Paper Example on Sociology's Three Theoretical Perspectives

Introduction

Sociology theories have great significance in the day to day life as they help people to understand the world better. Methods are critical in the field of sociology as they guide practitioners and scholars among other groups of people in getting a broad picture of the world. A theory in sociology refers to a group of interrelated concepts that define and elucidate how a society and its various fragments are interconnected. Approaches help people to get a deeper meaning and understanding of the world they live. For any theory to be accepted and used as a tool in explaining sociological concepts it has to be logically tested and approved to serve the right function. The paper will therefore describe, define, and discuss the three sociological theories which include Functionalist Perspective, Conflict Perspective, and Interactionism Perspective. It will also apply the sociological paradigms and perspective to everyday life situations.

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Conflict theory as suggested by Karl Max states the individuals or groups in the society interact with one another by conflict rather than agreement or consensus. According to Max, the community is always in battle because of a scramble for the scarce resources. The theorist argues that the poor people are oppressed by the rich who are considered to be elites. The theory is suitable for comprehending social issues such as poverty, wealth, war, discrimination, corruption, violence, divorce and rape among others. A good example is discrimination of the poor in the society through according to priority to a rich person not because the poor do not qualify for the privileges but because the wealthy person has bribed their way. It is a common phenomenon that is experienced in everyday life. Marx suggests that power is in the hands of the haves.

According to the functionalist paradigm, society is a system of interrelated parts that function jointly in synchronization to maintain a state of social stability. Regarding this paradigm, the society functions like a human body which consists of several parts and all of them work jointly in a state of harmony. The systems work together to diagnose problems and find solutions to maintain a state of balance. Similarly, the functionalism paradigm incorporates friendship, peace; injustice, marriage divorce, and health care among others are examples to describe the ingredients of parts that work together to maintain a state of balance in the society. Marriage can be used as an example of one piece while the divorce is another part for a wedding to work there has to be friendship and peace among others.

Symbolic Interactionism Perspective, states that society is made up of diverse people who share symbols and understandings .it is a theory that is suitable for improving relationships and communications among people. Some of the concepts that make up this theory include values and beliefs, communication, crisis control, love, evil and morality among others. The argument makes it possible for people in society to understand one another through the interpretation of symbols and meaning. For instance, a student can easily understand his/ her lecturer; employees can realize their bosses among others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to note that theories play critical role sociology and makes it easier for people to have a broad understanding of the world around them. It also enables they society to find solutions to problems, maintain a state of balance and help people improve relationships among one another.

Works Cited

Alexander, Jeffrey C. Positivism, Presupposition and Current Controversies (Theoretical Logic in Sociology). Routledge, 2014.

Denzin, Norman K. Sociological methods: A sourcebook. Routledge, 2017.