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THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES IN SOCIOLOGY. Functionalist perspective (Emile Durkheim). Focuses on : society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system
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Functionalist perspective (Emile Durkheim) • Focuses on: society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system • Main assumptions: society is held together through consensus; most people agree on what is best for society and will work together to ensure that the social system runs smoothly • Topics of interest: division of work in the family; functions served by education
Conflict perspective (Karl Marx) • Focuses on: forces in society that promote competition and change • Main assumptions: conflict in society arises over competition for scarce resources; social change is an inevitable feature of society • Topics of interest: decision making in families; relationships among racial groups; labor disputes
Interactionist perspective (Max Weber) • Focuses on: how individuals interact with one another in society • Main assumptions: individuals attach meanings to their own actions and to the actions of others; interaction btwn ppl takes place thru use of symbols • Topics of interest: child development; relationships within groups; mate selection