Introduction to Sociology: Sociological Theory
Overview
- Focus on four major sociological theories.
- Key concepts: Micro vs. Macro levels of society.
Micro vs. Macro Levels
- Micro Level: Individual focus, e.g., personal interactions within your social bubble.
- Macro Level: Large groups or societal focus, e.g., nations, generations.
Four Major Sociological Theories
1. Functionalist Theory
- Type: Macro level.
- Key Idea: Society functions like a body where all parts work together to maintain stability.
- Purpose of Negative Aspects: Even undesirable things serve a role (e.g., racism might prevent class unity).
- Criticism: Assumes society is stable and orderly, overlooks dysfunction.
- Example: Professional sports provide jobs and entertainment, contributing to social stability.
2. Conflict Theory
- Type: Macro level.
- Key Idea: Society has enough resources, but they're not shared equally, leading to inequality.
- Focus: Power struggles over resources (often not physical conflict).
- Criticism: Not all societal interactions are struggles.
- Example: Gender pay gap in sports (male vs. female athletes).
3. Symbolic Interactionist Theory
- Type: Micro level.
- Key Idea: Society is constructed through shared meanings and symbols.
- Symbols: Objects or actions representing something else, e.g., money.
- Criticism: Difficulty discerning objective truth.
- Example: Social behaviors in a church or the shared meaning of money.
4. Rational Choice Theory
- Type: Micro level.
- Key Idea: Individuals make decisions to maximize personal benefit and minimize harm (utilitarianism).
- Criticism: Decisions are often based on emotions or misinformation.
- Example: Choosing a car based on pros and cons like color and gas mileage.
Exam Preparation
- Identifying Theorists: Use key questions to determine the theory applied.
- Micro vs. Macro: Determine if the focus is on an individual or a group.
- Example Questions:
- Ahmad and symbolic interactionist due to past experience shaping behavior.
- Susan as a conflict theorist focusing on inequality in pay.
- Allison as a functionalist viewing social media benefits for Millennials.
- Tim as a rational choice theorist with a clear pro-con decision process.
Additional Notes
- Reach out for further clarification if needed.
- Practice identifying theories with examples and questions.
By organizing and understanding these theories with examples, you can better prepare for exams and discussions on sociological perspectives.