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Contemporary Theories

Contemporary Theories. Dominance Symbolic Interactionism Functionalism Conflict Neofunctionalism Early Sociological Theory View of Social System & Change. Overview of Functionalism. A) Key Points Look at the social world as a system

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Contemporary Theories

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  1. Contemporary Theories Dominance Symbolic Interactionism Functionalism Conflict Neofunctionalism Early Sociological Theory View of Social System & Change

  2. Overview of Functionalism A) Key Points • Look at the social world as a system • System has mutually interrelated parts that each perform a variety of functions • Function=a complex of activities directed towards meeting a need or needs of the system • Equilibrium • Homeostasis=maintenance of internal stability in an organism by coordinated responses of the “organ” systems that automatically compensate for environmental changes • Cohesion, consensus and order • Social change occurs through an orderly process

  3. 1) Overview (cont.) B) Central Questions • How does society operate? • How does a society perpetuate itself? • Why is a society orderly and stable? • Why do institutions and customs exist? C) Themes • Cohesion • Consensus • Order

  4. Parsons A) Background • Family • Schooling • Career B) Influence and Critique C) Method of Theorizing D) Level of Analysis E) Themes/Influences

  5. Parsons (cont.) F) AGIL • Adaptation: a system must secure sufficient resources from the environment and distribute them throughout the system (adapt to its environment and adapt the environment to the system’s needs) • Goal attainment: a system must define and achieve its primary goals • Integration: need to coordinate, adjust and regulate relationships among various actors or units within the system (prevent interference) • Latency or pattern maintenance: furnish, maintain and renew both the motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that create and sustain the motivation

  6. Parsons (cont.) F) AGIL (cont.) • Prerequisites for social equilibrium • Ensured through • Socialization • Social control G) Critique

  7. Merton A) Background • Family • Schooling • Career B) Influence C) Method of Theorizing

  8. Merton (cont.) D) Critiques Postulates of SF (Parsons) • Functional Unity • Functional Universality • Dysfunctions • Manifest vs. latent functions • Indispensability • Functional alternatives • Critique of Parsons

  9. Decline A) Power of United States B) Events of late 1960s and 1970s

  10. Critique A) Positive B) Negative

  11. Rise of NeoFunctionalism A) Overview B) Comparison to Parsons • Integration • Equilibrium • Uncertainty • Action and Order • Social Change • Level of Analysis C) Future

  12. Historical Development of Conflict Theory Critique of Functionalism Conflict Theory in the US • Concern for Structure • Micro Level • Fusion of Marx and Weber

  13. Key Assumptions • Continual power struggle for control of scarce resources • Stratification • Interests • Resources • Forms of Conflict

  14. C. Wright Mills • Background • Schooling • Personal Relationships • Key Ideas

  15. Mills • Sociological Imagination • History and biography • Micro and macro • Personal troubles • Public issues

  16. Mills • Power-Elite • Centralization of power • Political • Military • Economic

  17. Mills • White Collar Workers • Increasing segment of workforce • Characteristics • Effect on Workers • Status Panic • Interests • Power • Ideas and Values

  18. Two Types of Conflict Theory • Critical (Marxian) • Analytical (Weberian) • Values • Power • Nature of conflict

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