Sociology Major Paradigms Flashcards

Major Sociological Paradigms

• A paradigm is a framework of concepts and theories that shapes understanding of a topic.
• Theoretical paradigms serve as foundational assumptions guiding sociologists in their analysis of the social world.
• Raw facts are straightforward descriptions of observable reality devoid of interpretation.
• The usefulness of raw facts is enhanced by the perspective from which they are analyzed.
• Sociology examines phenomena at both macro (large scale) and micro (small scale) levels.
• The three principal theoretical paradigms in sociology are:
  • Structural Functionalism
  • Conflict Theory
  • Symbolic Interactionism

Structural Functionalism

• Emile Durkheim is credited with the development of structural functionalism.
• This paradigm views society as a complex system where different parts work synergistically to maintain stability and social order.
• Society's components are termed social structures, which establish stable patterns of behavior.
• Social functions are categorized into two types:
  • Manifest functions: The intended, obvious outcomes of a societal structure.
  • Latent functions: The unintended and often unrecognized impacts of a societal structure.
• Social dysfunction refers to any patterns that hinder society's smooth functioning.
• A significant critique of structural functionalism is its inability to adequately address social change, viewing society as predominantly stable and functional, potentially overlooking negative aspects as having positive purposes.

Conflict Theory

• Conflict theory conceptualizes society as a battleground for competing groups vying for scarce resources like power, money, and status.
• Change is viewed as a fundamental aspect of social life, constantly spurred by these struggles.
• The theory of class conflict, established by Karl Marx, depicts society through the lens of different classes formed by their relationships to production means.
• Race-conflict theory, founded by W.E.B. Du Bois, explores how social inequality stems from tensions between diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Symbolic Interactionism

• The roots of symbolic interactionism lie in the work of German sociologist Max Weber, notably his principle of Verstehen (“understanding”).
• Weber advocated for a focus on individual social contexts and the meanings attached to social interactions, emphasizing a micro-level perspective of society.
• This approach seeks to comprehend society from the ground up, seeing it as the cumulative result of daily interactions among individuals.

Test your knowledge of major sociological paradigms with these flashcards. Each card presents key terms and definitions that are fundamental to understanding sociological theory. Enhance your grasp of the theoretical models that shape sociological research and thinking.