Functionalist Perspective
View of Society
Society is made up of parts (like a body)
When all parts work, society runs smoothly
Believe in the human desire for stability
Also called Structural Functionalist
Functionalist Perspective
Early Sociologists
Auguste Comte
Herbert Spencer
Emile Durkheim
Generally a conservative theory
Functionalist Perspective
Role of Sociologist
Look at elements of society and:
1. Find their intended purpose
2. Find out what they are not doing
Functionalist Perspective
Questions Addressed:
How does the part work? What patterns exist?
What are the consequences of the structure?
Function (+ consequence for stability of society) v.
dysfunction (- consequence for stability of society)
Manifest (intended) v. latent (unintended) consequences
Functionalist Perspective
Examples of function v. dysfunction
Battered women’s plea
+ Helps women
- Used wrongly
Poverty
+ “dirty work” gets done
- people live in poverty
Conflict Perspective
View of Society
Society is in a constant state of conflict (violent
and nonviolent)
Everyone is competing for scarce resources ($)
Competition = inequality
This conflict is a source of inevitable social change
Conflict Perspective
Early Sociologists
Karl Marx
Conflict Perspective
Role of Sociologist
Identify conflicting elements of society and how
they work
Conflict Perspective
Questions Addressed
Who benefits from this structure? (inequality)
How are the inequalities maintained?
Example: Schools
Interactionist Perspective
View of Society
Society has personal meanings for human actions
and these shape how we develop
Examples:
Why do 2 children in same family turn out differently?
How does growing up in a middle class household affect
you v. if you had grown up in a working class household?
Interactionist Perspective
Early Sociologists
Max Weber
Interactionist Perspective
Role of Sociologist
Look for symbols and how the meaning of those
symbols affect behavior.
Interested in the meanings that individuals attach
to their own actions and the actions of others.
Interactionist Perspective
Questions Addressed:
How do a person’s individual experiences affect
society as a whole?
Examples:
Mate selection
Child development