Introduction to Sociology/Sociological Theory/Mingyeong Kim

b) http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Sociological_Theory

1. Summary

1) Sociological Theory

Sociologists develop theories to explain why and how phenomena occur. We need theories to understand society. There are many theories in society, but we cannot say that only one is right. It is also necessary to combine several theories to look at society.

2) Structural functionalism

Structural functionalism is a theory of social structure and explains social cohesion. Emile Durkheim says that interdependence is created by members of society doing different tasks. Through such solidarity, society has stability. This theory assumes that working for everyone in each function is to live their own lives. But functionalism also has limitations. First, it is difficult to explain social change because functionalism only pursues stability. The second is that society is not inevitable for an individual's life.

3) Conflict theory

Conflict theory, like function theory, is a theory of social structure, but contrasts with it. A representative scholar of conflict theory is Karl Marx. Conflict theory argues that competition is the driving force of social maintenance. It is ideal for explaining social change. This theory also regards compensation inequality as a natural phenomenon. But it has limitation that it overlooks the stability of society.
Structural functionalism and conflict theory are in contrast to each other. If we combine the two theories, we can look at society with a more inclined perspective.

4) Symbolic Interactionism

This theory, unlike the previous two theories, understands social relations in a microscopic way. This theory suggests that human behavior can only be understood through communication and symbolic exchange. However, the symbolic interaction theory has a limitation that it can be grasped only through the test in the group. Therefore, in this theory, we cannot respond to domestic situations.

5) Role theory

Role theory is that human behavior is determined by expectations. There is an expected role behavior for a person with a role. However, role theory has the limitation that it is difficult to explain the deviation when role actions are not performed and how role expectations are formed

6) Social Constructionism

Social constructionism focuses on institutions and actions rather than analyzing causes and results. The reality is dynamic.

7) Feminist Theory

  Feminist theory has uncovered women's inferences about academic thinking, writing, and activism, incorporating insights into scientific enterprise and theorizing them. Feminist theory has a dramatic impact on science theory and practice. It is important to understand the basic assumptions in feminist theory. The first is that scientific practice is subjective. Second, individuals are political. Last, all three times are always more than one thing.

8) Integration Theory

  Recently, sociologists have attempted different approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of human social behavior. George Ritzer's integrated model is typical. An integrated approach is useful in explaining social phenomena because it shows how the various components of social life work together to influence society and behavior.

2. What was interesting

 In structural functionalism and conflict theory, the difference of perspective in each theory was interesting. Particularly, it is interesting that conflict theory sees society itself as an additional factor, not a natural one. It may be a personal idea, but I think our society seems to be more in the format of functionalism. (But it doesn’t mean that there never been the perspective of conflict theory in our society.) The word that has been popularized since childhood was 'To be a good person and to be helpful to society'. It seems to be very similar to maintaining a society that performs its role well, which is the greatest feature of functionalism. Therefore, the theory that denies the existence of society in the theory of conflict is very contrary to the ideology that I have brought in living up to this point, and I was very interested in the new viewpoint.

3. Discussion

 As I said above, our society seems to have a better view of functionalism. We could find conflicts in terms of seeing conflict as a driving force, but I wonder what other conflict factors are in our society.