VALENCIA COLLEGES (BUK.), INC.

Hagkol Poblacion, Valencia City 8709, Bukidnon

Sociology Department

Sociological Theories
Title

Submitted by:

Leny Jean E. Ople

AB Sociology 2W

Submitted to:

Marjorie Alcontin
Subject Teacher
 Introduction

Sociological theory or social theory has a great extent and is older than sociology itself. It

can be found in the Old Testament, Hindu’s Vedas and Chinese literature. Even social theories of

modern social science orientation can be traced back 2400 years to ancient Athens. They were

used as a means of visualizing the social universe in order to obtain practical knowledge about it

that is according to Caplow 1971: 156. However, modern sociology is considered as a science of

society, it emerged only after the extension of scientific method into the social world which we

are living. This happened in early nineteenth century when systematic efforts were made to

evolve a science of society as a distinct perspective from philosophy, history, politics, economy

and other social sciences. (Cotgrove 1967:32). However, efforts at establishing a separate

identity for the science of society involved formulation of various theories about the nature of

social system and the methods of their study. Sociologists in pursue of this, formulated different

theories from which three are the most popular which nowadays used the different people in the

world of sociology. The three major sociological theories namely, Structure Functionalism,

Symbolic Interactionism and Conflict Theory, those theories has its own definition and function

which then turned into some of the assumptions and theories of some of the well-known

sociologists nowadays.
Three Important People who authored the fundamental theories of sociological theories

1. Structural Functionalism authored by Émile Durkheim

2. Symbolic Interactionism authored by George Herbert Mead

3. Conflict Theory authored by Karl Marx

 Discussion

Humans have some primary priority in life it is either their common needs or overall needs such

as food, shelter, sexual satisfaction, protection and so on. The satisfaction of such needs require adaption

of some techniques and means for growing or finding and distributing food. It also require the

construction of dwelling and the establishment of heterosexual relation. In addition to the primary needs

there exist secondary need which is the need for communication and language.

Sociological theories arise in our society because of the brilliant ideas of those people whom first

identify what are those things. There are three sociological theories which is structural functionalism,

conflict theory and Symbolic Interactionism theory. Those three theories has its classification and

identification. First is the structural functionalism, what is structural functionalism? Structural

functionalism refers to a sociological theory that depicts society as a social system consisting of various

structures, organizations and institutions, influencing each other and affecting the whole system. It

focuses on the function of the institutions and their contribution to the continuity of the social system.

Next is the conflict theory, conflict theory refers presents a different picture of society. It depicts society

as an arena of wide spread conflict and struggle at every level of it. Instead of values consensus, as a

means of keeping society together, it considers exercise of power to play the role. Institutions,

organizations and individuals possessing power are seen as imposing their values and standard of conduct

on those without power by use of force and exercise of their power. The last one is the Symbolic

Interactionism theory which are dealing with large-scale phenomena, deals with social phenomena on a

small scale. It analyses social phenomena from a subjective perspective. In this sense, it represents more

of a social psychological perspective than a sociological perspective. Those theory symbolizes the social

status of our society nowadays, those theory opens the mind of the reader which led and guide them how

the society works accordingly. It is a matter of how an individual deal with those theories.
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism Theory
Structural Functionalism Theory