TITLE: Basic Concepts and Principles of the Major Social Science Theories

MELC: Analyze the Basic Concepts and Principles of the Major Social Science Theories
namely:
a. Structural-Functionalism
b. Marxism
c. Symbolic interactionism
LC CODE: N/A

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:

1. The learners demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and approaches in the Social Sciences
2. Learners shall be able to interpret personal and social experiences using relevant approaches in the
Social Sciences

DISCUSSION

Major Social Science Theories

This lesson will introduce you 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.

Two types of Social Science Theory:

Consensus theory see shared norms, and values as fundamental to the society and view social change
as occurring in a slow and orderly fashion.
Conflict theory emphasize that the society has social order where the dominant groups manipulate and
control the society. It also views social change as occurring rapidly and in a disorderly fashion as subordinate
groups overthrow dominant groups.
1. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
It is a theory that focused on the large scale social structures and institutions of society, their
interrelationships, and their constraining effect on actors. It is a type of a consensus theory and believed as the
dominant and the most significant sociological theory (Ritzer, 1996 & Turner and Maryanski, 1996). However, it’s
importance as a sociological theory declined after the World War II and evolved into a new theory called neo-
functionalism (Demerath and Paterson’s, 1967).
The Functional Theory of Stratification
The functional theory of stratification is the best known single piece of work in structural functionalism
theory (Davis & Moore, 1945). They believed that the society is stratified and need system in order to properly
operate. Stratification system for them is a structure pointing out that stratification of positions in the society is
necessary. They focused on how certain positions come to carry with different degrees of prestige. Given this
focus, the major functional issue is how a society motivates and places people in their proper positions in the
stratification system however it has two disadvantages: (1) How does the society instill in the “proper” individuals
the desire to fill certain positions? (2) Once people are in the right position, how does the society then instill in
them the desire to fulfill the requirements of these positions?
Three Problems for Proper Social Placement in the society:
1. Some positions are more pleasant to occupy than others.
Ex. Being a teacher is more pleasant to serve the society rather than being a street sweeper.
2. Some positions are more important to the survival of the society.
Ex. Being a farmer is more important in the society rather than advertising executive however they have
less prestige.
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3. Different social positions require different abilities and talents.
Ex. Being a doctor requires knowledge about human anatomy and being a laborer also requires the
knowledge about mixing gravels and sand.

According to Davis and Moore, high ranking positions in the stratification system are those that are less
pleasant to occupy but more important to the survival of the society that require the greatest ability and talent,
however they acquire sufficient rewards such as great prestige, high salary, and sufficient leisure. On the other
hand, low ranking positions are presumed to be more pleasant and less important and require less ability and
talent.
Talcott Parson’s Structural Functionalism
Over the course of his life, Parson did a great deal of theoretical work. One of his great work is the
synthesis of the four functional imperatives for all “action systems”, the AGIL Scheme.
A function according to Rocher 1975, is a complex of activities directed towards meeting a need or
needs of the system. Parson believes that in order for a system to survive it must perform the four functions
known as the AGIL Scheme. AGIL stands for:
1. Adaptation: A system must adapt its environment.
2. Goal attainment: A system must define and achieve its primary goals.
3. Integration: A system must regulate the interrelationship of the three functional imperatives (A, G, L).
4. Latency: A system must furnish, maintain, and renew both the motivation of individuals and the cultural
patterns that create and sustain the motivation.

The Action System

The overall shape of the action system created by Parson is a system of level of social analysis. Where
the lower levels provide the conditions, the energy, needed for the higher levels. While the higher levels control
those below them in the hierarchy. (See figure 1)

L I
Cultural System Social System

Behavioral Personality
A Organism System G

Figure 1. AGIL Scheme

Four Action System

a. Behavioral organism is the action system that handles adaptation function by adjusting to and transforming
the external world.
b. Personality system performs the goal attainment function by defining the goals and mobilizing resources to
attain them.
c. Social system copes with the integration function by controlling each component.
d. Cultural system performs the latency function by providing actors with the norms and values that motivate
them for action.

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 2

Social System
A social system consists in a plurality of individual actors interacting with each other in a certain
situations motivated to achieve gratification that are mediated by the culture.
Based from the analysis of Parsons a social system must have functional prerequisites in order to
survive. The following are the prerequisites according to Parson:
a. Social system must be organized so that they can operate compatibility with other systems.
b. The social system must have the requisite support from other systems.
c. The system must meet a significant proportion of the needs of its actors.
d. The system must elicit adequate participation from its members.
e. It must have minimum social control over potentially disruptive behavior.
f. A social system requires language or communication in order to survive.

He also believed that the integration of norms and values is important in the process of internalization
and socialization. Thus, socialization must be supplemented through the life cycle with a series of more specific
socializing experience. Due to the conformity induced by lifelong socialization, wide range of varying individuals
in the social system arise. In order to reduce variations and maintains equilibrium in the system, social control
was implemented and built social order into the structure of Parson’s social system.
As a result of his work regarding the AGIL scheme, he distinguished four subsystems in the society
representing the functions of the AGIL Scheme he created. The economy is the subsystem that performs the
function for the society of adapting to the environment through labor, production, and allocation. The polity
(political system) performs the function of goal attainment by pursuing societal objective and mobilizing actors
and resources. The fiduciary system that handles the latency function by transmitting culture to actors allowing it
to be internalized by them. Societal/Social Community which coordinates the various components of the society.

L I
Social
Fiduciary System
Community

Economy Polity
A G
Figure 2. Subsystems and Functional Imperatives

Cultural system
According to Parson’s Cultural system is not simply a part of the social system but also has a separate
existence in the form of social stocks of knowledge, symbols and ideas. Culture is the major force binding the
various elements of the social world. It is seen as patterned and ordered system of symbols that are objects of
orientation to actors. Thus, through learning and socialization culture can be passed from one social system to
another.
Personality system
It is the main content of the structure derived from socialization, it is an independent system with unique
personality based from its experiences. Personality means as the organized system of orientation and motivation
of action of the individual actor.
Behavioral Organism
It is the source of energy or resources needed by the rest of the system.

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 3

Robert Merton’s Structural Functionalism
One of the students of Talcott Parsons and authored some of the most important statement in structural
functionalism in sociology. He criticized the three basic postulates of functional analysis and stated that any
object can be subjected to structural functional analysis must “represent a standardized item” meaning it has
organizational framework. According to him, structural functionalism should focus on the function of the social
structure or institution rather than on individual motives. Functions according to Merton, are those observed
consequences which make for the adaptation or adjustment of the system.
Three Postulates of Functional Analysis According to Merton
a. Postulate of the functional unity of the society states that all standardized social and cultural beliefs and
practices are functional for society as a whole as well as for individual society. However, he argued that
small and primitive societies cannot be extended to larger or more complex societies.
b. Universal functionalism holds that all standardized social and cultural forms and structures have positive
functions. However according to him, not every structure, custom, idea, belief and etc. has positive
functions.
c. Postulate of Indispensability states that standardized aspects of the society does not only have positive
functions but also have indispensable parts of the working whole. Merton said, there are also various
structural and functional alternatives to be found within the society.

Dysfuntion is the term used by Merton to the negative consequences of social systems. Example of which is
slavery that was used for supplying cheap labor. Nonfunction on the other hand are consequences that are
simple irrelevant to the system. He also introduced the concepts of manifest and latent functions. Manifest
functions are those are intended to do and latent functions are unintended to do by a certain institution. For
example, the lowering of rice price to 11 pesos per kilogram, the manifest function there is to make the rice
affordable however it creates a latent function by bankrupting or lessen the income of the farmers.
Neo-funtionalism
Due to the declined in significance of structural functionalism in 1960, Jeffrey Alexander and Paul
Colomy revive the theory and name it as Neofuntionalism. Neofunctionalism according to them, is a self-
critical strand of functional theory that seeks to broaden functionalisms intellectual scope while retaining the
theoretical core. However, in the Mid-1980’s Alexander conclude that neofuntionalism is not a developed
theory due to some weaknesses.
Problems of structural functionalism according to Alexander needed to overcome to redefine the theory:
A. Anti-Individualism
B. Antagonism to change
C. Conservatism
D. Idealism
E. Anti-empirical bias

Basic Orientation of Neofuntionalism

1. It operates with a descriptive model of society that sees society as composed of elements interacting
with one another.
2. It focuses mainly and equally to the actions of social structure.
3. It recognizes equilibrium within the social system.
4. It retains the Parson’s emphasis on personality, culture and social systems.
5. Focuses on social change in the process of differentiation within the social, cultural and personality
systems.
6. It implies the commitment to the independence of conceptualization and theorizing from other levels of
sociological analysis.

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 4

 2. MARXISM

What is Marxism?

Marxism is an intellectual process which tries to unify scientific analysis and emancipatory
social movements for the purpose of revolutionizing human society.

Marxism according to Webster is a theory and a practice of socialism including the labor theory
of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the
establishment of a classless society.

Marxism is an intellectual process established by the first great practitioners Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engles.

Historical Materialism

Is a philosophy or metatheory that provides an overarching framework for comprehending the

whole of human history and suggestive guidelines for the construction of theories about specific social
formations.

Material Production

It is the foundation of human society not from any inherent economic disposition of human
nature but a necessary condition of social existence.

Process of Production

1. Forces of Production including all those things which determine the technical efficiency of the
production process, such as human skill, tools, knowledge, energy, land and etc.
2. Relations of Production refers to the social relations which govern the use of labor production and
disposition of the economic product.

Capitalism

An economic system in which factories, equipment, or other means of production are privately
owned rather than controlled by the government. According to Karl Marx, capitalism was the most
dynamic mode of production wherein technological revolutions motivate the replacement of human labor
by machines.

Advantages

1. Individuals in the society have the freedom to choose.

2. People can work wherever, buy whatever and do whatever they want.
3. Competition in the market keeps prices low with high quality.
4. High standard of living and economic security.
5. Market determines what goods will be sold at what price.

Disadvantages
1. Larger corporations out compete the smaller producers.
2. There is big gap between the rich and poor. Rich get Richer and leaving the poor behind.

Communism
An economic or political system in which the state or the community owns all property and the
means of production, and all citizens share the wealth.

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 5

 Communist Manifesto
1. Abolition of Property
2. Heavy, progressive taxes
3. Confiscation of property of all emigrants and rebels
4. Central banking
5. State controlled communication and transportation
6. State controlled education of the children

Advantages
1. The basic needs of the people are the priority. everyone would have a job, house, wealth, and care
are provided by the government.
2. Government owns the means of production and determines what goods will be sold at what price
3. No competition and low quality goods are produced
4. Everyone expected to be the same.

Disadvantages
1. People does not have freedom to choose.
2. No reward for being a better worker or punishment for being a slacker.

3. 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 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 "looking glass self."

ACTIVITIES
Poster Making
Directions:
1. Use your creativity by drawing a poster reflecting social inequalities in our society because of class conflict.
2. Write short analysis of your work in a separate sheet.
3. Use coupon bond and any available coloring materials in this activity.
Rubrics

Criteria Highest Possible Points

Creativity (artistry) 20
Content (relevance to the topic)) 15
Originality (uniqueness, own work) 15

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 6

 Assessment

Directions. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is the scheme created by Parson that a society must perform in order to survive?
a. ALIG c. GAIL
b. AGIL d. LIGA

2. An intellectual process which tries to unify scientific analysis and emancipatory social movements for
the purpose of revolutionizing human society.
a. Structural functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. Symbolic Interaction

3. Theory that centered to human communication both verbal and non-verbal and to images, symbols
significance through language and the manner of individual understanding.
a. Structural Functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. Symbolic interaction

4. It refers to the technical efficiency of the production process, such as human skill, tools, knowledge,
energy, and land.
a. Forces of Production c. Function
b. Production d. Relations of production

5. It is a self-critical strand of functional theory that seeks to broaden functionalisms intellectual scope
developed by Jeffrey Alexander and Paul Colomy.
a. Structural functionalism c. Marxism
b. Neofunctionalism d. System interaction

6. Which among the following is not a theory of social science?

a. Structural functionalism c. System Interactionism
b. Marxism d. Neofunctionalism

7. Type of economic system in which factories, equipment, or other means of production are privately
owned rather than controlled by the government.
a. Communism c. Feudalism
b. Socialism d. Capitalism

8. Which among the following is not part of the four subsystems of the action system based on their
functions?
a. Fiduciary system c. Economy
b. Proletariat d. Polity

9. These are the negative effects of social systems, sometimes intended and unintended to happen.
a. Function c. Corruption
b. Non-function d. Dysfunction

10. System as a structure, pointing out the stratification of positions in the society.
a. Action system c. Social system
b. Stratification system d. Personality system

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 7

REFERENCES
A. BOOK
Abulencia, Arthur S. Sadera, Jefferson, Arabit-Zapatos, Ma. Lorella C., Reyes, Wensley M.,
Serafico, Nikolee Marie A. (2017). Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences. Pasig
City, Philippines: DepEd-Bureau of Learning Resources.

B. ONLINE SOURCES

Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic interactionism: Perspective and method. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice Hall. Retrieved fromhttps://books.google.com.ph/books/
about/Symbolic_Interactionism.html?id=HVuognZFofoC&redir_esc=y

Coleman, J. S. (1990). Foundations of social theory. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University

Press; Homans, G. (1961). Social behavior: Its elementary forms. Orlando, FL:
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Retrieved from https://www.hup.
harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674312265

Collins, R. (1994). Four sociological traditions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Retrieved from https://global.oup.com/ushe/.../four-sociologicaltraditions-
9780195082081

Society. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from

https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/society

http://warehouse.olc.edu/~sauer/webfolder/SoSc103/SoSc103_reader_30MB_color.p
df
Prepared by:

AHRLYNN F. MATEO
SHS Teacher II

Reviewed by:

GLEN MARK R. AFRICA., MAEd English LIZAN C. ESTILLORE

Master Teacher I SHS Teacher II

Noted:

GREG S. MINGUA., JD BENJIE P. BAUTISTA

SHS Asst. Principal II Principal IV

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 8

 Answer key

Assessment

1. B
2. C
(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 9
 3. D
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. D
8. B
9. D
10. B

(Disciplines and Ideas in Social Sciences (Module 3 Quarter 3) Page 10