Introduction to Sociology

(Term Paper)

Due: Finals week

Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social interaction. It is a systematic study because sociologists apply both theoretical perspectives and research methods (or orderly approaches) to examinations of social behavior. Sociologists study human societies and their social interactions to develop theories of how human behavior is shaped by group life and how, in turn, group life is affected by individuals.

Theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social world in which we live. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective (sometimes called the interactionist perspective, or simply the micro view). Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the social world and human behavior.

Instructions:

1. Please write a term paper focused on one of these three theories: Functionalism Theory (Emile Durkheim), Conflict Theory (Karl Marx), or Social Stratification Theory (Max Weber).

2. Please explain how the theory you chose applies to our society today (i.e., in religion, politics, leadership, economics, cultures, counter culture, sub-cultures, gender, education, labor, etc.).

3. You must use periodicals (news sources and articles) to support your points.

4. You must incorporate one or more of the film series presented in the class within your term paper.

5. Finally, please utilize the Sociology book as a resource to help you integrate these theories within your term paper.

Here is a summary of each theory in bullet-points

Structural Functionalism

• The level of analysis for this theoretical perspective is the macro level. Functionalism holds that every institution in society acts like an organ in a body. Each one is important to the proper functioning of the society. Therefore, this is a macro-level perspective that looks at major institutions and their impacts on society as a whole.

• Functionalism has a very positive image of society. Society is like an organism and all of its parts work together to create and maintain order and stability. This view sees society as essentially harmonious and stable. We will see how this contrasts with the next perspective.

• The core questions that this perspective asks have to do with the functions of each institution in society. For example, functionalists would ask why/how poverty helps to keep society stable and orderly.

Conflict Perspective.

• This theoretical perspective also operates on the macro level of analysis. It is most concerned with different groups in society and the conflicts between them.

• The conflict perspective has a very negative image of society. According to this perspective, society does not function as a unified organism. Instead, society is an arena for conflict between groups. This perspective owes its origins to Karl Marx and his idea of class conflict. It believes that classes (and other groups) are constantly in conflict and that our society is shaped by the results of that conflict. This is a very critical view of society, one which sees social institutions rising out of oppression, not out of society’s need for order and harmony.

• The core questions that conflict theorists look at have to do with the conflicts that arise between groups. They look at various aspects of our society and they ask what conflicts caused those conditions to come about. In other words, they might ask what group conflict or conflicts resulted in the particular kind of poverty that we have in the United States. They often ask how the results of the conflicts can be reversed because they tend to side with the underdog and want to improve the lot of the powerless in society.

Symbolic Interactionism

• Unlike the other two perspectives, this perspective operates on the micro level of analysis. It is mainly concerned with the ways in which individuals interact with and understand the world around them and how those understandings and interactions help shape society. It focuses on individuals as the creators of society.

• We might say that this perspective sees society as being made up of individuals. Its image of society is neither positive nor negative. Instead, it holds that society is created by the individuals who make it up.

• Sociologists who operate from this perspective ask very different questions than functionalists or conflict theorists. They might ask, for example, how poor people see themselves and their situation. Do they define themselves as poor? Do they feel that they are underprivileged compared to other people? Do they feel pride in their socioeconomic status? In general, interactionists want to look at the ways in which individuals understand and define the other people and the institutions with which they interact every day.

Definition of Research/Term Paper: Conducting research for the purpose of writing helps you gain authority over knowledge, and join yourself to group of people recognized as experts. Research literally means repeat (re) going over or looking through to find something (search).