In Sociology there are three classical theories that each provide a different perspective or lens with which we can look at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles which attempt to answer a question or explain something. A perspective is a particular way of looking at our world. So, putting them together, Sociological theories attempt to help us understand the world of social interactions and explain or predict social behaviors. Mooney, Knox and Schacht. Understanding Social Problems, 5th Ed. 2007.
The first such theory or perspective is the Functionalist perspective. This perspective derives from the works of Spencer, Durkheim, Parsons and Merton. The Functionalists contend that society is a system of interconnected parts or institutions that work together for the good of the whole. Each part or institution contributes to the stability of the society. These social institutions are created and persist because they each play a role in helping a society survive. The institutions Functionalists identified include the family, education, government, religion and the economy. If anything happens to adversely affect any one part or institution, all of the other parts are affected by this and the social system fails to function properly. Durkheim cites the example of rapid social change and the specialized division of labor as putting a strain on our social institutions which contributed to increased crime and suicide rates. Kendall. Sociology in our times, 9th Ed. 2011. The two most influential advocates of the Functionalist viewpoint are Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton. They contend that all societies must provide structures for meeting social needs in order to survive. Kendall. P. 21.
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"The Family As Interpreted by the Three Classical Sociological Theories".
Parsons and Merton viewed the institution of the family as the primary institution in our society. All of the other institutions, including school, church and government must function to support and assist the family and they all must function together to preserve the social system. The division of labor between husband and wife is essential for family stability according to Parsons. The husband performs the instrumental tasks of leadership and decision making in the home and employment outside the home to support the family while the wife handles the expressive tasks such as housework, child care and emotional support for the entire family. Kendall. P. 21. This is a very dated, 1950’s view of the family. Functionalists identify a number of functions that families typically perform. These include reproduction, socialization, care, protection, emotional support and status. The family, according to Functionalists, creates well-integrated members of society and instills the cultural values into new members of the society. Boundless. The Functionalist Perspective. Boundless Sociology. June 2014.
The conflict perspective on the other hand views the family as a vehicle to maintain patriarchal gender inequality and social inequality in general. Boundless. The Conflict Perspective. Boundless Sociology. Boundless Nov. 2014. The conflict perspective explains the various aspects of our society as composed of different groups and interests competing for power and resources. The Various aspects of our social world are explained by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social order. This theory derives mainly from the works of Karl Marx. While he was an economist not a sociologist he concluded that society after the industrial revolution was divided into two classes the bourgeoisie, the “haves”, the owners of the means of production and the proletariat, the workers who earn the wages. Marx contended that the “haves” used their power and influence to control the social institutions of society to their advantage. Marx believed that religion, for example served as an “opiate for the masses” focusing the workers attention on the afterlife rather than on worldly concerns such as their living conditions. Mooney, Knox and Schacht.
Advocates of Conflict perspective today fall into many different branches, but all view social life as a continuous struggle among competing social groups. One such branch is the feminist branch. Feminism focuses on women and the role gender plays in social structure and that our society is a patriarchal society where the male role is considered more valuable than the female role. Kendall. P. 23-24. According to conflict theorists in general and feminists in particular, the family is an institution designed to maintain the status quo of social inequality. The wealthy maintain their position of power and money through inheritance and influence while poor families are denied similar status. Our traditional patriarchal family form benefits men more than women and allows men to maintain their position of power and contributing to the inequality between the sexes. Men tend to have more power while women tend to have less. Boundless. The Conflict Perspective.
Functionalist and Conflict perspectives are considered macro-sociology. That is, they are concerned with how broad aspects of society such as institutions influence the social world. They look at the big picture and suggest how problems are affected at the institutional level. The third major theory however is micro-sociology centered. Symbolic interactionists are concerned with the psychological dynamics of individuals in small groups. Proponents of this view, such as Simmel, Cooley, Mead, Thomas and Goffman, emphasized that human behavior is influenced by definitions and meanings that are created through symbolic interactions with others. Thomas for instance suggested that humans respond to their definition of a situation rather than the objective situation itself. Situations we define as real become real in their consequences. Mooney, Knox and Schacht.
For the symbolic interactionist the family is a site of social reproduction where meanings are negotiated and maintained by family members. The focus is on the roles that people play in society. Role taking is the key mechanism through which an individual can appreciate another persons perspective and understand another persons actions. Role taking starts at an early age through playing house and pretending to be other people and is improvisational in nature. The family, according to symbolic interactionalist , is based on negotiated meanings between family members. Meaning change and roles shift. Shared activities, such as holidays, meals, and the roles each member plays, reinforce and rejuvenate the family bonds and strengthens the family unity and society as a whole.
- Kendall, Diana. Sociology in our times, 9th Ed. 2011.
- Mooney, Knox and Schacht. Understanding Social Problems, 5th Ed. 2007.
- Boundless. “The Functionalist Perspective.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 27 Jun. 2014. from https://www.boundless.com
- Boundless. “The Conflict Perspective.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 14 Nov. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/
- Boundless. “The Symbolic Interactionalist Perpsective.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 27 Jun. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com
