Understanding Sociological perspectives pptx.

**Title: Understanding Sociological Perspectives
This presentation explores the key sociological perspectives that provide frameworks for analyzing human behavior and social phenomena. It delves into Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism, explaining how each perspective views society and its structures. Functionalism examines society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability and harmony. Conflict Theory highlights the power dynamics and inequalities that create tension and change. Symbolic Interactionism focuses on the meanings and interpretations that individuals attach to social interactions. By understanding these perspectives, we gain a deeper insight into the complex workings of society and the factors that influence human behavior.

1. Sociological Perspectives Course Instructor Amna Farooq

2. Sociological Perspective Sociological perspective  is one that observes society through a lens without personal opinions Sociologists refer theoretical framework as a perspective— an overall approach to or viewpoint on some subject. Three Main Perspectives: Structural Functionalism Social Conflict Symbolic Interactionism

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Herbert Spencer He compared the society to the human body. Just as the structural parts of the human body, the skeleton, muscles, and various internal organs, function interdependently to help the entire organism survive, social structure work together to preserve society.

6. 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.

7. Critical Analysis its Macro level approach structural functional ignores the inequality of social class, race, and gender, which cause tension and conflict.

8. 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.

9. 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 disputes on financial matters.

10. 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.

11. Max Weber Recognized the importance of economic conditions in producing inequality and conflict in society but added three sources of power as other sources of inequality. Prestige - a positive social estimation of honor (Weber,1968/1922) Power - The ability of a person within a social relationship to carry out his or her own will despite resistance from other, e.g., FBI

12. Critical Analysis Macro level orientation It focus on inequality, it largely ignores how shared values and interdependence unify the members of a society .

13. Symbolic Interaction Approach Focus on interaction between people that takes places through the use of symbols, which is called symbolic interaction. Symbolic interactionist approaches are based on a micro level analysis, which focuses on small groups rather than on large-scale social structures.

14. Framework for building theory that sees society as the product of every day interactions of individuals. Focus on how individual interact with one an other in society, and how they respond in everyday situation.

15. 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.

16. Symbolic communication occurs in a variety of forms, including facial gestures, posture, tone of voice, and other symbolic gestures (such as a handshake).

17. 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.

18. Critical Analysis Its micro level approach Its criticized for failing to take into account large-scale macro social structures and forces.