Grand Sociological Theory Essay

Introduction
The study of human behavior is consistently fueled by a profound interest in human deviance. Various modern behavior theories focus on individual thoughts, feelings and actions to try and understand why people diverge from the norms of society (Payne, 2016). However, grand sociological theories assert that the structure of society creates more deviance and unhappiness than individual deficits in morality. Grand sociological theories provide a lens for examining larger social systems to determine where breakdowns in the structure occur and how these disruptions correlate with issues of human behavior. French sociologist, Emile Durkheim believed rapid change in structure and social functioning are associated with industrialized societies
In capitalist societies, marketing and consumerism are highly encouraged. This means that luxuries and products become the way that people display their social status and affiliate with others (Hirschle, 2014). According to Durkheim, the illusion of endless opportunity only creates envy between people and discouragement for those who work hard, but cannot obtain the luxuries they desire. Durkheim also believed that capitalist societies focus too heavily on blaming individuals for their misfortunes and sadness, when it is simply a broad component of the human experience (LI,
As social workers, we can encourage awareness of the current social order that includes social inequalities and oppressive hierarchies (Payne, 2016). By promoting consciousness of larger systems, social workers hope to assist their clients in addressing the barriers that society has placed on them (Payne, 2016). There are practitioners and theorists who debate utilizing a structural approach to viewing human behavior due to a fear that personal responsibility will be lost (Payne, 2016). However, it is worth noting that necessary means for meeting valuable social goals are often unequally distributed throughout society. In this case, is it appropriate to hold individuals solely responsible for the systemic inequalities of the larger social