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1.03 Theoretical Perspectives

One of the most important concepts to learn in sociology is the major theoretical perspectives.
These perspectives, or ways of looking at sociological theories, will be recurring themes throughout
the course. This activity is designed to help you better understand the perspectives by asking you to
apply them to your own personal experiences.

Directions: This activity has three parts to it: 1) Conflict Theory 2) Structural Functionalism and 3)
Symbolic Interactionalism. Complete each chart below. You can refer back to the lesson information if
you need to. Once you finish, submit this activity in the 1.03 Theoretical Perspectives Activity Dropbox.

Perspective #1: Conflict Theory – Originally developed by Karl Marx, Conflict Theory claims that
society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for limited resources.

Question Answer
1. Who is the theorist most responsible for      Karl Marx
the development of this perspective?
2. In your own words, define conflict.      a disagreement between associates

3. Identify an example of conflict that you      me and a friend fell out because she started to
have personally experienced. Who was have serious communication with my ex boyfriend
involved in this conflict? What was the
conflict all about?
4. Look at each of the pictures below. Identify the conflict taking place, who is involved, what do
you think is causing the conflict?
     I see a bigger kid bullying a young boy,
maybe about lunch money or just picking on him to
feel cool
      A little girl getting in trouble by her teacher
for talking or misbehaving in class

5. Identify other forms of conflict in our      physical conflict such as bullying.. Things to
society and discuss what causes that cause it are jealousy or envy
conflict.

Perspective #2: Structural Functionalism - Functionalism claims that society is in a state of

balance and kept that way through the function of society's component parts. 

Question Answer
1. For the following elements of society, discuss how society would be different without them.
Each of these elements (or social institutions as we will call them from now on) has a specific
function in society. By identifying how society would be different without them, you understand
how they are functional, or beneficial for society.
     There wouldn’t be any structure of the civilians, and money
wouldn’t be divided equally among the people
GOVERNMENT

     people wouldn’t get the proper care they desire or need

HEALTHCARE

     No one would be taught proper communication, or alignment

EDUCATION with the way of society or the real world

     There are a lot of broken families that prosper in their own way
without a family, but the right way of love and protection wouldn’t be
FAMILY given without it

     There are multiple religions to go by but no one would have

RELIGION their own beliefs in certain cultures or traditions
 2. Identify what you think      The way of life and the functions and work skills it takes to
the manifest functions, build it up in the real world
latent functions, and
dysfunctions are of
schools. Review the
vocabulary to help you
discuss this.

Perspective #3: Symbolic Interactionism - Symbolic Interaction is a theoretical perspective that

claims that society is composed of ever-present interactions among individuals who share symbols
and their meanings.

Question Answer
1. Each of the following pictures represents some sort of symbol in our society. For each
of the images, discuss what they mean to you and how they affect your behavior.
     Police officer; They affect me with the safety
of society. #BLM: Not going to discuss that but
that affects me in a big way.

     I believe in God. So it affects me in a great

but criticizing way. Blessings and lessons.

     It affects me in a bad way because of my fear

in losing people (abandonment issues) but as a
Christian I’ve learned to look at it as another life
gone to Christ.
      Not sure if this is love or Healthcare, but It
affects me both in bad and good ways. In
healthcare reference, not everyone knows
everything about the human body or mind. I
reference to love, it hurts when its gone about in the
wrong way, but it’s a good thing when handled
correctly.

2. Think about how you interact with      The vibes people give off to me is how I
other people. What determines how interact with them. I’m a vibe reader and depending
you interact with them? For example, on the feelings I get from you is how I act towards
how is interacting with teachers you or around you.
different from interacting with
classmates? Give a brief discussion on
elements that determine different levels
of interaction for you.