Sociological Theory
Chapter 1
Part III
Sociological Theory
►
►
A theory is a statement of how and why specific facts are
related
The two basic questions to answer in investigating human
society
 What issues should we study?
 How should we connect the facts to form theories about society?
►
A theoretical paradigm provides a basic image of society
that guides thinking and research  a roadmap for study
society
 The structural-functional paradigm
 The social-conflict paradigm
 The symbolic-interaction paradigm
► Complete
the theoretical perspectives chart
using the following information.
The Structural-Functional Paradigm
►A
framework for building theory that sees
society as a complex system whose parts work
together to promote solidarity and stability
 Social Structure – relatively stable patterns of social
behavior
► The
five major structures of society are Family, Religion,
Education, Economy, & Politics
 Social Functions – consequences for the operation of
society
► Manifest
Functions – the recognized and intended
consequences of a social pattern
► Latent Functions – the unrecognized & unintended
consequences
► Social Dysfunctions – undesirable consequences for the
operation of society
The Structural-Functional Paradigm
► Put
more simply, all groups have social
structure, and all structures have functions
 all structures and functions interrelate
► Macro-level orientation – focus on broad
social structures that shape society as a
whole
The Structural-Functional Paradigm
► Contributors
 Auguste Comte – sought to promote social
integration during a time of tumultuous
change
 Herbert Spencer – claimed various social
structures, such as family, education, & the
economy are interdependent, working in
concert to preserve society (like the parts of a
human body working together)
The Structural-Functional Paradigm
 Emile Durkheim – focused on social solidarity
 Talcott Parsons -- Saw society as a system,
identifying the basic tasks any and all societies
must perform to survive and the ways they
accomplish these tasks
 Robert Merton – manifest functions, latent
functions, & social dysfunctions
The Structural-Functional Paradigm
► Criticisms
 Can’t assume that society has a “natural
order” since we know that social patterns vary
from place to place and change over time
 Ignore inequalities of social class, race,
ethnicity, and gender, which all may lead to
conflict  if there is conflict, there can’t be
stability
 Envisions society in very broad terms (Macro
approach)
The Social-Conflict Paradigm
►A
framework for building theory that sees
society as an arena of inequality that
generates conflict and change
► Highlights division based on inequality 
investigates how factors such as social
class, race, ethnicity, gender, and age are
linked to the unequal distribution of
money, power, education, and social
prestige
The Social-Conflict Paradigm
► Conflict
is inevitable, and it produces
change, which is good
► Macro-level orientation – focus on broad
social structures that shape society as a
whole
The Social-Conflict Paradigm
► Contributors
 W.E.B. Du Bois & Karl Marx
► Both
wanted to solve the contemporary problems of society,
rather than just study them
► Criticisms
 Ignores how shared values and interdependence can
generate unity among members of a society
 It pursues political goals, therefore it can’t claim
scientific objectivity
 Envisions society in very broad terms (Macro
approach)
The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
► Framework
for building theory that sees
society as the product of the everyday
interactions of individuals
► Micro-level orientation – focus on social
interaction in specific situations
The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
► Human
beings are creatures who live in a
world of symbols, attaching meaning to
virtually everything
► Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic
of subjective meanings
► Need to look at a social setting from the
point of view of the people in it
The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
► Contributors
 Max Weber – Must understand a situation
from the point of view of the people in it
 George Herbert Mead – we build our
personalities over time from social experience
 Erving Goffman – dramaturgical analysis 
explains how we are actors on a stage playing
out various roles
 George Homans & Peter Blau – socialexchange analysis  social interaction is a
negotiation guided by what individuals stand
to gain & lose from others
The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
► Criticisms
 Ignore larger social structures
 It is so specific it might overlook widespread
effects of culture
Applied to Sports
► The
Structural-Functional Paradigm
 The manifest function of sports include
recreation, physical conditioning, & a way to
relieve stress
 Latent functions include fostering relationships,
encourage competition & the pursuit of success
 Dysfunctions include decreasing the importance
of academics in an arena of education
Applied to Sports
► The
Social-Conflict paradigm
 Sports reflect inequalities  some sports are
very expensive to play  the sports we play
aren’t always a matter of choice
 Throughout history, many sports excluded
women
 At one time, sports excluded people of color
 The one good things about sports,
numbers/statistics talk, which helps eliminate
any prejudice
Applied to Sports
► The
Social-Interaction Paradigm
 Sports create a constant interaction between
opponents and teammates
 Individuals might have a position and must
follow the rules, but at the same time are
spontaneous and unpredictable
 Sports aren’t a system, but an ongoing process