Sociology Final Reflection
Sociology is a science that studies the societies people live in. As in any other science, there are three major theories, Functionalist, Conflict, and Symbolic Interactionist theories that are used to support and outline the different aspects of sociology. These theories provide sociologies with ways to view and analyze the social world as well as to explain and predict society.
The functionalist perspective is based on the works of sociological theorists Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Robert Merton. The functionalist view is founded on the idea that every aspect of society has a purpose or a function that contributes to the society as a whole. Each part of society is necessary in order to create stability and to fulfill the different needs of society. Conversely, each aspect of society, namely these social institutions including family, education, …show more content…
In direct contrast to this theory is the conflict perspective. This theory views society as being composed of different groups that are in constant competition for resources and power. It emphasizes the importance of coercion and control in producing social order. Conflict theory is derived from the works of Karl Marx who viewed his society as being divided and competing social and economic resources. Marx suggested that societies go through different stages of economic development. With this evolution from agricultural to industrial, concern over meeting the basic needs of survival is replaced with the need for a profit. Industrialization leads to the development of socioeconomic classes of people, namely the bourgeoisie who own the means of production and the proletariat who work to earn wages. In order to have social order, one group has to be dominant. According to this theory, power will always fall into the hands of the group with the greatest political, economic and social