Lesson 2: The Perspectives

Attention

The perspectives are like colored glasses...we tend to see the world from these points of view...

...we can also change classes!

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Explore the historical basis of the Study of Sociology
  • Apply the Sociological Perspectives to their own Sociological Imagination

Teaching

Mini Lecture: Where did Sociology come from?

The Perspectives

Now get ready, this is going to get a little technical…!

Over the years of study in Sociology there have risen four basic perspectives that one can take to explain a particular social phenomena. These are expressions of the Sociological Perspective. These are fundamental ways of viewing the world and provide some basic framework for explaining social events. I will provide a technical explanation of each one and then an example of how they can be applied to understand a social event. Not all events lend themselves to every perspective so we as social scientists can pick which one best fits and go with that one! Pretty nifty huh?

Functionalist Perspectives
(also known as Functionalism and Structural Functionalism)

Their most basic assumption is that society is a stable, orderly system characterized by societal consensus

· Their most basic assumption of this perspective is that society is a stable, orderly system characterized by societal consensus.
· Society consists of interrelated parts that serve functions needed by the system.
· Societies develop social structures, or institutions that persist because they play a part in helping society survive. These institutions include: the family, education, government, religion, and economy.
· Adverse consequences that affect one institution affect all others as well.

Application of the Functionalist Perspective

I will be courageous in this exercise by using the events of 911 for each of these examples. I do not presume to understand completely what happened but by taking different perspectives we can certainly appreciate that the situation is complex.

911 was an act of terrorism. One might ask why driving airplanes into tall buildings would be a strategy of war. It is clearest to see it from a functionalist point of view. Appreciate that our economy and government rely upon commerce to survive. By disrupting consumer buying (we were all too worried to go out shopping) and worker productivity (our work slowed down) our economy took a hit. This even affected all of us because each part of our society is linked to each other part through our shared economy.

In addition, we saw certain elements of our society become heroes who were not usually heroes in such a public way. The loss of firefighters and law enforcement when the towers collapsed can still be seen in the bumper stickers of individuals who may have not known any firefighters. We support our fire departments more and homeland security has become a household term. Our systemic interconnectedness to these events has changed our culture.

Conflict Perspectives

The most basic assumption is that groups with divergent interests engage in ongoing power struggles for control of scarce resources in society. (we discussed this one in the Shoemaker story)

Feminist Perspectives
(a sub-division of the Conflict Perspective)

· These direct attention to women’s experiences and the importance of gender as an element of social structure. The basic assumption is that men and women are equal and should be given equal rights.
· They also assume that we live in a patriarchy, or a system in which men dominate women, and that masculine characteristics are more highly valued than feminine characteristics.
· Feminist perspectives believe that society reinforces social expectations through social learning, which is acquired through major social institutions.

Application of the Conflict Perspective

911 was the result of a long standing dispute between Osama Bin-Laden and the US presence in Saudi Arabia. Upon invitation from the Saudi government a base was constructed on Saudi territory. According to some strict interpretations of Islamic texts this is a violation of a sacred trust to that land granted by God. This placed us in conflict with the belief systems of this radical group of Islamic Fundamentalists.

Bin-Laden proclaimed a "holy war" against any and all American establishments and people.

We were in additional conflict with this group due to the very possession of vast national wealth and power. As the only true "world power" left on the planet, the US is a target of a lot of criticism since it is the only national power with the ability to enforce it's will across the globe. These issues continue to be pressing.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives

The conflict and functionalist perspectives are often criticized for their emphasis on the macrolevel.
· Macrolevel analysis examines whole societies, large-scale social structures, and social systems.
· Microlevel analysis examines small groups rather than large-scale social structures.

Application of the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

This is a more difficult one to understand. Most of the other theories focus on the larger aspects of society. This perspective takes into consideration an interpretation of social issues on a smaller scale.

In President Bush's address following 911, he spoke that "Freedom has been attacked". I believe that this was a profound comment and not simply an act of nationalistic pride. It is true that "freedom" was attacked and we now do not live "free" of the thought that we can get on a plane and it will not be hijacked. We have fears of diseases being brought to our country and many other threats of terror.

From a Symbolic Interactionist point of view we may feel that these freedoms are a symbol of pride in our country and they inspire us to act in defense of strongly held beliefs. These cannot really be measured on a national scale but we saw individuals take out the American flag and post it everywhere they could as a symbol of their support for the victims and for what has been lost.

These values, of course, were not shared by all, but by many small groups.

The Symbolic Interactionist viewpoint would analyze these concepts, the use of language and the use of symbols (flags, crosses, demonstrations) as components in understanding our social world.

Postmodern Perspectives

The basic idea of these perspectives is that existing theories have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by post-industrialization, consumerism, and global communications.

An information explosion and an economy in which large numbers of people either provide or apply information characterize postindustrial societies.

There is a corresponding rise of a consumer society and the emergence of a global village in which people communicate via electronic technologies.

Application of the Postmodern Perspective

The easiest application of this perspective on 911 is the wide use of technology to coordinate the efforts of the terrorists. Technology has played a major role not only in changing the way in which our culture operates but the way in which crime is committed. This perspective also emphasizes the importance of a global economy, industrialization and consumerism…the very targets of the terror attacks.

Consider a circumstance you have been in. How could you interpret that situation utilizing each of these perspectives? This is a good exercise of your Sociological Imaginations!

Assessment

Lesson 2 Discussion

In this discussion I want you to each find a unique article from a local, regional, and national newspaper website...try the following:

Steps in this Discussion

  1. Post a link to the story you choose
  2. Post an analysis selecing ONE of the 4 perspectives
  3. Reply to another student's post analyisng their story using a DIFFERENT perspective than the one they used and different from your original post