Sociology 222: Sociological Perspectives on Social Institutions

Session Overview

• This session covers sociological perspectives on social institutions, which are essential for understanding sociology.
• It examines how social institutions perform roles that help in the perpetuation of society (functionalist view).
• It also describes how social institutions can lead to conflict (conflict view) and perform roles through interactions between individuals and small groups using symbols, gestures, and the like (symbolic interactionism).

Session Outline

• Topic one: The functionalist perspective
• Topic two: The conflict perspective
• Topic three: The symbolic interactionist perspective

Reading List

• Schaefer, R, & Lamm, R. (1997). Sociology: A Brief Introduction. McGraw-Hill Companies
• Turner, J. (2006). Sociology. Pearson Prentice Hall

The Sociological Perspectives

• A theory is a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work.
• A theoretical perspective is a set of assumptions about an area of study.
• These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people and vice versa.

The Functionalist Perspective

• Biological analogy of social institutions: society is viewed as a complex system of parts that interact to perform various necessary functions.
• Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole, much like the human body as a system.
• Social institutions are not objects that can be observed but are aspects of human thought and behavior in society.
• Social institutions develop and are reinforced or even changed as we interact daily through social interaction.

Functions of Social Institutions

• They bring about order by providing clear guidance and procedure for individuals to pursue their needs.
• They serve as sources of social control by legitimizing and regulating statuses and roles in society.
• They serve as a source of social identity providing collective ways of acting and thinking.
• They specify the relationships between individuals and groups.
• They determine the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups.

Illustrations of Functionalism

• The political institution exists for the maintenance of law and order in society.
• The family and marriage institution ensures procreation, socialization, etc.
• The Economic institution is responsible for the production and equitable distribution of scarce goods and services.
• The role of education is transmission of culture, social integration, socialization, etc.

The Conflict Perspective

• Conflict theory agrees that institutions are originally designed to meet the basic needs of society.
• However, they do not see them as working harmoniously for the common good of society.
• They see the functions of the institutions leading to domination, exploitation, and disorder.
• Conflict theorists argue that the functions of the institutions are not always beneficial but can lead to conflict and disorders.

Illustrations of Conflict Perspective

• The political institution is a vehicle through which the rich and powerful dominate others in society.
• The family institution is where male dominance of females is expressed.
• For conflict theory, religion is a tool used to exploit the poor.
• According to Karl Marx, religion is the “opium of the masses” i.e., it is a tool used by the ruling class to make the workers accept their low status or social positions.

The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

• Microsociology: studies society through interactions within individual and small groups.
• Interaction between individuals is negotiated through shared symbols, gestures, and nonverbal communications.
• Humans are social animals and require interaction.
• Asks the questions “How do individuals experience one another?” “How do they interpret the meaning of these interactions?” and “How do people construct a sense of self and the society as a whole?”

Illustrations of Symbolic Interactionism

• Within the economic institution, workers engage in informal interactions within the work environment.
• A husband and wife negotiate if and how many children to have, what tasks to perform in the home, etc. through verbal and non-verbal interactions.
• In religion, every religion has its own symbols and gestures that their practitioners identify with and which distinguishes one group from the other.
• Other means of interacting include smiles, frowns, greetings, etc. and these have specific meanings based on the particular social context.