Lecture 2

Sociological Theory: Frameworks for Explanation

Core Concept: This lecture introduces the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology: Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism.

Key Bullet Points:

• What is a theory?
• Why do we need theory?
• The Three Main Frameworks

What is a Sociological Theory?

Core Concept: A sociological theory is a conceptual framework for explaining social patterns and phenomena, not just an opinion or a guess.

Key Bullet Points:

• It's a set of ideas that provides an explanation for how and why society works the way it does.
• Theories are constantly being tested and refined with evidence.

Concrete Example: A theory of crime might propose that poverty and lack of opportunity are key factors that lead to criminal behavior.

Why Do We Need Theory?

Core Concept: Theory acts as a lens that helps us see and interpret the social world in a particular way, guiding our research and helping us make sense of our findings.

Key Bullet Points:

• It helps us decide what to study and what questions to ask.
• It guides our research.
• Different theories offer different explanations for the same social phenomenon.

Concrete Example: When studying education, one theory might focus on how schools provide students with skills for the workforce, while another might focus on how schools reproduce social inequality.

The Three Main Frameworks

Core Concept: Sociology is dominated by three major theoretical perspectives: Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. These are different lenses, not competing truths.

Key Bullet Points:

• They are different lenses for looking at the same social world.
• Each provides a different level of analysis (macro vs. micro).

Functionalism

Core Concept: Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Key Bullet Points:

• Society is like a living organism, with different organs (institutions) serving different functions.
• The focus is on social harmony, order, and consensus.
• Change is seen as gradual and adaptive.

Concrete Example: From a functionalist perspective, the family serves the function of socializing children and providing emotional support, which contributes to the overall stability of society.

Conflict Theory

Core Concept: Conflict theory views society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change, focusing on power imbalances and competition.

Key Bullet Points:

• Society is characterized by power imbalances and competition for limited resources.
• The focus is on class, race, gender, and other forms of inequality.
• Change is seen as the result of conflict and struggle.

Concrete Example: A conflict theorist might study how the educational system perpetuates inequality by providing more resources to wealthy students than to poor students.

Symbolic Interactionism

Core Concept: Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that views society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals using shared symbols.

Key Bullet Points:

• Focuses on face-to-face interaction.
• Examines how people use symbols (like language and gestures) to create shared meanings.
• Reality is seen as socially constructed through these interactions.

Concrete Example: A symbolic interactionist might study how people's definitions of "masculinity" or "femininity" shape their behavior in a romantic relationship.

Key Thinkers: Symbolic Interactionism

Core Concept: Several key thinkers, including George Herbert Mead, Charles Horton Cooley, and Erving Goffman, shaped the symbolic interactionist perspective.

Key Bullet Points:

• **George Herbert Mead:** Developed the concept of the "generalized other" - our understanding of the attitudes and expectations of society as a whole.
• **Charles Horton Cooley:** Developed the concept of the "looking-glass self" - the idea that our sense of self is shaped by how we think others see us.
• **Erving Goffman:** Developed "dramaturgy" - the idea that social life is like a theatrical performance.

Theories of Deviance: An Example

Core Concept: Theories of deviance, such as Strain Theory and Labeling Theory, illustrate the different levels of analysis in sociology.

Key Bullet Points:

• **Strain Theory (Robert Merton):** A macro-level theory arguing that deviance occurs when there is a conflict between socially accepted goals and the means to achieve them.
• **Labeling Theory:** A micro-level theory arguing that deviance is the result of how others interpret and "label" a person's behavior.

Concrete Example: Strain theory might explain higher crime rates in poor neighborhoods, while labeling theory might explain why some individuals are more likely to be labeled as "criminals."

How Theory Shapes Research

Core Concept: A sociologist's chosen theoretical perspective is a practical tool that shapes every aspect of their research, from the questions they ask to the conclusions they draw.

Key Bullet Points:

• A functionalist looks for stability.
• A conflict theorist looks for inequality.
• A symbolic interactionist looks for created meaning.

Recap: Three Lenses

Core Concept: Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism are the three main lenses sociologists use to view the world, each providing a different and valuable perspective.

Key Bullet Points:

• **Functionalism (Macro):** How does it contribute to social stability?
• **Conflict Theory (Macro):** Who benefits? Who loses?
• **Symbolic Interactionism (Micro):** How do people experience and interpret this?

Looking Ahead

Core Concept: In our next lecture, we will use these theoretical lenses to examine the role of social institutions in shaping our lives.

Key Bullet Points:

• What are social institutions?
• How do they maintain social order?
• How can they be a source of both stability and inequality?