Sociological Paradigms Overview

A set of concepts and theories that frames your perspective on a topic.

A set of fundamental assumptions about how the social world works.

Raw facts are basic descriptions of reality without any interpretation or analysis.

The process of assigning meaning to raw facts and drawing conclusions.

The perspective that views society as a well-oiled machine with interconnected parts that function smoothly.

The perspective that sees society as a collection of competing groups vying for control.

The perspective that views society as a network of individuals interacting with each other.

Sociological perspectives that offer different ways of understanding the social world.

A sociological perspective that views society as a system of interconnected parts, each with a function that contributes to the stability of the whole.

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the role of power, inequality, and conflict in shaping society. It views society as an arena where groups compete for scarce resources.

A sociological perspective that examines how individuals create and maintain shared meanings and understanding through their interactions.

A conflict theory that focuses on the power and inequality that exist between different racial and ethnic groups.

A conflict theory that focuses on the power and inequality that exist between men and women.

The act of understanding the meanings that people attach to their social situations.

The shared understanding and interpretation that people create through their interactions.

A sociological approach that emphasizes the study of social phenomena at a large-scale level, focusing on social structures and institutions.

A sociological approach that emphasizes the study of social phenomena at a small-scale level, focusing on individuals and their interactions.

Sociology's approach to studying society across all sizes, from individual interactions to large-scale structures.

Focus on the big picture, studying large-scale structures that shape society. Examples: How does race affect educational achievement? What caused the transition from feudalism to capitalism?

Focus on small-scale interactions between individuals. Examples: Do doctors treat patients of different races differently? How do groups build shared identities?

Relatively stable patterns of social behavior in a society, such as the family, education system, or religion.

The intended and obvious consequences of a social structure. Example: Schools' manifest function is to provide knowledge.

The unintended or unrecognized consequences of a social structure. Example: Schools can also socialize children into obedience, which is a latent function.

Any social pattern that disrupts the smooth operation of society, leading to instability or problems. Example: Technological development can displace workers.

Conflict theory emphasizes that change is fundamental to society and driven by these power struggles.

Small social groups like families, friend groups, or work teams, where members interact directly.

The study of large-scale social structures, such as institutions, social movements, or entire societies.

The process by which individuals learn the values, norms, and behaviors of their society.

The process of assigning meaning to raw facts, drawing conclusions and making sense of the information.

Society is viewed as a smoothly functioning system where each part works together for stability.

Different theoretical perspectives used by sociologists to understand the social world, offering diverse ways of viewing and analyzing social phenomena.

The intended or obvious consequences of a particular social structure. Example: Schools' manifest function is to provide knowledge.

The unintended or unrecognized consequences of a social structure. Example: Schools can also socialize children into obedience, which is a latent function.

Any social pattern that disrupts the smooth operation of society, leading to instability or problems.