Key Tenets Of The Four Sociological Paradigms

The four major sociological theoretical paradigms are functionalist (functionalism & structural functionalism), conflict, symbolic interactionist and postmodern perspectives. The key tenets for the four major sociological theoretical paradigms are as follows:

1. Functionalist Perspectives (stable/orderly society): theory states that society is an orderly system, where the majority share a common set value, belief and expectation. (Kendall, D. 2016. p. 17);
2. Conflict Perspectives (struggle): is that a sociological approach that views groups in society as engaged in continuous power struggle for control over scarce resource. (Kendall, D. 2016. p. 18-19);
3. Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives (communication/token): examines people as a group