Sociological Perspective
Sociology is the study of people and society. It provides the people who study it with the knowledge to understand different social groups, and the roles of the social activities that take place within them. This knowledge allows people to see past the way in which we commonly understand our world, and see things in a more objective manner, making it easier to explain society in an unbiased way (Holmes, Hughes & Julian 2003:2).
Different theories, viewpoints and social facts help us to achieve this understanding of society (Holmes, Hughes & Julian 2003:4). The Functional Theory tells us that every different aspect of society has a role to fulfil, and that, while those roles are being fulfilled, society is healthy. Should an individual or institution …show more content…
deviate from that role there must be consequences that benefit society in order to keep it "healthy". The Conflict Theory tells us that roles are not fulfilled for the benefit of society as a whole, but only for the benefit of the elite, and that there is much inequality within society. Is it possible that two such differing viewpoints can both give an understanding of our world and how it changes?
Functionalism views all parts of society together, as a complete system, much like biologists view the organs of the human body as a complete system (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:7). Societal behaviour is seen as structured and social relationships follow certain rules, values, roles and norms, resulting in relationships that follow patterns of behaviour. The social structure, or system, functions when there is order and stability brought about by the different institutions of society carrying out their roles, such as how the family instils social roles, norms and expectations in the next generation. Members of society understand these roles because of Value Consensus': values of society that are agreed upon and integrated into the social structure. These shared values provide social unity and co-operation between members of society. Values are learned through socialization and, once learned, must be maintained. Individuals who deviate from the values of society must be controlled or rehabilitated (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:8-9). Emile Durkheim (1858 1917), one of the first social theorists, held the opinion that shared values and customs were the binding for the social system. He explained social change as being caused by a growing division of labour, stating that it was taking the place of religion as the basis for social cohesion. Durkheim says that this social change happened so quickly that it resulted in an unstable society. He described this state of society as being in a state of anomie', and it left members of society feeling that their lives were meaningless (Giddens 1997: 8 9).
The Conflict Theory gives a different view on how society works together. Conflict theorists feel that individuals don't have a common goal of keeping society healthy, to the point that they see differences of interest between social groups that results in a constant flow of conflict and inequality within society (Haralambos and Holborn 1995:9). With Marxism, the differences of interest relate to the production of goods; Marxists believe that this production is used as a means of benefiting the minority bourgeoisie class while exploiting the majority proletariat class to provide such benefits.
In order for the production of goods to occur, certain social relationships must be entered into and forces of production' (knowledge, materials, labour and technology) made available.
Together, these provide the infrastructure of a capitalist society, in which a labourer's wages must be less than the value of that which they produce (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:84 85). Other aspects of society, such as the various institutions and the belief and value systems, are known as the superstructure, and these are influenced and shaped by the infrastructure. This means that any significant changes in the infrastructure will result in similar changes with the superstructure (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:10). Conflict theorists see social change within a capitalist society as being intentional and brought about by well-informed members of society (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:86). This occurs when the proletariats are awakened to their class status due to excessive exploitation by the bourgeoisie. Once they have become aware of this exploitation, they are then able to take action against it. This awareness comes about from changes taking place within the social structure, but the action taken to put a stop to the exploitation is an intended action to bring about more change (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster
1996:87).
The functionalist theory and the conflict theory are two important theories of how and why the social system functions. Functionalists and conflict theorists alike see a structure to society in the world around us, focusing on outside influences to members of society as an explanation for social behaviour (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:85). Functionalism teaches us that the social system runs like a well-oiled machine, with each part fulfilling a role or function that helps keep society stable and running smoothly, which is the main desire of the members of society. However, the conflict theory teaches us that the social system is unstable and that inequality is commonplace whereby the bourgeoisie class exploits the proletariat class purely for the sake of making a profit. Both theories also differ in the way they view social change. To a functional theorist, change is viewed as a natural progression brought about by new conditions within the society (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:86), and is believed to cause an unstable social system, or "anomie", when it happens too rapidly (Giddens 1997: 8 9). Conflict theorists view change as the result of an intentional decision by a social group to put a stop to social inequality.
Individually, these two theories reveal specific aspects of society's structure and functionality, giving sociologists different viewpoints of how and why society works. Change is seen as a hindrance, or alternatively, a stepping stone to progress, depending on which theory is studied. When looking at both these theories together, however, it is possible to consider different aspects of society and its evolution: what society is and how preceding events have changed and shaped current society, which then allows sociologists to speculate on the path the social world may take in future.
Bilton, T., Bonnett, K., Jones, P., Skinner, D., Stanworth, M. & Webster, A. (1996) Introductory Sociology, 3rd ed. London: Macmillan
Giddens, A. (1997) Sociology, 3rd ed., Cambridge: Polity Press.
Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M. (1995) Sociology: Themes and Perspectives, 4th ed., London: Collins Educational.
Holmes, D., Hughes, K., & Julian, R. (2003) Australian Sociology, Australia: Pearson Education.
Different theories, viewpoints and social facts help us to achieve this understanding of society (Holmes, Hughes & Julian 2003:4). The Functional Theory tells us that every different aspect of society has a role to fulfil, and that, while those roles are being fulfilled, society is healthy. Should an individual or institution …show more content…
deviate from that role there must be consequences that benefit society in order to keep it "healthy". The Conflict Theory tells us that roles are not fulfilled for the benefit of society as a whole, but only for the benefit of the elite, and that there is much inequality within society. Is it possible that two such differing viewpoints can both give an understanding of our world and how it changes?
Functionalism views all parts of society together, as a complete system, much like biologists view the organs of the human body as a complete system (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:7). Societal behaviour is seen as structured and social relationships follow certain rules, values, roles and norms, resulting in relationships that follow patterns of behaviour. The social structure, or system, functions when there is order and stability brought about by the different institutions of society carrying out their roles, such as how the family instils social roles, norms and expectations in the next generation. Members of society understand these roles because of Value Consensus': values of society that are agreed upon and integrated into the social structure. These shared values provide social unity and co-operation between members of society. Values are learned through socialization and, once learned, must be maintained. Individuals who deviate from the values of society must be controlled or rehabilitated (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:8-9). Emile Durkheim (1858 1917), one of the first social theorists, held the opinion that shared values and customs were the binding for the social system. He explained social change as being caused by a growing division of labour, stating that it was taking the place of religion as the basis for social cohesion. Durkheim says that this social change happened so quickly that it resulted in an unstable society. He described this state of society as being in a state of anomie', and it left members of society feeling that their lives were meaningless (Giddens 1997: 8 9).
The Conflict Theory gives a different view on how society works together. Conflict theorists feel that individuals don't have a common goal of keeping society healthy, to the point that they see differences of interest between social groups that results in a constant flow of conflict and inequality within society (Haralambos and Holborn 1995:9). With Marxism, the differences of interest relate to the production of goods; Marxists believe that this production is used as a means of benefiting the minority bourgeoisie class while exploiting the majority proletariat class to provide such benefits.
In order for the production of goods to occur, certain social relationships must be entered into and forces of production' (knowledge, materials, labour and technology) made available.
Together, these provide the infrastructure of a capitalist society, in which a labourer's wages must be less than the value of that which they produce (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:84 85). Other aspects of society, such as the various institutions and the belief and value systems, are known as the superstructure, and these are influenced and shaped by the infrastructure. This means that any significant changes in the infrastructure will result in similar changes with the superstructure (Haralambos & Holborn 1995:10). Conflict theorists see social change within a capitalist society as being intentional and brought about by well-informed members of society (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:86). This occurs when the proletariats are awakened to their class status due to excessive exploitation by the bourgeoisie. Once they have become aware of this exploitation, they are then able to take action against it. This awareness comes about from changes taking place within the social structure, but the action taken to put a stop to the exploitation is an intended action to bring about more change (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster
1996:87).
The functionalist theory and the conflict theory are two important theories of how and why the social system functions. Functionalists and conflict theorists alike see a structure to society in the world around us, focusing on outside influences to members of society as an explanation for social behaviour (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:85). Functionalism teaches us that the social system runs like a well-oiled machine, with each part fulfilling a role or function that helps keep society stable and running smoothly, which is the main desire of the members of society. However, the conflict theory teaches us that the social system is unstable and that inequality is commonplace whereby the bourgeoisie class exploits the proletariat class purely for the sake of making a profit. Both theories also differ in the way they view social change. To a functional theorist, change is viewed as a natural progression brought about by new conditions within the society (Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Skinner, Stanworth & Webster 1996:86), and is believed to cause an unstable social system, or "anomie", when it happens too rapidly (Giddens 1997: 8 9). Conflict theorists view change as the result of an intentional decision by a social group to put a stop to social inequality.
Individually, these two theories reveal specific aspects of society's structure and functionality, giving sociologists different viewpoints of how and why society works. Change is seen as a hindrance, or alternatively, a stepping stone to progress, depending on which theory is studied. When looking at both these theories together, however, it is possible to consider different aspects of society and its evolution: what society is and how preceding events have changed and shaped current society, which then allows sociologists to speculate on the path the social world may take in future.
Bilton, T., Bonnett, K., Jones, P., Skinner, D., Stanworth, M. & Webster, A. (1996) Introductory Sociology, 3rd ed. London: Macmillan
Giddens, A. (1997) Sociology, 3rd ed., Cambridge: Polity Press.
Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M. (1995) Sociology: Themes and Perspectives, 4th ed., London: Collins Educational.
Holmes, D., Hughes, K., & Julian, R. (2003) Australian Sociology, Australia: Pearson Education.