Three Perspectives of Sociology

As you enter class, please open to page 27 and individually brainstorm answers the questions about conflict, functional and symbolic interactionist views.  Here they are:

Conflict:

Conflict theorists argue that the social order is based on coercion and exploitation.  They emphasize that sports reflect and even exacerbate many of the divisions of society.  Who has power in the sport?  How or why do they have power?  How do they use it?

  

Functionalism:

In examining any aspect of society, functionalists emphasize the contribution it makes to overall social stability.  Functionalists regard sports as an almost religious institution that uses ritual and ceremony to reinforce the common values of society.  Identify some of the groups present at the sporting event.  What functions does each group serve for the different individuals?  What are the negative functions (dysfunctions)?

Symbolic Interactionist View:

Interactionists are especially interested in shared understandings of everyday behavior.  They focus on how day-to-day behavior is shaped by and changed by distinctive social norms and values.  What are the important symbols in the sport?  Note that the symbols might be an object, but also might be an idea, an event or something else.  How do these symbols affect how the individuals act?

Also today:
HW: 
Read Just Mercy Intro and Chapters 1 and 2 for Next week.
Coming next week: Gang Leader For A Day.


Foundations of Sociology and the Three Perspectives

Three specific ways of having a sociological imagination are the three founding perspectives of sociology.  These three perspectives were the beginning of sociology.  All three of them were a reaction to the extraordinary changes of the industrial revolution taking place in Europe in the 1800s.  The founder of each of these theories is considered one of the founding fathers of sociology.

What are the groups and what functions do they serve? Are there negative influences from any of the groups (dysfunctions)? This is functional theory. It was developed by Emile Durkheim.

Who has power? How and why do they have power? How do they use it? This is conflict theory, developed by Karl Marx.

What are the important symbols? Note that the symbols might be an object, but also might be an idea, an event or something else. How do the characters act based on the symbols they find important? This is symbolic interactionism. I like to connect symbolic interactionism to Max Weber.

Can you relate any of these theories to your own life? How can the things you do be interpreted through one of these theories? For example why do you wear what you wear or why are you going to college or why do you stress yourself out to get "good" grades?

Takeaway:

How did the industrial revolution help sociology begin?          

           

Who are considered the founders of sociology?

           

What perspectives are they tied to?

           

What is the lens for each perspective?

For more information about the perspectives, please see Ferris and Stein (your textbook) pages 18-31.