This paper will explain the three known theoretical sociological perspectives in science today; it will explain in detail what they are about and what they stand for. The origin of the symbolic-interactionist theory traces back to Max Weber and his assertion that people act in accordance to their interpretation of the meaning of their world. The first perspective is Symbolic Interactionism perspectives, tells sociologist to think about the details of everyday life and what it means to each other.It address the subject meanings of human’s acts and the processes through which people come to develop and communicate shared meanings. (essentials of sociology book) There are three major assumptions behind symbolic Interaction theory, the first assumptions, “meaning are important”, meaning any movement can mean so many things, like when they say a picture can say a thousand words.
Different people can have different means when looking at the same thing, without even saying anything. Another example is giving someone a hug; it depends on who is receiving the hug and for what the reason for giving one.The second assumption behind symbolic Interaction theory, “meaning grow out of relationships” that when relationships change so do their meanings. Meaning, that when someone get married their relationship is a happy and joyful and think that love will keep their marriage forever, then when they get a divorce its seems that love is nothing but pain, and probably feel like they will never fell that same way again. The meaning is now completely different, and that relationship is different, the way they feel about each other is gone.
The third assumption behind symbolic interaction theory is “meanings are negotiated between people”. You can say that its human nature to not take people advice so easily, rather is the truth being told to you, or a lie you’re still not going to take it lying down. We like to argue the facts, or stick to our lie. A great example of Symbolic Interactionism is when you’re trying to buy a car and trying to negotiate the price, trying to convince the seller to give you a lower price for the car.
This is where you can claim that the price for the car is too high for the year or the model. It’s where you don’t take the first thing that is said to you. In addition too, Symbolic Interactionism perspectives, there is Functionalism Perspective. The idea of the Functionalist perspective leads back to Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist whose writings form the core of the functionalist theory (McClelland, 2000). Functionalism is what happens when social structures have positive effects on the constancy of society.It is the frame work for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote harmony and stability.
There are also three assumptions behind functionalism theory, Stability, Harmony, and Evolutions. Those who use social structure theory focus on studying the nature and the consequences of social structures. It also focuses on a relatively state pattern of social behavior. This gives our lives shape in families, the workplace, colleges, classrooms, health, media, sports, religion, and socializations.
A good example of this theory would be how the government providing free education to families that are working that pays taxes to the government that’s supplying a good education to the kids that will turn that education into getting a good job, which then will start the cycle all over again. Sociologists believe that positive consequences of social structures are known as functions and negative consequences of social structures as dysfunctions, meaning that its effects have a negative on the stability on society.Furthermore, the last but not the bit the least of the theories is Conflict theory; which was originated mainly from Karl Marx’s writings on class struggles, present society in a darker light than the other two perspectives. A sociological method that takes up those social actions is best understood in terms of conflict or strain between opposing individuals. The sociological method that views collections in people as tied up in a nonstop power struggle for control of threatened resources. A social theory, that put emphasis on the role of power, authority, strength, and use in keeping social order.
A theoretical approach, focusing on the idea that society is based on an unfit supply of gain and is described by a conflict of interests between the advantaged and the disadvantaged. There are so many examples of conflict theory; many of them are based on sex or race. Like women making more money in the work field compared to men, that is a gender conflict. Another example would be gang violence which has to do with race and the economic. In conclusion, both Symbolic and Functionalism overlooks the negative aspects of society and instead focuses on the positive aspects of society that contributes to its stability.
But when it comes to Conflict Functionalism is all about negatives. In summary, symbolic-interactionist focus on symbolism and face to face interaction, functionalists focus on interdependency of a society and conflict theorists challenge functionalists by focusing on negativity and conflict. They all have their varied strengths and weaknesses and are useful depending on the issue of sociological significance. If I had to pick my favorite theory it would have to be Symbolic Interactionism.
It addresses the subject meanings of human’s acts and the processes through which people come to develop and communicate shared meanings. It studies human meanings, their behavior and how they communicate, with one another. Symbolic Interactionism is particularly useful when examining the issue of gender issues. Symbolic Interactionism looks at the way things seem to be in a society.
For example when a man propose to a women the first thing and the last thing that she looks at is the ring, yes she might say that it does not matter, what the size is, it’s the thought that counts, but that’s only true in stories.Symbolic theory shows that women really do care if the ring is bigger or not, and how much it costs. Many people would like to believe that it’s the thought about getting married that would stick out the most, but it’s not, when a women tell her girlfriends that she has gotten proposed to the first thing that they ask for is to see the ring, and how big is the size, Its after all the questions about the ring has subside do they ask about the date for the wedding and so on. For example the symbol of a other rather than a father, or the symbol of worker rather than owner, is how some people would view them. The way people understand these 'symbols' is precarious to understanding how society functions.
The symbols within a marriage particularly related to the type of work husbands and wives usually did is a great example. Men usually either worked in the fields, in an office, or labored somewhere else returning home with money to support the family, while women stayed at home, took care of the children, cooked each meal, and cleaned the house.These symbolize the old-fashioned way of husband and wife. However, the real jobs that men and women do in the new age are different.
Now it is mutual for both a husband and a wife to work. Yet as we see from the said information the signs of women's work have not changed to meet the new age. This theory shows that adding double the work load for women; while men continue to avoid doing task such as cooking and cleaning. There are few men that stayed home to cook, clean, shop, and take care of the children, because it’s a stressful job.This unfairness is having an impact on a family and it is mostly negative.
With higher divorce rates, there is a direct connection between the way we view the roles in a marriage/family and the overall health of said family. Clearly the way we currently view the gender roles and responsibilities within a marriage needs to change. The theory that is portrayed about men doing common house chores that were traditionally women’s, need to be changed.
