Functionalism versus intentionalism

From many years of sociological research, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, three sociological theories have stood the test of time. These dominant theories are, the Structural-Functional Approach, the Social-Conflict Approach and the Symbolic-Interaction Approach. “Each sociological theory presented has a unique way of explaining social behaviour in the real world”. (Thiessen, 2017) These theories have all been developed by good sociologists; sociologists who remain objective and…

Many sociologists use different theories to help them understand the diverse behaviors in society. Sociologist often use the most three important theoretical approaches, structural-functional approach, the social-conflict approach, and the symbolic-interaction approach. These three approaches majorly contribute to the understanding of how our society works. Sociologist also apply these three theoretical approaches to how families function and their operations. Structural-functional approach and…

historical and social contexts from which sociology developed and then an explanation of three sociological concepts namely, Socialisation, Social Stratification, and Social Order and a further explanation of three sociological theories namely Functionalism, Marxism and Social Action Theory and and how it applies itself to individuals and society on a micro level and a macro level. Sociology has its roots deeply embedded in history, for thousands of years great philosophers as far back as…

Self Presentation The Sociologist and writer, Erving Goffman are widely known for his social theories presented in his book “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life”. His work created a basis for sociology which is the study of a functioning human in society and for modern America. In this essay, his different theories will be discussed through a personal experience I had in my life while engaging in interpersonal communications. I will first start out with who I am and how I…

1. Distributive Justice is the question in social philosophy of how resources are to be distributed in society. A sub-portion of this question for example, is “should members of society be forced to contribute to the welfare of others?” 2. Strict Egalitarianism refers to a concept of radical equality of distribution. That all resources are to be evenly distributed amongst the populous; often on the grounds of individuals being morally equal and therefore, should be equal in access to…

My theoretical tendencies on social change are most aligned with critical theory. This is not because I am overly critical of all aspects of society, however, I am most often critical of the structural systems in place that appear to work as machines of oppression and interest groups rather than social justice and equality. This personal predisposition supports an approach that is congruent with structural social work theory. Structural social work critiques existing social, economic, and…

Habermas, Jürgen, et al. “The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article (1964).” New German Critique, no. 3, 1974, pp. 49–55. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/487737. The “Encyclopedia Article” by Habermas provides the foundations/ transformation for the public sphere, as a concept, its history, the liberal model, and in the social welfare state mass democracy. The overall thesis for the article by Habermas is to provide a basic, foundational understanding of the public sphere. Habermas…

Main body In the e-text, Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change by Mary Ann Schwartz and BarBara Marliene Scott, it is established that sociology examines society at the Micro and Macro level phenomena. Microsociology looks at a small group within the larger society. It is small scale and centers around individual interactions. Where as, macrosociology is large scale and focuses on society as a whole. This paper will further describe the interactions that occur inside of a family and how…

Sociology involves a unique way of thinking as one should have a broad mind in order to see little difference in everyday routine (Johnson Bethany 03 June 2015). Indeed, the sociological imagination is a concept used by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills to describe the ability to “think yourself away from the familiar routines of everyday life” and look at them from an entirely new perspective (Johnson Bethany 03 June 2015). In order to develop such skills, one must be able to free…

As mentioned in the present chapter, symbolic interactionism is an important theory in sociology that examines “how we [as humans] construct meanings, how we use symbols to communicate with one another and how symbols are the foundation of our world” (Henslin, 2012). In the field of sociology this theory consists of three fundamental themes –“humans have a self,” “people construct meanings, and act on the basis of those meanings” and “people take into account the possible reactions of others”…