Concepts and Principles of the Major Social
Sciences Theories: Structural-Functionalism,
Marxism, and Symbolic Interactionism
Week 5
Introduction
The social sciences are not only composed of disciplines that showcase how they view and study
every facet of society. The disciplines prove how social science is applicable and practical, meaning
that the social sciences are things that you can use every day to understand reality much better.
Without the disciplines, the social sciences would not exist at all.
But the social sciences also have theoretical foundations and ideological thrusts. That is why apart
from the disciplines, the social sciences have the dominant approaches and ideas present within the
different disciplines. These are the roots of a discipline or the very inspiration of the different social
sciences. A particular approach or ideology has the capacity to influence all of the disciplines, for the
theory that each ideology provides encompasses all of the disciplines and affects them in many
ways. This module shall discuss different dominant approaches and ideas that are present in today’s
society and how each of these approaches and ideas plays a role in the character and everyday
living of society.
The basic concepts and
principles of the major Social
Science theories
Structural Functionalism
Structural Functionalism is a
perspective in social sciences that is
criticized for assuming systemic
equilibrium within a social system,
overlooking internal social change
processes, and failing to consider
external shocks that may disrupt
system stability, leading to
restructuring or disintegration.
"society is a system of
interconnected parts that
work together in harmony..."
Functionalists use the
terms:
functional dysfunctional
Robert Merton
Manifest function latent function
-are are consequences
consequences that that are
are intended and unintended and
commonly often hidden
recognized
Father of Modern Sociology
5 Situations are Facing an Actor
Conformity - occurs when an individual has the means and desire to
achieve the cultural goals socialised into him.
Innovation - occurs when an individual strives to attain the accepted
cultural goals but chooses to do so in novel or unaccepted method.
Ritualism - occurs when an individual continues to do things as
proscribed by society but forfeits the achievement of the goals.
Retreatism - is the rejection of both the means and the goals of
society.
Rebellion - is a combination of the rejection of societal goals and
means and a substitution of other goals and means.
MARXISM
MARXISM - is a method of socioeconomic analysis
that uses a materialist interpretation of historical
development to understand class relations and social
conflict, as well as a dialectical perspective to view
social transformation.
Karl Marx Friedrich Engels
Communist Manifesto Father of Marxist theory
HISTORICAL MATERIALISM
is a methodology used that focuses on
human societies and their development
through history, arguing that history is the
result of material conditions rather than
ideals.
DIALETICAL MATERIALISM
is a philosophy of science and nature
developed in Europe and based on the
writings of Marx and Engels.
Symbolic
Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism is a sociological
theory that develops from practical
considerations and suggests to people's
particular utilization of dialect to make
images and normal implications, for
deduction and correspondence with others
Symbolic interaction was
conceived by
George Herbert Mead
THE THREE BASIC PREMISES BY
HERBERT BLUMER (1969)
1. "Humans act toward things based on the meanings they
ascribe to those things."
2. "The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of,
the social interaction that one has with others and the
society."
3. "These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an
interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the
things he/she encounters."
Thank you
