THEORETICAL

FOUNDATIONS OF
CULTURE, SOCIETY AND
POLITICS
THEORY
Theory explains how some aspect of human behavior
or performance is organized. It thus enables us to
make predictions about that behavior.

• Theories are crucial to science because they provide a

logical framework for making sense out of scientific
observations. In sociology, a theory is a set of general
assumptions about the nature of society.
THEORY

PREDICTION

EXPLANATION

FOUNDATION
2 key questions

How do we exist?

How do we change?
MACRO VIEW

large social phenomena or “the big picture”, such a social

institutions and inequality to see how it operates.

big phenomenon that affects your population

your looking for patterns; effects of this big picture to the life of
small groups or individual
MICRO VIEW

zero in on the immediate social situation where people interact with one
another or looking at the situational patterns of social interaction
n.

concerning the nature of everyday human social interactions and agency on a small
scale: face to face
Symbolic Interactionism
consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people
interact with each other.

Sociologist W.I. Thomas (1966) emphasized the importance of definitions and meanings in social
behavior and its consequences. He suggested that humans respond to their definition of a situation
rather than to the objective situation
itself.

Symbolic interactionism also suggests that our identity or sense of self is shaped by social
interaction. We develop our self-concept by observing how others interact with us a label us. By
observing how others view us,
FUNCTIONALISM

each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning

as a whole.

society is a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony

to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole. For
example, each of the social institutions contributes important functions for
society:
Functionalist Theory

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.
Functionalist Theory

Functionalism focuses on social order. Emile Durkheim differentiates

two forms of social order. The first is mechanical solidarity. It is a type
of social cohesion that develops when people do similar work. Most,
often it exists in small scale traditional societies. The second is organic
solidarity. It is a type of social cohesion that is formed in a society
whose members work in specialized jobs.
Conflict Theory

originated primarily out of Karl Marx's writings on class struggles, p

CONFLICT THEORY

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
poor and the weak.