Unit 1, Lesson 3-Sociological Theories

Dysfunction

A consequence of a social practice or behavior pattern that undermines the stability of a social system.

Social interactions

A social interaction is an exchange between two or more individuals and is a building block of society. By interacting with one another, people design rules, institutions and systems within which they seek to live.

Theoretical Perspective

A theoretical perspective is a set of assumptions about reality that inform the questions we ask and the kinds of answers we arrive at as a result. ... Often, sociologists use multiple theoretical perspectives simultaneously as they frame research questions, design and conduct research, and analyze their results

Conflict Perspective

A third important sociological framework is the conflict theory. Unlike the structural functional theory, which views society as a peaceful unit, conflict theory interprets society as a struggle for power between groups engaging in conflict for limited resources. Karl Marx is the founder of conflict theory.

Latent functions

Latent functions are those that are neither recognized nor intended

Manifest functions

Manifest functions are the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern, while latent functions are those unrecognized and unintended consequences. To analyze the manifest functions of any social institution, you have to study its contribution to the continuation of a group, community, or society.

Social Conflict

Social conflict is the struggle for agency or power in society. Social conflict or group conflict occurs when two or more actors oppose each other in social interaction, reciprocally exerting social power in an effort to attain scarce or incompatible goals and prevent the opponent from attaining them.

Social Structure

Social structure, in sociology, the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together. Social structure is often treated together with the concept of social change, which deals with the forces that change the social structure and the organization of society.

Sociological Imagination

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.

Functionalist Perspective

Structural functionalism, or, simply, functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Two theorists, Herbert Spencer and Robert Merton, were major contributors to this perspective.

Sociological Perspective

The sociological perspective is a perspective on human behavior and its connection to society as a whole. It invites us to look for the connections between the behavior of individual people and the structures of the society in which they live.