Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalist Review… Functionalist society is a stable, orderly system and everything in it serves a purpose, even if it is not apparent at first manifest functions latent functions (unintended purposes that were created) example with license plates…

Functionalist License Plate EX. According to Functionalist Theory… Manifest function: license plates were created to track vehicle registrations Latent function: license plates are collectibles

Conflict Theory Review… Who has the power? How is that power shown? Can there be power shifts? Who stands to benefit if changes are made? Example with license plates….

Conflict Theory License Plate EX. The state makes car owners and renters have plates to keep track of us--that shows us the power of the state. If we have some higher economic power, we can obtain personalized plates (vanity plates)

Interactionist Review… Life is like a play, and all the people are players--our job with sociology is to figure out the roles and what they mean Every interaction (conversation or any time two people connect) has both a surface meaning and a deeper, more symbolic (refers to something else) meaning. Example with license plates…

Interactionist Theory License Plate EX. Every car is supposed to have one--if we have a generic one created by the state, we are simply illustrating our conformity to the role of auto-owner or renter. If we have a personalized plate style, we are symbolically communicating our support of whatever cause the plate is showing the world. If we have a personalized plate the has unique letter/number combinations that spell something such as "SOCTCHR," we are sending a symbolic message about who we are and that we are rich enough and clever enough to have this special plate.

Let’s Try it Out…. With the example of a …. Local Town Parade