Discuss three major sociological perspective of sociology.

Sociologists analyze social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizations of society and social behavior, sociologists; study everything from specific events (the micro level of analysis of small social patterns) to the "big picture" (the macro level of analysis of Sociologists today employ three primary theoretical perspectives; the ‘symbolic' interactions perspective, the functionalist perspective, arid the conflict perspective. These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and vice versa. Each perspective, uniquely conceptualizes society, social forces, and human behavior (see Table

TABLE Sociological Perspectives

Sociological Perspective	Level of Analysis	Focus
(i) Symbolic Interactions	Micro	Use of symbols; Face-to-face Interactions
(ii) Functionalism	Micro	Relationship between the parts of society; How aspects of society are functional (adaptive)
(iii) Conflict Theory	Micro	Competition for scarce resources: How the elite control the poor and weak

The symbolic interactions perspective: The symbolic interactions perspective, also known as symbolic interactions, directs sociologists to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, What these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other. Although symbolic interactions traces its origins to Max Weber's assertion that individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world the American philosopher George H. Mead (1863-1931) introduced this perspective to American sociology in the 1920s.

According to the symbolic interactions perspective, people attach meanings to symbols, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. Verbal conversations, in which spoken words serve as the predominant symbols, make this subjective interpretation especially evident. The words have a certain meaning for the “sender,” and, during effective communication, they hopefully have the same meaning for the “receiver.” In other terms, words are not static "things"; they require intention and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them of course, anything tan serve as a symbol as long as it refers to something beyond itself. Written music serves as an example. The black dots and lines become more than mere marks on the page; they refer to notes organized in such a way as to make musical sense. Thus, symbolic integrationists give serious thought to how people act, and then seek to determine what meanings individuals assign to their own actions and symbols, as well as to those of others.

Consider applying symbolic interactions to the American institution of marriage. Symbols may include wedding bands, vows of life-long commitment, a white bridal dress, a wedding cake, a Church ceremony, and flowers and music. American society attaches general meanings to these symbols, but individuals also maintain their own perceptions of what these and other symbols mean. For example, one of the spouses may see their circular wedding rings as symbolizing “never ending love," while the other may see them as a mere financial expense. Much faulty communication can result from differences in the perception of the same events and symbols.

Critics claim that symbolic interactions neglect the macro level of social interpretation the “big picture." In other words, symbolic integrationists may miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the trees (for example the size of the diamond in the wedding ring) rather than the “forest". (for example, the quality of the marriage). The perspective also receives criticism for slighting the influence of social forces and institutions on individual interactions.

The functionalist perspective: According to the functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, each aspect, of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole. The government, or state, provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. That is the family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and Support their own families. In the process, the children become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state. If all goes well, the parts of society produce order, stability, and productivity. If all does not go well, the parts of society then must adapt to recapture a new order; stability, and productivity.

·    Mechanical solidarity is a form of social cohesion that arises when people in a society maintain similar values and beliefs and engages in similar types of work. Mechanical solidarity most commonly occurs in traditional, simple societies such as those in which everyone herds cattle or farms. Amish society exemplifies mechanical solidarity.

·    In contrast, organic solidarity is a form of social cohesion that arises when the people in a society are interdependent, but hold to varying values and beliefs and engage in varying types of work. Organic solidarity most commonly occurs in industrialized, complex societies such those in large. American cities like New York in the 2000s.

The functionalist perspective achieved its greatest popularity among American sociologists in the 1940s and 1950s. While European functionalists originally focused on explaining the inner workings of social order, American functionalists focused on discovering the functions of human behavior. Among these American functionalist sociologists is Robert Merton (b. 1910), who divides human functions into two types: manifest functions are intentional and obvious, while latent functions are unintentional and not obvious.

The conflict perspective: The conflict perspective, which originated primarily out of Karl Mark's writings on class struggles, presents society in a different light than do the functionalist and symbolic integrationist perspectives. While these latter perspectives focus on the positive aspects of society that contribute to its stability, the conflict perspective focuses on the negative, conflicted, and ever changing nature of society. Unlike functionalists who defend the status quo, avoid social change, and believe people cooperate to effect social order, conflict theorists challenge the status quo, encourage social change (even when this means social revolution, and believe rich and powerful people force social order on the pear and the weak. Conflict theorists, for example, may interpret an “elite” board of regents raising tuition to pay for esoteric new programs that raise the prestige of a local college as self-serving rather than as beneficial for students.