Three Main Sociological Perspectives

Sociologists employ three major theoretical perspectives in sociology today. They are the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionism. The structural-functionalist perspective is done at a macro level and its focus is on the relationships between the parts of society. The Conflict perspective is done at a macro level and its main focus is on how the wealthy controls the poor and weak.

In the world of sociology there are many different ways that humans interact with the world. Although we are all human beings, we do not always see the world the same way that others do. Even though not many are aware of the different ways they can see the world, there are three sociological perspectives. Using structural functionalism, the conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism one will be able to decide which view best represents the way they see this world. When asked about my perspective on the world, I view it using the conflict theory due to the examples that society gives us based on events that happen frequently. Even though all three of these theories are socially correct, the conflict theory defines my view of the world more than structural functionalism and symbolic interaction.

Sociological perspectives are used to understand and describe the way societies function and the different behaviours of individuals within these societies. These perspectives can be used to explain the organisation of different areas of society, including social stratification, social mobility, social diversity, socialisation, and social institutions as well as the way each element fits into society. In this assignment I will be focusing on explaining each of the main sociological perspectives in society. The perspectives that I will be focusing on in this assignment are:

The Sociocultural Lens is a group of theories and perspectives that are based on sociology and sociological theory. They focus on broader aspects of society and how these affect human behavior. The premise is that social workers need to understand individuals within their environmental context. C. Wright Mills asserted that most sociological theories reflect the sociological imagination, a term used to describe the relationship between an individual’s personal experiences and the wider society. Sociological models help social workers think more comprehensively and offer a more balanced approach to their work (Rogers, 2016).

Growing up, my life was somewhat sheltered compared to the lives of other people my age. I was raised by both my mom and dad in a Christian household, in which I was taught morals based upon our faith. As a result of this upbringing, my parents and I made the decision to enroll me in a private Christian school in sixth grade. In this setting I was protected from the influences of the outside world. All of the language, violence, and temptations were around me, which I began to recognize as I entered my freshman year of high school. Even the walls of the highly respected establishment could not keep the real world out.

Max Weber was a sociologist, philosopher, jurist and political economist. A lot of his ideas profoundly influenced social theory and social research. He had believed in understanding one's social behaviors or actions and not just using senses. He also believed that there's not just one reason for peoples actions but multiple. David Durkheim was also a sociologist. most of his work was concerned with how societies could maintain their integrity and coherence in modernity.

In order to understand have theory of Sociological perspectives you must first define the three major philosophies. The first sociological perspective will be the symbolic interactionist perspective which focus on the everyday details of life. They look at how people interpret different signs and symbolic images that have a specific meaning to the originator but sometimes loses meaning to the receiver. Since words are not concrete and can sometime be manipulated to another person to justify why they thought this was the correct interpretation. The second sociological perspective I would like to address is the Functionalist perceptive which focus on how we are held together by adapting to social consensus. The majority

In todays society there is an abundance of social problems and one that is notable is illness and health care. This particular social problem has raised some attention among society. Individuals tend to analyze it from one of three perspectives. These three sociological theories/perspectives are the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective. Each has a different approach to the causes of this social problem.

I have grown up in church. I have been to church pretty much every Sunday of my life. My family never really missed church, except if we sick. Even when we were on vacation, we would go to church. I also spent a lot of time at youth group. During my time at youth group, there were positive and negative experiences that I had. Even though I do not want to go into youth ministries, I still think my background shapes my opinion on it.

There are three specific ways to view the world from a sociological perspective. The first is symbolic interactionism, which emphasizes the social aspect of society. People develop symbolic meanings through social interactions. This theory analyzes the way society functions by looking at the meanings people place on objects, whether they are physical, social, or abstract. Another perspective is structural functionalism, which states that society is made up of interrelated parts that work together, and is structured to do the greatest good for the benefit of the most people. This theory views society as a complex system that works together to form solidarity and stability. Lastly, there is the conflict theory, which says that society is composed of groups that are involved in a constant power struggle, and even if outwardly it seems there is cooperation, there is always underlying conflict. There is an emphasis in using

Personally, I learned the messages about how other groups of people should be categorized from my external surroundings of family, friends, peers, and other people around me. Throughout the years, my family would always tell and teach me their thoughts and beliefs of other groups of people. My friends and peers from school would also tell me their thoughts as well. From all the external influences in my life, I have gathered a lot of information on how to “judge” and “categorize” other people. Although I was taught by others to believe a certain way, I believe that my own ways of judgment and prejudice still come from within myself and I do not like to let others make the decision for me.

After reading these sections, I had to re-read how to transition into my source, because I sometimes through them in there without context. I should’ve read this before I turned in my midterm paper for my other class, because I got docked for throwing in a quote. But, as I am writing my final research paper, I am prepared. Also, a nice refresher was the common logic section, because as I invest deeper into my discipline, I am having trouble by assuming certain sociological theory is common sense, but it’s not the case. Now I know common knowledge only pertains facts, historical events and geographical locations.

Sociological Perspectives and Theories Sociologists try to explain how society orders itself but there are many different theories for this, which often conflict with one another. Some of these classic theories include Marxism, Functionalism, and Interactionism. There are also more modern or contemporary theories such as Feminism. Each sociological perspective has different beliefs.

Just like many other things when it comes to women's equal rights, it has been a uphill battle. However one of the most indirect forms of inequality that women often face that doesn't come to the mind of most people, is the fact that women are not allowed to engage in direct combat while in the armed forces. Like many other rules and regulations that serve a stigma against women, it is often contributed to many social problems that face the United States, and can often be supported by many sociological perspectives. For example, the symbolic interactionism perspective states that, “it is a school of thought in sociology that explains social behavior in terms of how people interact with each other via symbols; in this view, social structures

Prior to enrolling in Professor McLuhan’s sociological perspectives class, I never gave the term motive much thought, as I simply believed it to be a word that described why a social actor committed an action, either good or bad. Personally to me, the commonsense understanding of the word motive elaborates on a desire to perform a specific action based on a build up of emotion. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, the word motive is defined as “forces acting either on or within a person to initiate behavior. The word is derived from the Latin term motivus (“a moving cause”), which suggests the activating properties of the processes involved in psychological motivation” (Cofer 2014: 1). According to Robert Prus, in sociology “symbolic interaction may be envisioned as the study of the ways in which people make sense of their life-situations and the ways in which they go about their activities, in conjunction with others on a day-to-day basis” (Prus 1996: 10). Furthermore, the interactionist understanding of motives is constructed on the belief that social actors live a particular way based on the human lived experiences that influences their thoughts and emotions. Following George Herbert Mead who is a major contributor to symbolic interaction, he states “language is absolutely fundamental to the human essence. Although language is both a product and a process