Benefits of the sociological

perspectives,
Sociological imagination &
Auguste Comte

Prepared by
FATIMA ZEHRA NAQVI

SESSION # 2
SESSION # 1
Functionalist Perspective:

Structure Functionalism
Family
Religion
Government
Economy
Education
 August Comte was the pioneer of ‘Functionalist Perspective’.
 Acc to it, Society develops like a living organism.
 Herbert Spencer-- an organ of human body correlates with other parts and make
a living body.
 Functions are in totality.
 If institutions do not work properly, then social problem arises, they call it
‘dysfunction’. Dysfunction is harmful for society.
 If coordination stops.. Social problems will arise.
 Society is considered as a social system.
 Transfer of duties in in ‘Functionalist Perspective’.
 ‘Tendency towards equilibrium and balance among it’s parts and
forces’.
 Functionalist assume almost all members of society agree upon what is
desirable and worthy and what is undesirable and evil and worthless.
 Do not deal with the social change.
 Acc to this perspective, society is going well, there are no problems and
if problems are arising they’ll deal with it.
 Macro-level of analysis.
Conflict Perspective:
 Originated from the efforts of Karl Marx.
 Sustained by Wright Mills in some years later.
 Societies have a tendency of being in conflict.
 Distribution of power and wealth remains unequal.
 Dominant groups employ power and authority in
controlling most or all the other social structure
aspects.
 Alternative to functionalism
  Macro sociological theoretical perspective
 Resentment and hostility are constant elements of
society
 Power differences among social classes
 Fight over scarce resources of society
 Society was a two-class system:
 Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production)
 Proletariat (workers)
 Idea of Classless Society
Acc to Herbert Mead– ‘Survival of the fittest’ every individual
should have wealth, power, prestige then only you have right to
survive.
German Sociologist George Mead said there should be ‘social
order’ in society
George Simmal : social order comes from ‘competing forces’.
‘Harmony and Disharmony’ is a result of conflict on system.
Conflict is an important factor.
Harmony can only come by resolving conflicts, adjustments
and balancing.
We recognize ‘harmony’ from ‘disharmony’.
 Inequality of power, wealth is the main origin of
conflict.
 Conflict depends upon change; social change.
 Awareness of depression is necessary , role of
individual is important a/c to Karl Marx.
 Constitute new policies.
 Rebel with system a/c to Marx, can bring change.
 All these views are based upon ‘social change’.
 Macro-level of analysis.
Symbolic Interactionist:

 Focuses on the interaction of individuals with each other

 Symbol
 Anything that represents something else
 Symbolic interaction
 Using symbols while interacting with others
 The interactionists also focus on the role that symbols play in our
daily lives.
 A symbol is anything that represents something else.
 Inorder for something to be a symbol, everyone in a
society must agree on what it means/stands for.
 Examples of symbols: American flag, Bald Eagle, Uncle
Sam are all symbols of America.
 Interactionists also focus on how people use symbols when
they interact. Its called Symbolic Interaction.
 How people act, and then seek to determine what
meanings individuals assign to their own actions and
symbols, as well as to those of others.
 Concept of “learned behavior” .
 Micro- level of analysis.
The Benefits of Sociological perspectives:
“Using the sociological perspective makes us wiser, more active, and more powerful
citizens and professionals.”
 We can assess the truth of common sense.
We all take many things for granted, but that does not make them true. A sociological
approach encourages us to ask whether commonly held beliefs are actually true and,
to the extent they are not, why they are so widely held. Consider for yourself: gender
differences; ethnic differences; racial differences; and social class differences. Where
do these differences come from?
 We can see the opportunities and constraints in our everyday lives.
What we are likely and unlikely to accomplish for ourselves and how can we pursue
our goals effectively?
 The sociological perspective empowers us to participate actively in
our society.

If we do not know how the society operates, we are likely to accept the
status quo. But the greater our understanding, the more we can take an
active hand in shaping our social life. Evaluating any aspect of social life –
whatever your goal – requires identifying social forces at work and
assessing their consequences.

 The sociological perspective helps us recognize human variety and

confront the challenges of living in a diverse world.

There is a diversity of people’s life styles, still we may consider our way of
life as superior, right, and natural. All others are no good. The sociological
perspective encourages us to think critically about the relative strengths and
weaknesses of all ways of life, including our own.
Sociological Imagination:
• Coined by the American
Sociologist C Wright Mills in
1959.
• The ability to see the
connections between our
personal lives and the social
world in which we live.
 When we use our sociological imagination, we are able to distinguish between
“private troubles” and “public issues” and to see connections between the events
and conditions of our lives and the social and historical context in which we live.
 Ability to observe how interactions and actions are influential upon other
individuals and situations.
 Ability to "think yourself away from the familiar routines of everyday life" and
look at them from an entirely new perspective.
Example of Sociological Imagination: “Tea Drinking”:
 In one case, it can be seen as a sign of good health.
 Itcould be considered a tradition or ritual as many people chose
to drink tea ritualistically each day at certain times.
 Itcould be considered a type drug being that it contains caffeine
and the drinker of the tea could have a caffeine addiction.
focuses less on the drinking of the beverage
and more on the action of meeting with
another person.