How would sociologists differ from psychologists in studying such phenomena as divorce and racism? Sociologists try to compare the variable in different scenarios and circumstances to go retrieve information about the topic. Instead of only finding the root of a particular case of racism, they try to find the general root of this problem happening in other instances. 2. Peter Berger has said that “the sociological perspective involves a process of ‘seeing through’ the facades of social structure.” What does this mean?
Our society is divided along class, race, gender and other variations. There are different sociological theories to explain these social stratifications. Our society is in conflict with social order and equal opportunities for different social classes. We discussed structured stratification as a social pattern. It implies there are inequalities that are society rather than biological factors.
As societal patterns change and influence everyone and everything around them, they may not affect many as badly as they affect others. We therefore need the ability to see things through other people’s perspectives, to understand their point of view and how society affects it. This is done by using ones “Sociological Imagination” otherwise known as your sociological perspective. It enables us to see life through the eyes of others and understand where they are coming from. C. Wright Mills wrote that the task of sociology is to understand the relationship between an individual and the society they live in.
Myers (2010) provides an example as to how behavior is shaped by social influences making humans social creatures, “We speak and think in words we learned from others (Social psychology, p. 7). At times social environments or situations manipulate behaviors contrary to emotions, overpowering feelings and allowing the situation to guide behaviors. Another ideas of social psychology is that personal attitudes and depositions shape behavior, this describes the belief that inner attitudes and personalities
Assess the different sociological explanations for the formation of identity (24 marks) Identity can be defined as the way in which we see ourselves and the way that others see us. However there are different types of identity that shape us as people. Individual identity is how we see ourselves and how we define ourselves for example how we look, hair colour, eye colour and skin colour. Social identity is the identity we have little choice over such as gender and nationality. Collective identity is the identity shared by a social group this combines social and individual factors of identity for example combining the way we chose to look and the image that we have no choice over.
Social Structure and Social Interaction This essay will examine and discuss the importance of social structure and social interaction, in the shaping of individual identity and determine if there is one that has more influence than the other. To answer this question effectively it is necessary to understand both elements and the role they play in defining our identity. When sociologists undertake sociological analysis, there are two levels social structure is the macro sociological viewpoint and social interaction is micro sociological aspect. Social structure as described by Henslin, Possamai, and Possamai-Inesdy (2011) is the influence of traditional behavior which configures a group, such as the interactions between males and females, or doctors and patients. Steven E. Barkan wrote in Sociology: Comprehensive Edition (v.1.0), the foremost areas of social structure is positions, roles we have in our community, community systems, groups and associations.
Instead of looking at social systems at a larger-scale, such as the entire population of a country or third world countries, interactionism focuses on smaller-scale social interactions, such as the interactions between individuals or small social groups (Interactionism in Sociology: Definition, Examples & Quiz). Interactionism focuses on the way that we act, or make conscious choices regarding our behaviour that proceed from how we interpret situations (Germov, 2009). In other words, it is how people gives meaning, interpret and construct behaviours through interactions with others and how these interactions affect the same people in the society. “Functionalism is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. It interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society” (Crossman, A, 2011).
Alternatively, gender is constructed on the personality traits and behavioural tendencies of males and females (The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology, 2000). It is shaped on social behaviour for example; being taught how to behave and how not to behave and being taught how to see ourselves and others
Topic: Compare and contrast the Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives on society. Refer to the work of relevant theorists to explain your answer. Sociology is the scientific study of societies and human social behavior (Sullivan 2000). Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. The theory of functionalism and conflict theory differ in several ways.
Sociologists have developed different perspectives to explain why racial and ethnic inequality occurs and why they persist. These perspectives include theories based on functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism, and feminism. Symbolic interaction theorists look at two issues in relation to race and ethnicity. First, they look at the role of social interaction and how it reduces racial and ethnic hostility. Second, they look at how race and ethnicity are socially constructed.