Sociological Perspectives
1.The Structural Functionalism sees the society as interrelated parts work together to make the society stable and balanced. All the institutions have their own biological and social functions to contribute to the whole society. Dysfunctions of crime also exist and bring "undesirable consequences" of breaking the regular social order. Structural Functionalism sees the society with a macro-level or mid level view.
An example for this is: North Korean people believes in socialism, which forms a society structured around dictatorship of Kim Jeong-eun. People in North Korean worshiped Kim Jeong-eun as god, so they agree that the resources of the society should be distributed by his government order not people's will.
2. Conflict Theory sees the society as a competition between individuals and parties for limited resources. The whole society is not in a stable condition but in constant conflicts. It explains things from a "social change" perspective not "social stability". Inequalities exist in the distribution of wealth, power, prestige, schooling, land, which may be due to race, gender, religion, class and other factors. More powerful people have more resources and use the power to exploit less powerful people. Conflict Theory sees the society with a macro-level view.
An example for this is: American people are highly diverse. They come from different races and have different education background. Although many people come to U.S. for their American dreams, the truth is that the gap of wealth is really huge. The top 5% people control more than 60% of social wealth and the gap is still increasing.
3. Symbolic Interactionism sees the society as a "product" of daily interactions and communications among individuals not institutions. It focuses on the exchange of meaning through language and symbols, which are anything that carries meaning. People make sense of the social worlds through proper or meaningful communications. Symbolic Interactionism sees the society with a micro-level view.
An example for this is: Why are young people fond of tattoo even the whole process of tattoo is painful? Some parents don't approve their children have tattoos on their skin. Large tattoo on the spine is hard to be epidural and could become a allergy trigger.
The answer is the meaning of the situation that people create. Educators find that teenagers are aware of the side effects of tattoo, but they think that tattoo is cool. It shows their personal attitudes. Tattoo projects a unique image to their peers. In that case, the symbolic meaning of tattoo overrides that side facts of it.
An example for this is: North Korean people believes in socialism, which forms a society structured around dictatorship of Kim Jeong-eun. People in North Korean worshiped Kim Jeong-eun as god, so they agree that the resources of the society should be distributed by his government order not people's will.
2. Conflict Theory sees the society as a competition between individuals and parties for limited resources. The whole society is not in a stable condition but in constant conflicts. It explains things from a "social change" perspective not "social stability". Inequalities exist in the distribution of wealth, power, prestige, schooling, land, which may be due to race, gender, religion, class and other factors. More powerful people have more resources and use the power to exploit less powerful people. Conflict Theory sees the society with a macro-level view.
An example for this is: American people are highly diverse. They come from different races and have different education background. Although many people come to U.S. for their American dreams, the truth is that the gap of wealth is really huge. The top 5% people control more than 60% of social wealth and the gap is still increasing.
3. Symbolic Interactionism sees the society as a "product" of daily interactions and communications among individuals not institutions. It focuses on the exchange of meaning through language and symbols, which are anything that carries meaning. People make sense of the social worlds through proper or meaningful communications. Symbolic Interactionism sees the society with a micro-level view.
An example for this is: Why are young people fond of tattoo even the whole process of tattoo is painful? Some parents don't approve their children have tattoos on their skin. Large tattoo on the spine is hard to be epidural and could become a allergy trigger.
The answer is the meaning of the situation that people create. Educators find that teenagers are aware of the side effects of tattoo, but they think that tattoo is cool. It shows their personal attitudes. Tattoo projects a unique image to their peers. In that case, the symbolic meaning of tattoo overrides that side facts of it.