UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY & POLITICS UNLOCKING DIFFICULTIES 1. Theory - a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena. 2. Paradigms - a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated. 3. Theoretical Paradigms - provide different relationships of people living in a society perspectives into the social structures of life and the relationships of people living in a society. 4. Approaches - to make advances to especially in order to create a desired result. 5. Perspectives - a mental view or prospects. 6. Structural-Functionalism Approach - is a macrosociological perspective which investigates the various parts of society that work together by fulfilling their respective functions to create a peaceful society. 7. Conflict Theory - is a macrosociological perspective which aims to explore the competition among social groups over the resources in the society. 8. Symbolic-Interactionism Approach - is a microsociological perspective that analyzes how people interpret meaning and symbol to understand and navigate the social world. 9. Feminism - is a macrosociological perspective which studies the involvements of women and those considered as minorities in the social world including the result of inequality and oppression among these groups. 10. Exchange Theory - is a microsociological perspective which examines the decision-making of individuals in a society. 11. Environmental Theory - Is a macrosociological perspective which explore how the people make adjustments in their geographical location including environmental and social changes over time. 12. Macro - being large, thick, or exceptionally prominent. 13. Meso - mid: in the middle. 14. Micro - very smallPARADIGMS ~ theoretical: frameworks use to explain people's culture and society (Griffiths et al. 2015 - study of Kennedy 2020). - perspective which are use to observe and examine the people and their society in different lenses - theoretical paradigms provide different perspectives into the society of life and the relationships of people living in a society (Norwood & Jendian 2017 - study of Kennedy 2020). - help the people especially the students to remove biases in assessing people and their social issues at all level of analysis ( macro, meso & micro). ~ these perspectives highlight the broader social. context of behavior by looking at individuals” social location, employment, income, education, gender, age, and race. - able fo see the connection between what people do and the social environment that shape their behavior. 3 MAJOR PARADIGMS 1, STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALISM APPROACH - macrosociological perspective which investigates the various parts of the society that work together by fulfilling their respective functions to create a peaceful society. - FUNCTIONALISTS examine how parts of the society contributes to the whole. - every part of the society has its own function, even a negative contribution helps society in developing laws and consequences for people committing such acts. example : Society defined the influence of alcohol and drugs as undesirable behavior, in line with this people created law, and consequence for those people committing such an act. MANIFEST FUNCTION AND LATENT FUNCTION A. MANIFEST FUNCTION ~ in society, refers to an expected outcome (ex: using a pencil to develop written communication). B. LATENT FUNCTION - refers to an unexpected outcome (ex. Using pencil to stab someone) - When a funtion created unexpected result, this lead to latent dysfunction.2. CONFLICT THEORY = macrosociologocial perspective which aims to explore the competition among social groups over the resources in the society. - each subgroup may compete for status, power, fame, money, territory and other resources for economic or social achievements. = examines how group of person who are in power maintain and/or impose their power, and how groups of people without power work to acquire power. example : The war over racism in the United States with competing group of black people versus white people. 3. SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISM APPROACH = microsociological perspective that analyzes how people interpret meaning and symbol to understand and navigate the social world. - it documents the different ways of individuals in creating, disseminating, and interpreing reality through everyday face-to-face interaction: - these interactions forms thoughts and behaviors in response to the others influential opinions and decision-making. - Hearing or seeing a word/symbol results to mental image and comprehension about the information shared. example : The symbol “#” is most commonly understood as a sign of salvation and SEW PPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF CULTURE AND FRROUYESM - macrosociological perspective which studies the involvements of women and those considered s minorities in the social world including the result of inequality and oppression among these groups. - the major focus of Feminist factors such as: age, ethnicity, race, sexuality and social class intersect with gender to determine the outcomes for people (Carl, 2013 - study of Kennedy 2020). example : A woman in Lebanon does not have the right to dissolve a marriage without her husband’ consent even in cases of spousal abuse (Human Rights Watch, 2015). EXCHANGE THEORY - microsociological perspective which examines the decision-making of individuals in a society. - focusses on the understanding on how people consider the cost versus benefit analysis emphasizing their motivation and interest in making decisions.ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY - macrosociological perspective which explore how the people make adjustments in their geographical location including environmental and social changes over time. - it also tries to figure out people adapt and evolve over time in response to ecological aspect. LEVEL OF ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION THEORETICAL A PARADIGM 1. Structural Functional Approach 2. Conflict Theory 3. Symbolic- Interaction approach 4. Feminism 5. Exchange Theory 6. Environmental Theory LEVEL OF ANALYSIS Macro & Meso Macro & Meso Micro Macro & Meso Macro & Meso APPLICATION Examines how different group in a society works together to achieve their common goal. Carefully investigates social distribution of power and the existence of inequality. Identify the implication of words and symbols on thinking and social behavior or people in a society. Distinguish the different circumstances and effects of oppression on woman and minorities. Evaluate the possible effect of social forces on thinking, behavior, and decisions. Discover impact of social and environmental change, and how people in a society adapt to it.