Click on the following videos/websites to view the multimedia resources for this week. Scroll all the way down this website.

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Sociological perspectives which are also referred to as theoretical perspectives and sociological theories are used by sociologists to explain and predict both society and human behavior; particularly human behaviors in groups. There are three main sociological perspectives (theories) used by sociologists to understand society.

While there are new sociological theories or explanations that come out of social research all the time, usually new theories derive from one of the three main perspectives of functionalism, conflict and symbolic interaction.

Functionalists and conflict sociologists tend to study society using a macronanalysis approach. This means that they tend to focus on the totality or society as whole. Symbolic interactionists on the other hand tend to explain and study small group or individual behaviors which is referred to as a microanalysis.

Let’s examine these more further, shall we?

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1. The Three Minute Sociologist: Why Theory?!?!!

Teacher, why do we have to study theory? When do we get to the good stuff? Hmm…

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2. Introduction to Structural Functionalism

Functionalism explains society as being made up of different parts (structures) that all work (function) together in unity to maintain a balance. Sociologists also call these parts social institutions which are the building blocks of society. Can you think of examples of social institutions in society as you view this video?

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3. I Love Lucy

Many of us have seen this classic I Love Lucy episode. Using what you have learned about functionalism from the above video, what messages are women being given in this episode (or clip) of Lucy and how do these messages relate to the ideas of functionalism?

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4. Conflict Theory

This video on Marxism closely resembles the basic ideas of conflict theory.

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5. Explaining Karl Marx

Karl Marx had a vision of a classless society which he called communism. After his death many countries adopted communism or close variations. Sociology considers Marx the “father of conflict theory.”

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6. A Tribute to Communism (disclaimer: graphic video)

But Marx’s vision of equality did not materialize in countries that attempted to to live by his ideas as you can see in this graphic video. Based on your understanding of conflict theory, do you think it is possible to have a truly equal society? Why or why not?

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7. Symbolic Interaction: Labels

As you watch this video, think about the labels that were put on you by your family, teachers and friends when you were a child. Were they mainly positive or negative? Did you become those labels as an adult?

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8. Symbolic Interaction: Social Construction of Reality

As you watch this video, think about how our views of reality are affected by our culture and our use of language (verbal and non-verbal symbols) as we interact with one another creating meaning for ourselves.

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9. Non-Verbal Communication

Psychologists have found that about 93% of our communication is non-verbal. Next time you’re interacting with another person pay attention to your non-verbal behavior and the messages you think the other person is receiving (looking-glass self).

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10. Beauty

Now that we’ve covered theory, practice using the three main sociological perspectives to explain this video. Why do I think that your “perspective” on beauty may be just a little bitty different now that you are a “sociologist in training?”

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These videos should have given you a general overview of the three sociological perspectives. Feel free to leave a comment below for your colleagues. These comments are NOT part of our Bb discussions – just a place for you to leave a quick comment if you would like to share with your colleagues.

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Here is the poll for this unit:

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