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Major Sociological Paradigms Explained

The document outlines three major theoretical orientations in sociology: the structural-functional paradigm, the social-conflict paradigm, and the symbolic-interaction paradigm. Each paradigm offers a different perspective on society, with the structural-functional focusing on stability and social functions, the social-conflict emphasizing inequality and change, and the symbolic-interaction highlighting the significance of everyday interactions and meanings. Key figures associated with these paradigms include Talcott Parsons, Karl Marx, and Max Weber.

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21 views8 pages

Major Sociological Paradigms Explained

The document outlines three major theoretical orientations in sociology: the structural-functional paradigm, the social-conflict paradigm, and the symbolic-interaction paradigm. Each paradigm offers a different perspective on society, with the structural-functional focusing on stability and social functions, the social-conflict emphasizing inequality and change, and the symbolic-interaction highlighting the significance of everyday interactions and meanings. Key figures associated with these paradigms include Talcott Parsons, Karl Marx, and Max Weber.

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• The Structural-Functional Paradigm

• The Social-Conflict Paradigm


• The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
Major Theoretical Orientations in
Sociology
Sociologists view society differently. They have their
own way of understanding society and its dynamics in
a theoretical manner. The popular paradigms in
modern sociology are:

 The structural-functional
 The social-conflict
 The symbolic-interaction
The Structural-Functionalist Paradigm

• Sees society as a complex system whose parts work together


to promote solidarity and stability.
• Recognizes that our lives are guided by social structure, or
relatively stable patterns of social behavior.
• Claims that all social structure contributes to social functions
– consequences for the operation of society.
• Talcott Parsons (1902-1979), a Harvard University sociologist
was key figure in the development of functionalist theory. He
saw any society as a vast network of connected parts, each of
which helps to maintain the system as a whole.
Owes to: Auguste Comte, herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim,
Robert K. Merton.
Latent and Manifest Functions
Robert K. Merton made an important distinction between
latent and manifest functions.

Manifest Functions are open, stated, conscious,


recognized and intended consequences of any social
pattern. E.g. university as a provider of certificates to the
graduates.

Latent functions are consequences that are largely


unrecognized, unconscious and unintended. E.g.
university as a meeting ground for people seeking marital
partners.
The Social Conflict Paradigm
• The social conflict paradigm envisions society as an
arena of inequality generating conflict and change.
• Such conflict need not to be violent.
• It assumes that social structure typically benefits some
people while depriving others.
• Conflict perspective has become increasing persuasive
since the late 1960s in the United States.
• Fails to address social stability adequately.
Owes to: Karl Marx, Ralph Dahrendorf
The Symbolic Interaction Paradigm
Symbolic interaction paradigm envisions society as the
product of the everyday interactions of individuals,
including symbols and other types of non-verbal
communication.
It views human beings as living in a world of meaningful
objects. By attaching meaning to everything, we construct
reality as we define our surroundings, our personal
identities, and our obligations towards others.
Society arises as a shared reality, created by the
interaction of its members.
Owes to: Max Weber, George Herbert Mead, Erving
Goffman, George Homans and Peter Blau
The Interactionist Perspective
So it is often referred to as symbolic
interactionist perspective.

Anger Fear Disgust Joy Sadness Surprise

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