DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Quarter 1 - Module 5

TOPIC: LOOKING AT SOCIETY THROUGH SOCIAL SCIENCE MAJOR THEORIES

Learning Objectives of the day/week

You will analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major Social Science theories:
Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism.

Specifically, this module will help you to:

a. understand the concepts and principles of Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic
Interactionism;
b. determine the manifest and latent functions as well as dysfunctions of social structure; and,
c. appraise the meaning that people attach to everyday forms of interaction in order to explain
social behavior.

Introduction
The major Social Science theories provides different point of view in looking into the social
world. People may have his/her own perspective or essential viewpoint about the world. But there
are existing theories or propositions and standards intended to respond to a question or clarify a
specific phenomenon. The sociological theories help us to clarify and foresee the social world where
we live.
In this lesson, you will understand the concepts and principles of the major Social Science
theories namely: Structural-functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism. Also, you will
determine the manifest and latent functions as well as dysfunctions of social structure. Analyze
social inequalities in terms of class conflict and appraise the meaning that people attach to
everyday forms of interaction in order to explain social behavior.

Lesson Proper
Major Social Science Theories

The macro level of the major social science theories in sociological analysis includes the
Structural-functionalism and Marxism. These two approaches concerned with the broad aspects of
society such as institutions and large social groups that influence the social world. It looks at the
big picture of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the institutional level. On the
other hand, the Symbolic Interactionism is a micro level of sociological analysis concerned with the
social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups.

Sociology offers three major Social Science theories namely, Structural-functionalism,

Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism. Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the
social world and human behavior.

The structural functionalism depends to a great extent on the

works of Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), Emile Durkheim (1858-1917),
Talcott Parsons (1902-1979), and Robert Merton (1910-2003). Structural-
functionalism sees society as an arrangement of interconnected parts
that are incongruity to keep up a condition of parity and social
equilibrium. Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional
to describe the effects of social elements on society. Elements of society
are functional if they contribute to social stability and dysfunctional if
they disrupt social stability. Some aspects of society can be both
functional and dysfunctional. For example, crime is dysfunctional
because it is associated with physical violence, loss of property, and fear.
But according to Durkheim and other functionalists, crime is also functional for society because it
leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds and increased social cohesion.

Robert Merton (1968) has identified two types of functions: (1) Manifest function; and (2)
Latent function. The manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly
recognized. An example of manifest function in education is to transmit knowledge and skills to the
youth in society. While, latent functions are consequences that are unintended and often hidden. An

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example of latent function in education is the socialization with peers and adults and conformity to
the norms.

MARXISM
The starting point of the conflict perspective can be rooted with
the great works of Karl Marx (1818–1883). He proposed that all social
orders experience phases of financial turn of events. As societies evolve
from agricultural to industrial concern over meeting survival needs is
replaced by concern over making a profit, the hallmark of a capitalist
system. Industrialization prompts the improvement of two classes of
individuals: (1) the bourgeoisie or proprietors of the methods for
creation and (2) the proletariat or laborers who triumph for
compensation. The division of society into two expansive classes of
individuals the "haves" and the "have-nots" is valuable to the
proprietors of the methods for creation. The laborers, who may gain
just means compensation, are denied access to the numerous assets accessible to the rich
proprietors. As indicated by Marx, the bourgeoisie utilize their capacity to control the
establishments of society for their potential benefit. For instance, Marx recommended that religion
fills in as a "sedative of the majority" in that it calms the pain and enduring related with the average
workers way of life and spotlights the laborers' consideration on other worldliness, God, and
existence in the wake of death instead of on such common worries as day to day environments.
Basically, religion redirects the laborers with the goal that they focus on being compensated in
paradise for carrying on with an ethical life instead of on scrutinizing their misuse.

The conflict perspective sees society as made out of various gatherings and enthusiasm
seeking force and assets. The conflict perspective clarifies different parts of our social world by
seeing which gatherings have force and advantage from a specific social game plan. Max Weber
(1864-1920) added that there were also inequalities of social structure and political power that
caused struggle. He noted that various groups were treated differently based on race, educational,
and gender. Relative to this is the normative feminist view society as a male centric culture—a
various levelled arrangement of association constrained by men. In spite of the fact that there are
numerous assortments of women's activist hypothesis, most would hold that feminism “demands
that existing economic, political, and social structures be changed” (Weir and Faulkner 2004, p.xii).

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Symbolic interactionism mirrors the miniaturized scale sociological viewpoint, and was to a
great extent affected by the works of early sociologists and scholars such as George Simmel (1858-
1918), Charles Cooley (1864-1929), George Herbert Mead (1863-1931), and Erving Goffman (1922-
1982). Symbolic Interactionism is a theory that centered to human communication both verbal and
non-verbal and to images, symbols significance through language and the manner of individual
understanding.

The symbolic interactionism focuses on the study of

human interaction in which people make sense of their social
world through exchange of language and symbols. The
establish meanings come from human interactions with
others and the society. These definitions develop their views
in life and use it to communicate with each other.
Communicating with one another makes society goes on and
continues.

Sociologist W.I. Thomas (1966) highlighted the

significance of definitions and implications in social conduct
and its outcomes. He recommended that humans react to their meaning of a circumstance as
opposed to the objective circumstance itself. Subsequently Thomas noticed that circumstances that
we characterize as genuine becomes genuine in their outcomes. Representative interactionism
additionally proposes that our personality or feeling of self is formed by social cooperation. We build

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up our self-idea by seeing how others collaborate with us and mark us. By seeing how others see
us, we see a reflection ourselves that Cooley calls the "mirror self."

Assessment

Name of Student: Date:

Teacher: _____________________________________________ Grade & Strand: ____________________

Note: Always indicate the Learning Activity Sheet number in every separate paper you use.

Learning Activity Sheet No. 1 Acrostic Poem

Objective: Evaluate the meaning that people attach to everyday forms of interaction, in order to
explain social behavior in our society using word acrostic poem.
Directions:
1. Using the word “SOCIETY”, create an acrostic poem that tackles symbols, gestures that we used
in human interactions.
2. Use separate sheet of paper for this activity.

S
O
C
I
E
T
Y

Learning Activity Sheet No. 2 Multiple Choice

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which is TRUE about theory?

a. Based on pre-existing facts
b. Can be tested to research
c. Exclusively sociological
d. Issue driven

2. Sociological research usually focuses on _____________.

a. globalization c. minority groups
b. immigration d. suicide

3. The following are the major Social Science theories EXCEPT one:
a. Marxism c. Structural-functionalism
b. Psychoanalysis d. Symbolic Interactionism

4. Which sociological theory accentuate the interconnectedness of component parts of society?

a. Feminism c. Structural Functionalism
b. Staples d. Symbolic Interactionism

5. Marxism is frequently reprimanded for neglecting to represent ___________.

a. Consensus c. minority rights
b. Latent functions d. the right of workers

6. Which of the following theories believes that society is an arrangement if interconnectedness

parts that cooperate in congruity to keep up a condition of parity and social harmony for the
entirety?
a. Feminism c. Structural Functionalism
b. Marxism d. Symbolic Interactionism

7. ___________ accentuates that human conduct is impacted by definitions and implications that
are made and kept up through symbolic interaction with others.
a. Feminism c. Structural Functionalism
b. Marxism d. Symbolic Interactionism

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8. Which of the following sociologists accepted that the bourgeoisie utilized their capacity to
control the foundations of society to their potential benefit?
a. Emile Durkheim c. Karl Marx
b. George Simmel d. Talcott Parsons

9. The Structural-Functionalism is based on the following premises EXCEPT one:

a. social structure
b. social conflict in the society
c. function can be small or substantial
d. change is evident within any society

10.How to keep up the balance of the framework in the society?

a. Social instability in the society
b. If the people will work together with one goal for stability
c. If there’s lack of consensus among people in a given society
d. Imbalance among people due to difference in backgrounds