Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology

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Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology

• Section 3 Theoretical Perspectives

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The Role of Theoretical Perspectives

• Perception is the way the brain interprets an
  image or event
• Perspective is the way you interpret the meaning
  of an image or event
• Influenced by beliefs or values you hold
• Draws you to some things and blinds you to others

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Demonstration of Perception

• How many legs does an elephant have?

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Demonstration of Perception

• Do you see a cube? Or a room?
• Look at it until you see both

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Demonstration of Perception

• Do you see the face of a beautiful woman? Or a
  cartoon of a man playing the saxophone?
• Look at it until you see both

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Demonstration of Perception

• Do you see a rabbit? Or a duck?
• Look at it until you see both

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Theoretical Perspectives

• Your perspective influences what you see when you
  look at the images
• A theoretical perspective is a set of assumptions
  about an area of study
• Viewed as true by its supporters
• Three overarching perspectives in sociology
  Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic
  Interactionism

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Functionalism

• Emphasizes the contributions of each part of a
  society
• See parts of society as an integrated whole
• Change in one part of society leads to change in
  other parts
• Assumes that societies tend to return to a state
  of stability after some upheaval has occurred

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Functionalism

• Most aspects of society exist to promote a
  societys survival and welfare
• Two kinds of functions
• Manifest functions intended and recognized
• Latent functions unintended and unrecognized
• Elements of society that have negative
  consequences result in dysfunction

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Conflict Perspective

• Opposite of functionalism
• Emphasizes conflict, competition, change, and
  constraint within a society
• Groups and societies compete as they attempt to
  preserve and promote their own special values and
  interests

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Conflict Perspective

• Those with the most power get the largest share
  of whatever is considered valuable
• As the balance of power among groups in society
  shifts, change occurs

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Symbolic Interactionism

• Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead
  developed the insight that groups exist only
  because their members influence each others
  behavior
• Focuses on the actual interaction among people

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Symbolic Interactionism

• A symbol is something chosen to represent
  something else
• Object, word, gesture, facial expression, sound
• Those who create and use symbols assign the
  meanings to them

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Symbolic Interactionism

• Three assumptions
• We learn the meaning of a symbol from the way we
  see others reacting to it
• Once we learn the meaning of symbols we base our
  behavior (interaction) on them
• We use the meanings of symbols to imagine how
  others will respond to our behavior

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Assignment

• Section 3 Assessment 1 3 (p. 31)
• Chapter 1 Assessment pp. 32 33
• Reviewing Vocabulary, Reviewing the Facts
• Chapter 1 QUIZ tomorrow!!