societies
 Ida Wells-Barnett:
-became an advocate of women’s right
campaigns especially the struggle to win
the vote for women

13. - She researched what it meant to be a
female and black living in the United
States
- Her work established her as one of the
earliest feminist theorists

14. Interactionist Perspective
 This approach generalizes about
everyday forms of social interaction in
order to explain society as a whole.
 Sometimes referred to as symbolic
interactionist perspective because
symbols are important human
communication…nonverbal
communication.

15.  George Herbert Mead:
- Widely regarded as founder of interactionist
perspective
- Taught in University of Chicago
- He was interested in in observing the most minute
forms of communication and in understanding how
such individual behavior was influenced by the
larger context of a group or society.

16.  Erving Goffman:
- Popularized a type of interactionist method
known as dramaturgical approach which
examines people as if they were theatrical
performers.