Paradigms In Sociology IIIII
The three sociological paradigms are all part of the sociological theory. More specifically, they are all “basic images of society that guides thinking and research” (Macionis 14). The three sociological paradigms are the structural-functional paradigm, the social-conflict paradigm, and the symbolic-interaction paradigm. Both the structural-functional paradigm and the social-conflict paradigm are both on the macro-levels, meaning that they focus on broader ideas. All three paradigms are frameworks for building theory (17). These paradigms have distinct differences in what makes each significant.The structural-functional paradigm looks at society as a complex system with all its parts working together. To break it down, structural looks at social behavior and whether there are any stable patterns to it. The functional half looks at how society functions and the consequences of actions taken. Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton were all key contributors to the structural-functional paradigm. Auguste Comte associated this paradigm to whether there was integration taking place during social changes. Emile Durkheim used this
The symbolic-interaction paradigm is on a micro-level rather than a macro-level. This paradigm looks at “society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals” (17). This paradigm is the meanings we attach to symbols during everyday interactions. Reality and society are constantly changing. An example of this is when two people interact, get married, and have children. By doing this they changed society by adding a new member. Max Weber, who had a major impact on the symbolic-interaction paradigm, was one that “emphasized the need to understand a setting from the point of view of people” (17). The questions that pertain to the symbolic-interaction paradigm are: “How is society experienced? How do individuals try to shape the reality that others perceive? How does individual behavior change from one situation to another?” (19). It’s interesting to see sow society works, that all three paradigms work together. When I was looking up articles pertaining to “inequality in America” I simultaneously started thinking about how I would apply the paradigms. At first it wasn’t easy. Its like had adopt a new way of understanding these paradigms. I had to apply my experiences to the economic and racial problems in order to really understand how each paradigm applied. For example, I applied the financial problem to what is going on currently and how it affected the individual. I used being a minority, myself, to better apply the paradigms to the problem of discrimination. I now understand that although the paradigms cover different ideas, they can all work together to support each other. I think by doing this assignment I have a new way of seeing situations going on around me. I am now able to truly critically analyze these situations and problems. There is an explanation for the persisting inequality that is going on in America. To apply the structural-functional paradigm, one would notice that there is a great economic insta
Some topics in this essay:
Max Weber,
Robert Merton,
Discrimination CERD,
Karl Marx,
Sociological Paradigms,
Emile Durkheim,
Spencer Spencer,
Auguste Comte,
Durkheim Spencer,
Marx DuBois,
structural-functional paradigm,
symbolic-interaction paradigm,
social-conflict paradigm,
law enforcement,
manifest function,
questions pertain,
“how society,
looked society,
sociological paradigms,
social class race,
emile durkheim,
paradigm social-conflict paradigm,
spencer looked society,
paradigm “how society,
structural-functional paradigm social-conflict,
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Approximate Word count = 1336
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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