Macro Theories focus on major structural features and give us an understanding of how societies survive and change. The Micro Theories focus on how individuals interpret the social world. Explain one Micro Theory and discuss, using examples, four differences between the Macro and the Micro perspectives. Sociological Theory A sociological theory is a group of ideas that seek to explain the norms and behaviours of human society. In other words, they help us to relate the larger social picture to our own personal lives.
Structuralist Perspective Society is viewed as a complex system of structures that interact to perform various necessary functions. It is perceived that change is disruptive and gradual. This perspective uses macrosociology as it looks at society from a distance. Functionalism The functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. It has its origins in the works of Emile Durkheim, who was interested in how social order is possible or how society remains relatively stable.
Q. Discuss the major differences as well as similarities of Macro sociological theories? There are two main theories which are classified under macro sociology which are functionalism and conflict. This paper will focus on those two theories, its objective is to delineate the assumptions of these theoretical perspectives and apply the assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions.
In this sense, who humans beings are, what they believe, and how they came to be, have all been influenced by society. Society has formed human nature to a point that is hard to argue against. ELABORATE/MORE EVIDENCE. To determine the social coordination/organization of society, Benedict stems many of her claims from observations of three groups: the Zuñi, Dobu, and Kwakiutl. In order to determine social coordination/organization, Benedict claims, “we need detailed information about contrasting limits of behaviors and the motivations that are dynamic in one society and not in another” (229).
The functionalist draws an analogy between the function of society and the function of the human body. They see the different organization within society like organs within the human body. These interconnecting organisations work together, for example, the
This paper will examine the similarities and differences of the theoretical views. What are the Sociological theories? Functionalism, the Conflict Theory, and Interactionism comprise the three main sociological theories. These theories affect the way people think and perceive the world around them. Each sociological theory mentioned above: functionalism, conflict, and interactionism, presents a different set of assumptions or perspective that define a particular way of understanding of social action.
Functionalism is a macro, structuralist theory. This means they see human behaviour being shaped as an influence of social forces. It is also seen as a consensus theory, as functionalists’ argue that, individuals are socialised into a shared value to ensure conformity and social order. However, this functionalists approach is criticised by action theorists, as they argue that individuals create society through their interactions. Unlike other functionalists, Parsons argues that individuals are integrated through socialisation and social order.
The relationship between these two is they both help us find reasoning and uncover why many things in society are the way they are while also uncovering the bigger picture. Thus having the end goal of being able to have control and/or understanding over one’s life through certain actions. Researchers use sociological imagination to explain social things typically ignored by people steeped in individualism. They do this by having their subjects think about topics in society that have led to some sort of outcome, and get them to understand what causes led to that result. Outcomes are shaped by (but are not limited to) social norms, motives, and the social context (country, time period, and people they associate themselves with).
Functionalists look at society like the human body; both human parts and parts of society have certain needs that need to be met if they are to survive. Functionalism is similar to Marxism in the way that it too is a macro sociological theory; functionalism also looks at society in the ‘bigger picture’. Families are a group of individuals related by
Karl Marx was a social theorist from the twentieth century, and he alleges that cause and effect are one of the most social actions that motivate us. He believed that research would help with the explanation of social phenomenon, and so could the non-empirical methods. He also believed that “society could be studied through the meaning and purpose that people attach to actions” (Vissing, 2011, p. 1.3). Karl Marx, in 1818-1883, developed the conflict theory and “argued that it is tension and conflict that motivate us to think and act differently” (Vissing, 2011, p. 1.3). Karl Marx.