Three Major Theoretical Perspectives Of Sociological Analysis

The three major theoretical perspectives in sociology are symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, and conflict theory. Symbolic interactionism suggests that symbols are quintessential to understand how humans view the world and interact within in. Further, this theory states that the way we define ourselves and our relationships with others ultimately shapes how our interactions occur. Functional analysis is simply defined as viewing society as a unit with working and moving, interrelated parts. Finally, conflict theory suggests that society contains many groups, all of which are constantly competing for limited resources, which can be material substances like oil or immaterial ideas such as power.
These theories can be more easily understood
in the context of an example, such as sex. A symbolic interactionist would see that sex, as a symbol, has transformed from something to be shared between husbands and wives to something a bit more blasé. The symbol has lost its value as an act of marriage and has turned into more of an obligation within marriage and pleasure outside of marriage. A functional analysis sociologist, conversely, would likely equate sex as a function of marriage for procreation, while fornication devalues sex as a means of reproduction and places it as merely a form of pleasure-seeking in society. Lastly, a conflict theorist would view sex as a finite resource ‒ there are only so many compatible pairings of men and women, which becomes increasingly prevalent when factoring in sexual preference in partner, frequency, and forms. Thus, women and men must compete to find the sexual pleasure which they desire.