differences between structural functionalism and conflict theory

The black dots and lines become more than mere marks on the page they refer to notes organized in such a way as to make musical sense. Of course, anything can serve as a symbol as long as it refers to something beyond itself. Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them. The words have a certain meaning for the “sender,” and, during effective communication, they hopefully have the same meaning for the “receiver.” In other terms, words are not static “things” they require intention and interpretation. Verbal conversations, in which spoken words serve as the predominant symbols, make this subjective interpretation especially evident. Mead (1863–1931) introduced this perspective to American sociology in the 1920s.Īccording to the symbolic interactionist perspective, people attach meanings to symbols, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. Although symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber's assertion that individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world, the American philosopher George H. The symbolic interactionist perspective, also known as symbolic interactionism, directs sociologists to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other. Each perspective uniquely conceptualizes society, social forces, and human behavior (see Table 1). These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and vice versa.

Sociologists today employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the symbolic interactionist perspective, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective. Their views form the basis for today's theoretical perspectives, or paradigms, which provide sociologists with an orienting framework-a philosophical position-for asking certain kinds of questions about society and its people.

The pioneering European sociologists, however, also offered a broad conceptualization of the fundamentals of society and its workings. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizations of society and social behavior, sociologists study everything from specific events (the micro level of analysis of small social patterns) to the “big picture” (the macro level of analysis of large social patterns). Sociologists analyze social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. Managed Care as a Means of Cost Control.Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.Marriage, Family, Alternative Lifestyles.Universal Education: Growth and Function.Social Stratification and Homosexuality.Prevalence of Homosexuality, Bisexuality.Social and Personality Growth: Age 12–19.Social and Personality Growth: Age 7–11.Piaget's Model of Cognitive Development.Culture's Roots: Biological or Societal?.Sociological Research: Designs, Methods.Complementary Perspectives in Sociology.

Differences between structural functionalism and conflict theory