SOC 302 INTRO TO THE STUDY OF SOCIETY Lecture The Sociological Perspective 09 15 15 I Types of Paradigms Perspectives 1 Conflict Paradigm A Describes the inequalities that exist in all societies around the globe Conflict is particularly interested in the inequalities that exist based on all of the various aspects of master status race or ethnicity sex or gender age religion ability or disability and socioeconomic status i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x i ii iii iv Emphasizes the divisions between society and the struggle over scarce resources Continued power struggles Social order which is why we police each other via dominance and coercion Some institutions foster specific groups over the expense of others Power is not divided equally Dominant vs minority group relations Race sex class age are factors for social inequality Values and ideas are seen as weapons used by different groups to achieve their own ends Conflict theorists believe conflict is good for change Emphasis on who is benefiting B Critiques of the Conflict Paradigm Too much emphasis on inequality conflict theorists ignore shared values and interdependence Emphasis on power groups Radical notion because of its emphasis on conflict and change Sometimes political goals are involved which therefore can t claim scientific validity a Refute all political claims affect politics 2 Functionalist Paradigm A Describes society as stable and describes all of the various mechanisms that maintain social stability Functionalism argues that the social structure is responsible for all stability and instability and that that the social structure is continuously attempting to maintain social equilibrium balance among all of the components of society Has its origins in the works of Emile Durkheim Society is more than the sum of its parts rather each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society interrelated parts of society The parts if distressed will reorganize or shift i ii a Example The government or state provides education for the children of the family which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running The family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families In the process the children become law abiding taxpaying citizens who in turn support the state If all goes well the parts of society produce order stability and SOC 302 INTRO TO THE STUDY OF SOCIETY Lecture The Sociological Perspective 09 15 15 productivity If all does not go well the parts of society then must adapt to recapture a new order stability and productivity iii Math oriented perspective Look at it at a larger scale iv v Theory became very popular among American sociologists in the 1940s B Critiques of Functionalism Some say it overemphasizes harmony and stability Implies that status quo is desirable Classical functionalism tends to overlook positive consequences that result from conflict and struggle A conservative approach because of its emphasis on stability i ii iii iv Core Questions 3 1 2 3 How is society integrated A B What are the major parts of society C D What are the consequences of each part for the overall operation of society How are these parts interrelated II Robert K Merton and Functionalism Viewed society as an organism with various parts and each part has a function to perform Some functions were intentional and other functions were not Some functions actually disrupted society A Manifest functions recognized and intended functions i i Example The function of college is to teach you the skills and knowledge necessary to get a degree in which turn enables you to get a job Latent functions unrecognized and unintended functions Example Found future spouse or to stimulate the economy Dysfunctions are those consequences that lead to instability and ultimately change B C III Functionalist Paradigm v Conflict Paradigm