Sociology Theory and Application - Essay Example

Sociology Theory and Application View of Society The three most important theories of sociology which help in the study and application of sociology are structural functionalism, Symbolic Interaction and conflict theory. Structural functionalism which is even regarded as functionalism is a concept of sociology which states that a society comprises of several systems which are very hard to understand and these systems operate while being dependant on each other in order to attain stability for the society (Ferrante 53). Those who approach the society from the eyes of functionalism view society at the micro level and seek to explain how different systems are contributing towards the stabilization of the society. Functionalist theorists approach different issues experienced by society as a whole and the functions that are served by different parts of the society. One of the main theorists of functionalism is Herbert Spencer who states that a different portions of society are similar to the organs found in human body and as the organs work together to keep an individual’s body stable, the different portions of society even operate together to stabilize the society (Mills 6). On the other hand, those who view society from the eyes of conflict theory believe that society is a war or fight to attain domination between different groups of a society (Ferrante 32). When they talk about society, they view the social power of those who are being dominated from the authority and force of those who are dominating the groups that are being dominated. They share a belief that the elite of the society are the ones who are creators of rules and regulations within a society and they make these rules and regulations to further strengthen their position over the expanse of the ones who are being dominated. This process is conducted to ensure that those who are the elite continue to grow and gain monopoly and authority within the society. The most prominent theorists of conflict theory are against such a view of the society and believe that equality between different groups of the society should be attained. For example: Karl Marx is of the view that socialism should be attained and it is healthy for the society (Ferrante 32). In the case of symbolic interaction, theorists of symbolic interaction view society by emphasizing on the meanings that are subjective in nature and are place by individuals to different activity, situations and events (Ferrante 36). Theorists of Symbolic interaction pay emphasis to the subjective meanings associated with symbols because people behave in accordance to their perception rather than acting upon what is the objective meaning associated with symbols. This means that social construction takes place in compliance without how human being interprets stimuli. Social relationships are created when human beings analyze each other’s behaviors. Leading theorists of this theory include Max Weber who asserted that the way a human being behaves is dependent on how he views the society and the world around him (Mills 36). Another major theorist of this approach to society is George Herbert Mead who was the first to bring this theory to the surface of American society during the period of 1920 (Ferrante 94). View of Social Change The theorists who follow the functionalist approach might not be in favor of social change and may give greater emphasis to maintenance of stability within the society. Talcott Parsons one of the main theorists of functionalist perspective state that society experiences various changes and then finally it stabilizes and achieves the condition recognized as homeostasis (Mills 23). Functionalist are of the view that there are several factors similar to the growth of population and advancement in technologies that result in social change. They are of the believe that the factor of growth of population which is natural in nature will exploit advancement in technologies and will cause an increasing the society’s knowledge of the environment that they are living in and this will result in change which will occur gradually. Functionalist’s perspective of equilibrium asserts that people thrive and work really hard to achieve better economic and social status and thus they will accept change to attain a better life. Conflict theorists believe that social change and changes in social order occur as a result of differences between different classes within a society. This is why several societies have experienced wars within them and revolutions have taken place a result of issues between different classes of a society. Conflict theorists even believe that those who are not well off within the society and are from the lower social class are those who cause social changes. The theorists of conflict theory claim that changes in social order occur as a result of frustration caused due to domination of the elite class over the lower class. Social change occurs when those who are being dominate, realize that they have been badly exploited by the dominators. Due to this realization, those in the lower class will start protesting and revolting and this will result in creation of new societies where a certain portion of the population which was graded as the lower class, will end up being part of the upper class. In the case of symbolic interactions, theorists believe that changes occur as a result of individual’s interaction with symbols around him. They even state that an individual acts in accordance to the meaning they attach to another individual’s behavior. The theory further claims that individuals create subjective meanings and these meanings are either consistent or inconsistent with the meanings interpreted by others. For example: a community may be said to be suppressed by those living within the community, while others who are viewing the community may state that the community is not suppressed, this might result in change and might become the underline factor leading to movements that cause social change. Blumer further asserts that the meanings that an individual attach to a situation keeps on changing and does not remain stagnant (Ferrante 36). This means that an individual’s interpretation about certain behavior of another individual does not always remain same and changes over time and thus the relationship between one human being with another even alters. Social Issue (Prostitution) When functionalist will be studying the social phenomenon of prostitution, they will inquire about the functions that may be served by this social phenomenon, for example: one of the functions served by this phenomenon is an individual’s desire for sex without any emotions involved in it. Secondly, they will try to determine the values that are related to this phenomenon, for example: the value for sexual encounter that is associated with prostitution. Lastly they would try to determine whether this phenomenon is achieving social stability or not. For example: prostitution may contribute to social stability as serving the individuals need for kinky sexual activity which they are not able to fulfill with their wives who are expected to have good backgrounds. In the case of conflict theorists, they will inquire about those who are powerful and those who are being dominated. For example: In the case of prostitution, the powerful are those who are purchasing sex and those being dominated are the prostitutes. The values that are evident according to conflict theorists are that men within the society have more power over women. Social stability is achieved when women serve men as they are powerful. In the case of symbolic interactions, they will inquire about the interpretation of the phenomenon attached by individuals. For example: prostitutes may perceive that they are sex workers and prostitution is a business. Symbolic interactionist may be interested in the economic impact of this phenomenon. For example: they may be interested in the money that government can make by legalizing this phenomenon. References Ferrante, Joan. Sociology: a global perspective. Enhanced 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Mills, C. Wright. The sociological imagination. Oxford [England: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. Read More