Overview
This lecture explores major perspectives (paradigms) in sociology, explaining how each interprets society and social facts at different levels.
The Nature of Society & Paradigms
- Society can be viewed as a well-ordered system, a field of group conflict, or daily individual interactions.
- A paradigm is a model or framework for understanding and interpreting facts.
- Sociological paradigms guide what questions we ask and how we interpret social facts.
- Raw facts (e.g., data or events) require interpretation through a paradigm to have meaning.
Macro vs. Micro Approaches in Sociology
- Macro approaches analyze large-scale societal structures and patterns (e.g., economic systems, class, race).
- Micro approaches focus on individual or small group interactions and meanings.
- Micro and macro levels are connected; individual interactions can influence larger structures and vice versa.
Three Major Sociological Paradigms
Structural Functionalism
- Developed by Emile Durkheim, sees society as an organism with interdependent parts.
- Social structures fulfill specific social functions, either manifest (intended) or latent (unintended).
- Social dysfunction refers to patterns that disrupt societal stability.
- Criticism: struggles to explain social change and may justify harmful structures by labeling them functional.
Conflict Theory
- Originated with Karl Marx, views society as groups in conflict over resources.
- Focuses on inequality, power struggles, and change as fundamental to society.
- Includes class-conflict (Marx), race-conflict (DuBois), and gender-conflict theories.
- Emphasizes that conflict drives social change and highlights systemic inequalities.
Symbolic Interactionism
- Associated with Max Weber, focuses on micro-level individual and group interactions.
- Society is shaped by shared meanings and symbols developed through social interaction.
- There is no absolute truth—reality is constructed through agreed-upon meanings.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Paradigm — A general framework for understanding and interpreting facts or phenomena.
- Structural Functionalism — A macro theory viewing society as a stable, ordered system with interrelated parts.
- Manifest Functions — Intended, obvious consequences of a social structure.
- Latent Functions — Unintended, hidden consequences of a social structure.
- Social Dysfunction — Any pattern that disrupts social stability.
- Conflict Theory — A macro theory focusing on competition and inequality between groups.
- Symbolic Interactionism — A micro theory emphasizing shared meanings and everyday interactions.
- Macro Approach — Analysis of broad, large-scale social processes.
- Micro Approach — Analysis of small-scale, everyday social interactions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare to learn how to apply these paradigms in sociological research next week.