The Major Theories of Sociology Essay - 1221 Words

Symbolic Interactionism In the field of sociology, sociologists use many different theories to base their ideas and observations on; however, the three major theories that are used are symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, and conflict theory. It is these three theories that will be the focus of this paper. To begin with, we will start with symbolic interactionism. Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead developed symbolic interactionism. In order to understand what this theory is all about though, we will look at the definition. Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with†¦show more content†¦Without symbols, we would not be able to differentiate who was illegal and who was supposed to be in each country. For that matter, we would not even be able to call a country a country, because symbols give us that understanding as well. So, now that we have a good understanding of symbolic interactionism, we will go on to talk about functional analysis. Functional Analysis Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Robert Merton all contributed their own observations to the theory that is known as functional analysis. Functional analysis is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that, when fulfilled, contributes to societys equilibrium; also known as functionalism and structural functionalism. (2010, Henslin) Now, the first thing that comes to mind after reading this definition of functional analysis, is that it sounds a lot like how our bodies work. Without our arms, legs, fingers, toes, etc., our body would not be able to function properly as a whole. Everything would become much more difficult, and simple things such as walking in the park or eating a cheeseburger would become nearly impossible. Well, it works the same way with functional analysis. When all the parts of society work together and cooperate with one another, then our society is able to function smoothly as a whole. However, when one or multipleShow MoreRelatedSociology : A Sociological Perspective1292 Words   |  6 PagesOrigins of Sociology Ashley Drees Ivy Tech Community College Professor Brosmer April 10,2016 What is Sociology Sociology  is the  study of  social behavior or society, including its origins, development, organization, networks, and institutions. Sociology is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order, disorder, and change. 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