Sociology Prompt
- Module Outcome: You will be able to describe the historical forces that have influenced the intersection of race and family in the United States.
Course Outcome: You will be able to describe the historical forces that have influenced the intersection of race and family in the United States.
General Education Competency:
You will have used critical thinking to analyze problems and make logical decisions.
You will be able to demonstrate socialization skills that support cultural awareness and a global perspective.
You will be able to communicate effectively using the conventions of American Standard English in professional and academic environments
What practices did the US government engage in to force Native Americans to assimilate to American culture? What were their motivations? Does this trend continue? Explain. How might this affect the Native American culture in the eyes of Native Americans and non-indigenous Americans alike? Explain.
For a top score, you must respond constructively to at least two other students. More extensive participation will be noted. All of your postings should be spread over three different days.
Introduction: This assignment will assist in your gaining a better understanding of the theoretical perspectives in Sociology
This assignment fulfills/supports
- Module Outcome: You will be able to how structural functionalism, conflict perspectives, and symbolic interactionism work together to help us get a more complete view of reality.
- Course Outcome: You will be able to recognize and apply the basic sociological terms vital to the understanding of sociology and the major theoretical paradigms to an analysis of social institutions, social structures, and societal issues.
- General Education Competency
You will be able to communicate effectively using the conventions of American Standard English in professional and academic environments.
You will be able to demonstrate socialization skills that support cultural awareness and a global perspective.
Demonstrate computer literacy
The Assignment: DF #2 – Theoretical Perspectives
Find a newspaper article, online or physical paper, and identify the structural functionalist, social conflict, and symbolic interctionist view of the social issue that is discussed in the article. Think about how each of these perspectives view society. You can get this from your reading of the text. For example, structural functionalists view society as social harmony with a high degree of social order with the institutions meeting their manifest and latent functions, all for the good of society, compared to conflict theorists, which view society as an arena of social inequality; dominant and subordinate groups, competing for scarce resources. In comparison, a symbolic interactinist may view society based upon symbolic meaning, labeling and social construction and the interaction with others in society.
Prompt:
Write at least one paragraph summarizing your article first, then write 2 paragraphs explaining how each of these perspectives may be represented in your article
Chapter
2
Understanding Theory
Korgen,
Sociology in Action
1
e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
1
Sociology in Action
Kathleen Odell Korgen
Maxine P. Atkinson
1
What Is Theory?
Helps notice and understand patterns
Often broad and abstract
Main perspectives: structural functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism
Why and how do sociologists use theoretical perspectives?
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
2
Satisfies Learning Objective: 2-1: Why and how do sociologists use theoretical perspectives?
2
Understanding the Structural Functionalist Perspective
Modern society has interdependent parts
Parts work together
Social solidarity = moral order
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
3
Learning Objective: 2-2: What is structural functionalism?
Social solidarity is the moral order of a society and is necessary for society to function properly.
The structural functionalist perspective believes that both social harmony and social order are important. Modern societies consist of interrelated parts, and they need to work together in a harmonious and orderly fashion in order for society to function properly.
3
Functionalism
Social solidarity is the moral order of a society and is necessary for society to function properly.
The structural functionalist perspective believes that both social harmony and social order are important. Modern societies consist of interrelated parts, and they need to work together in a harmonious and orderly fashion in order for society to function properly.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Structural Functionalist Perspective
Durkheim and Types of Societies:
Mechanical solidarity in pre-industrial societies
Solidarity comes from group similarity
Organic solidarity in more advanced societies
Interdependence on different parts
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-2: What is structural functionalism?
Mechanical solidarity was found in simpler societies. The similarity of its members created social order and cohesion.
Organic solidarity is what defines more complex and current societies. People can specialize in the tasks they perform, and we rely on other people to perform those tasks. What would happen if teachers stopped teaching? Or garbage collectors stopped picking up the trash? How long before problems would arise, causing other societal problems?
5
Solidarity
Mechanical solidarity was found in simpler societies. The similarity of its members created social order and cohesion.
Organic solidarity is what defines more complex and current societies. People can specialize in the tasks they perform, and we rely on other people to perform those tasks. What would happen if teachers stopped teaching? Or garbage collectors stopped picking up the trash? How long before problems would arise, causing other societal problems?
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Structural Functionalist Perspective
Social Institutions
Sets of statuses and roles
One aspect of society
Work together, form social structures
: What is structural functionalism?
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-2: What is structural functionalism?
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Understanding the Structural Functionalist Perspective
Social Institutions
Microscopic analysis focuses on individuals
Macroscopic analysis focuses on social structure
Seven primary social institutions
Structural functionalism is a macroscopic level theory. It focuses on social structures and society, not the actions of individuals.
The seven primary social institutions are family, religion, economy, education, government, health care, and the media.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-2: What is structural functionalism?
Structural functionalism is a macroscopic level theory. It focuses on social structures and society, not the actions of individuals.
The seven primary social institutions are family, religion, economy, education, government, health care, and the media.
8
Functionalism
Social institutions work together to socialize members of society into following the same norms and values. This helps build social harmony and social order.
Punishment is necessary according to this perspective to correct problematic behavior and prevent others from engaging in similar actions.
In order to maintain social harmony and order, the structural functionalist perspective argues that social change should be slow and gradual. Change that is too rapid can cause problems and unintended consequences.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Structural Functionalist Perspective
Social Institutions
Manifest functions are obvious
Latent functions are secondary
Dysfunctions are unintended consequences
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-2: What is structural functionalism?
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Understanding the Conflict Theoretical Perspective
Karl Marx and Advanced Capitalism
Economy is key social institution
Ten stages of societal development
Advanced capitalism and maximum profits
This perspective grew out of the work of Karl Marx. Marx wrote about the stages of societal development and argued that ten such stages existed. He focused on the last three stages, stating that society was already at Stage 8 (advanced capitalism).
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
This perspective grew out of the work of Karl Marx. Marx wrote about the stages of societal development and argued that ten such stages existed. He focused on the last three stages, stating that society was already at Stage 8 (advanced capitalism).
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Understanding the Conflict Theoretical Perspective
Karl Marx and Advanced Capitalism
Bourgeoisie: Own means of production
The bourgeoisie are the wealthy and own the technical and materials needed to make good. They employ, and exploit, the proletariat, who are the workers.
Proletariat: Workers
Lumpenproletariat: Chronically unemployed
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
The bourgeoisie are the wealthy and own the technical and materials needed to make good. They employ, and exploit, the proletariat, who are the workers.
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Understanding the Conflict Theoretical Perspective
Karl Marx and Advanced Capitalism: False Consciousness
Proletariat don’t understand their situation
Social institutions reinforce work ethic
Those in the working class do not understand the degree to which they are being exploited. Further, social institutions reinforce the messages of the bourgeoisie in order to maintain a motivated workforce. If workers are told that hard work can lead to wealth and success, they’ll keep working and making a profit for the owners.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
Those in the working class do not understand the degree to which they are being exploited. Further, social institutions reinforce the messages of the bourgeoisie in order to maintain a motivated workforce. If workers are told that hard work can lead to wealth and success, they’ll keep working and making a profit for the owners.
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Understanding the Conflict Theoretical Perspective
Karl Marx and Socialism
Socialism is the next stage of development
Proletariat revolution leads to socialism
More economic equality between classes
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
Socialism is the ninth stage of societal development. Once the proletariat realize the degree of their exploitation, they will rise up and revolt. This will lead to a socialist society where the government gradually takes over the means of production. It will take several generations before this stage is complete.
Inequalities will still exist, but they won’t be nearly as bad as what currently exists. Workers will begin to understand their species being, and alienation will decrease.
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Conflict Theory
Socialism is the ninth stage of societal development. Once the proletariat realize the degree of their exploitation, they will rise up and revolt. This will lead to a socialist society where the government gradually takes over the means of production. It will take several generations before this stage is complete.
Inequalities will still exist, but they won’t be nearly as bad as what currently exists. Workers will begin to understand their species being, and alienation will decrease.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Conflict Theoretical Perspective
Karl Marx and Communism
Social institutions start disappearing
Society enters communist stage
All citizens are equal
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
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Conflict Theory
The root cause of most social problems is the inequitable distribution of goods and rewards. The haves use value coercion to force their values on the rest of society, helping to maintain the power differential.
Conflict theorists argue for rapid social change in order to reduce social inequalities. This perspective is unable to acknowledge those times in history where society is functioning rather well and rapid social change will be more harmful than good.
There are multiple theoretical perspectives under the conflict umbrella. These include critical feminist theories, critical race theories, and disability theories. More recent theories related to gender identity and sexuality can also be subsumed under the conflict perspective
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Micro level theoretical perspective
Development of self
Construction and reconstruction of meaning
Whereas the first two perspectives are macro in nature, symbolic interactionism is a micro level perspective. This helps bring balance to our theoretical understanding of how the world works.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
Whereas the first two perspectives are macro in nature, symbolic interactionism is a micro level perspective. This helps bring balance to our theoretical understanding of how the world works.
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Understanding the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
The Social Construction of Reality
How culture is created
Shared interactions
Role of primary socialization
This perspective significantly deviates from the prior two perspectives. “Reality” is constructed through social interaction. We define what is “real” in society. Socialization helps reinforce these beliefs.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
This perspective significantly deviates from the prior two perspectives. “Reality” is constructed through social interaction. We define what is “real” in society. Socialization helps reinforce these beliefs.
19
Understanding the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
The Social Construction of Reality: Looking-glass Self
Role of others in one’s development
Reacting to feedback
Influence of primary groups
Children rely on feedback from others to understand themselves. Behaviors that are ”good” receive positive feedback, while behaviors that are “bad” receive negative feedback. The same holds true for how we dress, what activities we pursue, how well we do in school, and so forth. How we are is constantly subjected to feedback from others, and that helps us understand who we are.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
Children rely on feedback from others to understand themselves. Behaviors that are ”good” receive positive feedback, while behaviors that are “bad” receive negative feedback. The same holds true for how we dress, what activities we pursue, how well we do in school, and so forth. How we are is constantly subjected to feedback from others, and that helps us understand who we are.
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Understanding the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
The Social Construction of Reality: Dramaturgy
Social actors, social scripts, props
Front stage and back stage
Presentation of self
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
Developed by Erving Goffman, he studied the dynamics of social interaction. This included the individuals, rules of interaction, materials used, and the setting. Further, in ”front stage” settings, it is important for individuals to engage in “presentation of self” tactics in order to help control the message(s) they give to other people. Goffman also argued that it’s important to have the back stage separate so people have a place to relax and be themselves.
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Symbolic Interactionism
Developed by Erving Goffman, he studied the dynamics of social interaction. This included the individuals, rules of interaction, materials used, and the setting. Further, in ”front stage” settings, it is important for individuals to engage in “presentation of self” tactics in order to help control the message(s) they give to other people. Goffman also argued that it’s important to have the back stage separate so people have a place to relax and be themselves.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Understanding the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
What Symbolic Interactionism Doesn’t See: Social Constructionism
Combine social interactionism and conflict theory
Construction of social stratification
Social interactions can cause change
Social constructionism combines a macro theory (conflict) to a micro theory and provides another interpretation of the social world. Using the principles of how reality is constructed, it allows us to understand how social institutions are socially constructed as well.
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
Social constructionism combines a macro theory (conflict) to a micro theory and provides another interpretation of the social world. Using the principles of how reality is constructed, it allows us to understand how social institutions are socially constructed as well.
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Full Theoretical Circle
Small groups creates norms
Social institutions created out of interaction
Institutions shape society
Power differences ultimately created
How do structural functionalism, conflict perspectives, and symbolic interactionism work together to help us get a more complete view of reality?
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/society-and-culture/social-structures/v/social-theories-overview
Korgen, Sociology in Action 1e. SAGE Publishing, 2019.
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Learning Objective: 2-5: How do structural functionalism, conflict perspectives, and symbolic interactionism work together to help us get a more complete view of reality?
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Korgen, Sociology in Action, 1e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 2: Understanding Theory
Lecture Notes
Learning Objectives:
2-1: Why and how do sociologists use theoretical perspectives?
2-2: What is structural functionalism?
2-3: What is a conflict perspective?
2-4: What is symbolic interactionism?
2-5: How do structural functionalism, conflict perspectives, and symbolic interactionism work together to help us get a more complete view of reality?
Outline:
1. What is Theory?
0. Theories help us notice and understand social patterns in society.
0. Theories are often broad and abstract.
0. Theoretical perspectives are groups of theories that share common ways of viewing society.
0. Three main theoretical perspectives include structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
1. Understanding the structural functionalist perspective.
1. Structural functionalism views modern society as having interdependent parts that work together for the good of the whole.
1. Individuals work for the good of society.
1. Social solidarity is the moral order of society.
1. Durkheim and types of societies.
3. Examined social solidarity throughout history.
3. Mechanical solidarity was found in smaller, preindustrial societies. The solidarity comes from the similarity of its members.
3. Organic solidarity is found in more industrial and advanced societies.
2. These societies operate like living organisms.
2. Various parts of society specialize in different tasks.
2. Each part relies on the others.
2. All parts have to work well together for society to function.
3. Social harmony and social order are important concepts for this perspective.
1. Social institutions.
4. Social institutions are sets of statuses and roles that focus on one central aspect of society.
4. Status is a position a person occupies in an institution (e.g., college student).
4. People have multiple statuses.
4. A role includes the behaviors that accompany the status (e.g., college students should come to class on time).
4. Statuses and roles work together to form the social structure of groups, organizations, institutions, and society.
4. The microscopic level of analysis focuses on individuals.
4. The macroscopic level of analysis focuses on the social structure of a society.
4. There are seven primary social institutions: family, religion, economy, education, government, health care, and the media.
4. Each social institution fulfills tasks on behalf of society, referred to as task functions.
4. Manifest functions.
9. The stated reasons a social institution exists.
9. These are necessary tasks.
9. The family encourages procreation and socialization of children.
4. Latent functions.
10. Useful, or secondary, things that a social institution does.
10. Families buy goods, thus supporting the economy.
10. Always link to other social institutions.
4. Dysfunctions.
11. Unintended consequences of behavioral patterns.
11. Highway system increased levels of pollution.
1. Seeing the social world using structural functionalism.
5. Structural functionalism is a macroscopic theoretical perspective.
5. Unit of analysis is the object being examined.
5. The unit of analysis in structural functionalism is society as a whole.
5. Focus is on social institutions and how they work to build social harmony and stability.
5. Social institutions cooperate to socialize us into following the same cultural norms and values.
5. Curbing violations of social norms.
5. Punishment is needed for violation of norms.
5. Punishment is a step toward the rehabilitation/resocialization process.
5. Punishment helps prevent “bad behavior” from spreading.
5. Social change.
6. Change occurs when there are large-scale shifts in society.
6. Structural functionalists believe change should happen very slowly to prevent the social harmony from being disrupted.
1. What doesn’t structural functionalism see?
6. Overlooks those times when rapid social change is the right thing to do.
1. Using structural functionalism to analyze the case of the Meitiv family.
7. Meitiv children (ages 10 and 6) were repeatedly allowed to play in a park alone.
7. One mile from their home.
7. In different instances, they were picked up by the police and Child Protective Services initiated an investigation.
7. The parents were engaging in “free range” parenting in order to promote independence.
7. CPS never found evidence of abuse or neglectful parenting.
7. Structural functionalists evaluate the role of socialization and interdependence of social institutions in this case.
1. Understanding the conflict theoretical perspective.
2. Conflict theory is based on the work of Karl Marx.
2. Karl Marx and advanced capitalism.
1. Marx believed there were 10 stages of societal development. He focused on the last three stages.
1. Advanced capitalism (Stage 8) is an economic system based on maximum profit.
1. There are two classes of people: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
1. The bourgeoisie own the means of production (technology and materials to make goods).
1. The proletariat are the workers.
1. A third group—the lumpenproletariat are the chronically unemployed.
1. False consciousness.
6. The workers do not understand how badly they are being treated.
6. Social institutions, such as religion and politics, promote the message of working hard in order to be successful.
6. Most workers will never be successful, regardless of how hard they work.
1. Species being and alienation.
7. Species being refers to the potential people have to imagine things and create the things they imagine.
7. Proletariat loses this ability because they are exploited by the capitalist system.
7. Alienation occurs when the proletariat gives up on their creative abilities. They become alienated from their true selves.
2. Karl Marx and socialism.
2. The proletariat needs to understand the depths of their exploitation in order to develop a true consciousness.
2. The proletariat revolution would cause society to move to the ninth stage of societal development, socialism.
2. There would be more economic equality under socialism, but some inequalities would still exist.
2. The state takes over the means of production in a socialist society by imposing heavy taxes.
2. Socialism would last a few generations before the next stage occurred.
2. Karl Marx and communism.
3. After a few generations of society existed under socialism, key social institutions such as the economy and politics would disappear.
3. Society would enter the 10th stage of development, communism.
3. Under communism, all citizens would be equal and allowed to fulfill their species being.
3. All societal stages discussed by Marx are economic stages.
2. From Marx to the conflict perspective.
4. Marx’s work became the foundation for the conflict perspective.
4. Conflict theorists argue oppression is not only economic in nature.
4. Social rewards can be unequally distributed by race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, age, and ability/disability.
4. Conflict theorists focus on the “haves” versus the “have-nots” and incorporate rewards such as political power, education, and social status or prestige.
2. Seeing the social world using the conflict perspective.
5. The “haves” use oppression to maintain their power over the “have-nots.”
5. Value coercion is used by those in power to force their values on those not in power.
5. According to conflict theorists, the inequitable distribution of resources and rewards is the cause of most problems in society.
5. Social change should be rapid in order to reduce the levels of inequality in society.
2. What doesn’t conflict see?
6. Conflict theories don’t pay attention to times when society is functioning relatively well.
6. It fails to take into account how disruptive and harmful rapid change can be to society.
2. Subperspectives in conflict theory.
7. There are multiple perspectives within the conflict perspective.
7. These include critical feminist theories, critical race theories, and disability theories. All incorporate the inequitable distribution of resources and goods among different groups (e.g., gender, race, ability/disability).
2. Using the conflict perspective to understand the Meitiv family.
8. Conflict theorists focus on the power imbalances between the state and Meitiv family.
8. The Harrell case in South Carolina illustrates how race, education, and social class can influence the government’s response to an alleged child neglect case.
1. Understanding the symbolic interactionist perspective.
3. This perspective focuses on the interactions between individuals.
3. This perspective focuses on the microlevel, providing a contrast to the macrolevel perspectives.
3. This perspective asks questions about the development of one’s self, how meanings are constructed, shared, and continually reconstructed.
3. The social construction of reality.
3. Interactionist theorists study how culture is created.
3. Groups construct culture through shared interactions with each other.
3. Culture consists of norms, values, symbols, and material objects.
3. Primary socialization is when we are socialized during childhood.
3. The looking glass self-theory.
4. A child’s first step in development is imagining how she appears to relevant others.
4. Children put themselves in the other person’s shoes to determine how others feel about them.
4. The second step is reacting to feedback by parents and other people.
4. What does this feedback mean to the child?
4. Children perceive who they are by the feedback they receive from others.
4. The third step is integrating these two steps into a unique sense of one’s self.
4. Primary groups are important because they are the small groups of people where deep emotional ties exist.
4. People use others as “mirrors” to see themselves.
3. Dramaturgical theory.
5. This theory was developed by Erving Goffman.
5. He examined the social actors (individuals), social scripts (rules of interaction), and props (material objects) used during interactions.
5. There are often teams of individuals, not just two actors.
5. Interactions occur in locations, with two key locations being the front stage and back stage.
5. People engage in presentation of self to control the messages with give off to others.
5. Dramaturgical analysis allows symbolic interactions to study a wide range of interactions.
3. What doesn’t symbolic interactionism see?
4. This perspective cannot examine macrolevel issues in society.
4. The micro perspective prevents the study of social problems.
4. Social constructionism.
2. This is a combination of conflict theory and social interactionism.
2. Societies are socially constructed since they create norms, values, objects, and symbols.
2. Different groups of people receive different rewards, with some groups receiving more and others receiving less.
2. It is important to study how stratification is constructed in societies.
2. Change can occur through social interactions.
3. Using symbolic interactionism to understand the Meitiv family.
5. The parents helped socialize their children by having them walk short distances and secretly following behind.
5. The children’s self-concept was increased by these successes.
5. The parents created a card (prop) indicating the kids were “free range,” but the children did not have it on them when the police stopped them.
5. The parents claimed the authorities were trying to socialize the children to be fearful, which was in contrast to what the parents were doing.
1. Full theoretical circle.
4. Small groups create norms, which get shared by more people during interactions.
4. The norms lead to statuses and roles and create social institutions.
4. Social institutions shape society and influence how people react to those institutions.
4. Power differences are ultimately created between the haves and have-nots.