Sociological perspectives

Course Instructor
Amna Farooq
Sociologists refer theoretical framework as a
perspective— an overall approach to or viewpoint on
some subject.

Functionalist Perspectives
Conflict Perspectives
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives
Structural Functional Approach
According to this perspective, a society is composed of

interrelated parts, each of which serves a function and

(ideally) contributes to the overall stability of the society.
A frame work for building theory that sees society as a

complex system whose part work together to promote

solidarity and stability.
Societies develop social structures that persist because they play

a part in helping society survive.

Social structure the complex framework of societal institutions

(such as the economy, politics, and religion) and the social

practices (such as rules and social roles) that make up a society

and that organize and establish limits on people’s behavior.

Herbert Spencer

He compared the society to the

human body. Just as the structural parts of the human
body, the skelton, muscles, and various internal
organs, function interdependently to help the entire
organism survive, social structure work together to
preserve society.
Robert K merton
Social structure have many functions,
Manifest function
functions that are intended and/or overtly recognized
by the participants in a social unit.
Latent function
unintended functions that are hidden and remain
unacknowledged by participants.
Social dysfunction
any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of
society.
Talcott Parsons stressed that all societies must

provide for meeting social needs in order to survive.

Parsons (1955) suggested, for example, that a division of

labor (distinct, specialized functions) between husband

and wife is essential for family stability and social order.
The husband/ father performs the instrumental tasks,

the wife/mother is responsible for the expressive tasks.

Critical Analysis

its Macro level approach

structural functional ignores the inequality of social

class, race, and gender, which cause tension and

conflict.
social conflict approach
According to conflict perspectives, groups in society

are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control

of scarce resources.
Macro level approach

Frame work for building theory that sees society as an

arena of inequality that generate conflict and changes.

This approach highlight the inequality and change.

They focus on how social pattern benefit some people

while hurting others unequal distribution of power,

prestige, money.
Conflict may take the form of politics, litigation,

negotiations, or family discussions about financial matters.

Karl marx

Karl marx focused on the exploitation and oppression of

the proletariat (the workers) by the bourgeoisie (the

owners or capitalist class).
Social conflict approach not just to understand society

but also bring social change that would reduce inequality.

Gender Conflict Approach

a point of view that focus on inequality and

conflict between women and men.
Race Conflict Approach

A point of view that focus on inequality

and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic
categories.
Max Weber

Recognized the importance of economic conditions in producing

inequality and conflict in society but added power and prestige as other
sources of inequality.
Power

The ability of a person within a social relationship to carry out his or her
own will despite resistance from others.
Prestige

a positive social estimation of honor (Weber,1968/1922).

Critical Analysis

Macro level orientation

it focus on inequality, it largely ignores how shared

values and interdependence unify the members of a

society .
Symbolic Interaction Approach
Symbolic interactionist approaches are based on a

microlevel analysis, which focuses on small groups

rather than on large-scale social structures.
Framework for building theory that sees society as the

product of every day interactions of individuals.

According to symbolic interactionists, our thoughts

and behavior are shaped by our social interactions

with others.
A symbol is anything that meaningfully represents

something else. Examples of symbols include signs,

gestures, written language, and shared values.
Symbolic communication occurs in a variety of forms,

including facial gestures, posture, tone of voice, and

other symbolic gestures (such as a handshake or a
clenched fist).
Early theorists such as Charles H. Cooley and George

Herbert Mead explored how individual personalities

are developed from social experience and concluded
that we would not have an identity, a “self,” without
communication with other people.
Critical Analysis

Its micro level approach

Its criticized for failing to take into account large-scale
macro social structures and forces.