PERSPECTIVES AND CULTURE

THREE CURRENT PERSEPCTIVES  A Theory is an explanation of relationships among phenomena.  Furthermore, they adopt theoretical perspectives – also called a school of thought, is a set of assumptions about the nature of things  There are three broad perspectives that dominate the landscape of modern Sociology. 1. Functionalists Perspective 2. Conflict Perspective 3. Interactionist Perspective

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE  Broadly based on ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim  Functionalist Perspective – society is a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system  In other words – people agree on what’s best for society and work together to ensure it runs smoothly  Those things that work against the smooth operation of society are known as dysfunctional (crime, poverty)  Types of Function  Manifest Function – the intended and recognized consequence of some element of society (a car is intended to get you somewhere)  Latent Function – the unintended consequence of an element of society (using a car to gain social status and display wealth)

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE  Conflict Perspective – focusing on the forces in society that promote competition and change (in the traditions of Karl Marx)  Focus on how those who have power in society exercise control over those with less power  Conflict Perspective is not limited to violent conflict….any competition between groups in society (decision making within a family, disputes between co-workers)  Basis of conflict is over scarce resources…because resources are limited once a group has control over them they create rules/regulations to protect their control  Social change is an inevitable result of conflict

INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE  While Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives focus on society and groups, Interactionist Perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society.  Observe how people respond to one another and the meanings that people attach to their own actions and those of others (i.e. Max Weber)  Interactionist pay special attention to the role symbols (anything that represents something else) play in a society  To be a symbol members of society must agree on the meaning attached to it (American Flag, Bald Eagle, Uncle Sam – Symbols for what?)  Symbolic Interaction – how symbols are used when interacting

WHAT IS CULTURE?  Culture – all shared products of human groups, both physical and beliefs, values, and behaviors  Material Culture – the physical objects people create and use (automobiles, books, clothing)  Nonmaterial Culture – abstract human creations (language, beliefs, economic systems)  Culture and Society are not one in the same – Society is a group of people who are organized and share a common culture, Culture is that material and non material products that people create

COMPONENTS OF CULTURE 1. Technology – Using items of material culture requires knowledge  There are acceptable behaviors with technology in a culture (we aren’t supposed to hack the web) 2. Symbols – As said before, symbols are attached a shared meaning that is acceptable to a culture  Class Ring, the word Hello, a handshake 3. Language - hopefully this is obvious 4. Values – Shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable 5. Norms

NORMS  Norms – shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations (these are EXPECTATIONS of behavior)  My pet peeve – wearing hat during the National Anthem  There are important norms (don’t kill) and unimportant norms (covering mouth when yawning)  Even these norms are applied differently…we do not look at soldiers/police officers differently when it comes to killing  Folkways – socially acceptable behavior but do not have any great moral significance  Mores – socially acceptable behavior that has great moral significance  How do we deal with those who break folkways/mores?

LEVELS OF CULTURE  Culture Traits – an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a situation, the simplest level of culture (a football used to play football)  Culture Complexes – A cluster of interrelated traits that together form a larger piece of culture (the football, pads, helmets, uniforms, catching, running)  Culture Patterns – a combination of a number of complexes into an interrelated whole (the Complexes of football, basketball, soccer form an American athletic pattern)

KEY VOCABULARY  Theoretical Perspectives  Functionalist Perspective  Conflict Perspective  Interactionist Perspective  Culture  Material Culture  Nonmaterial Culture  Technology  Symbols  Language  Values  Norms  Mores  Folkways  Culture Trait  Culture Complex  Culture Pattern