Aim:Aim: What are the prominent theories in What are the prominent theories in Sociology?Sociology?

What do these images mean to you?

Symbolic Interactionism:Symbolic Interactionism:

Microsociological-deals with individuals’ Microsociological-deals with individuals’ behavior in face to face situations.behavior in face to face situations.All larger structures are the products of All larger structures are the products of people interacting.people interacting.People do not respond directly to the world People do not respond directly to the world around them, but rather to the meaning around them, but rather to the meaning they collectively apply to it.they collectively apply to it.It is possible to change your perspective It is possible to change your perspective and assign different meanings to thingsand assign different meanings to things

Looking Glass Self:

• Charles Cooley: We use other people as a mirror to ourselves– we imagine how others see us, and we

imagine their judgment of that appearance.

– this is how we form our own self image

Functionalist Theory:Functionalist Theory:

Macrosociological(applies to large-scale Macrosociological(applies to large-scale social phenomena), social phenomena),

Says that all social groups, regardless of Says that all social groups, regardless of size, are systems whose parts are size, are systems whose parts are interdependent. A change in one element interdependent. A change in one element will lead to changes in the others.will lead to changes in the others.

If one part of a social system ceases to If one part of a social system ceases to serve a function, it will fade away.serve a function, it will fade away.

Conflict Theory:Conflict Theory:

Macrosociological, based on works of Karl Macrosociological, based on works of Karl MarxMarx

Not harmonious and cooperative as in Not harmonious and cooperative as in Functionalism. Conflict theory states that Functionalism. Conflict theory states that society is an arena where different society is an arena where different individuals and groups struggle with each individuals and groups struggle with each other in order to obtain scarce and valued other in order to obtain scarce and valued resources.resources.

Feminist Perspective:Feminist Perspective:

Relatively newRelatively new

Focuses on marginal groupsFocuses on marginal groups

Challenges the notion that research on Challenges the notion that research on male subjects can explain all of societymale subjects can explain all of society

Takes into account race, gender, Takes into account race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientationsocioeconomic status, sexual orientation

Can be linked to symbolic interactionism Can be linked to symbolic interactionism and conflict perspectiveand conflict perspective