Happy Tuesday!!!! Take out your articles and questions sheet We are going to discuss what you read as a class

Nacirema= American How does this change your perception of the civilization? What does this tell you about how others view our society?

Theoretical Perspectives

Theory A general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work There are 3 major perspectives in sociology: –Symbolic Interactionist –Functionalist –Conflict

Symbolic Interactionist Society is composed of symbols that people use to: –Establish meaning –Define their relationships –Develop their views of the world –Communicate with one another Example: a symbolic interactionist studying divorce would focus on the changing meaning of marriage, divorce, and family to explain the increase

Functionalist Society is made up of parts, each with a function, which contributes to society’s balance Types of functions: –Manifest functions- actions are intended to help some part of the system –Latent functions- unintended consequences that help social systems adjust –Latent dysfunctions- unintended consequences that undermine a system’s balance Example: in divorce, a functionalist would look at how industrialization and urbanization both contributed to that changing function of marriage and family

Conflict Theory Society is composed of groups competing for scarce resources Example: Divorce is seen as the outcome of shifting balance of power within the family –As women have gained power and tried to address inequalities in the relationship, men have resisted

Level of analysis Macro-level analysis- looks at large- scale patterns of society –Functionalist and conflict Micro- level analysis- looks at social interaction –Symbolic interactionist