Perspectives. on Social Problems. Social Problems. Functionalism. Symbolic Interactionism. Conflict Theory

Transcription

1 HGU Byungdeok Kang

2 Perspectives Functionalism on Social Problems Social Problems Symbolic Interactionism Conflict Theory

3 Functionalism Society = a system of interrelated parts To Understand Society = to understand how social institutions are interrelated and what their functions are ( socially agreed values and norms) Causes of Social Problems = dysfunctions of the social systems Functionalists Herbert Spencer a living organism Emile Durkheim social integration & social control Talcott Parsons a grand interrelated system Robert Merton manifest functions & latent functions

4 Durkheim s The Division of Labor in Society Division of labor Suicide Religion The World of Social Facts Each has a function in a society a world of good and evil open to scientific investigation

5 Parson s Structural Functionalism Systems Interaction between the members in a society Social Structure Social Systems Functional Requisites of Maintenance of Systems 1. Adaptation 2. Goal Attainment 3. Integration 4. Latency

6 Criticism against Parson s Functionalism: Wrong assumption: this is from social organism which assume normal and abnormal social phenomenon. Dysfunction can/may be functional. Limitations to explain radical and/or huge social changes

7 Conflict Theory Society = a place of a constant struggle over a limited amount of resources (fighting to gain power) To Understand Society = to understand the interaction of multiple groups fighting to gain power Causes of Social Problems = Inequality (power difference: use power to benefit the powerful and ignore the pain of the powerless) Conflict Theorists Harriet Martineau gender inequality (Voting right) Karl Marx economic inequality (Capitalism) William Edward Burghardt (W. E. B.) Du Bois racial inequality (African Americans and colored people)

8 Human Nature bad / vicious In a natural setting, a person tries to maximize his/her profits and to minimize other s profits Carl Marx Humanist + Materialist + Utopianist Society s Responsibility: To provide basic materials in order for people to realize their potentials Two Classes in a Society People with Manufacturing Facilities vs. People without Manufacturing Facilities Class Conflict and Contradiction Social Changes Power was located in institutions and not with people.

9 Criticism against Conflict Theory Over-Deterministic Causes of Social Changes: more than the class conflicts Seeking a New Equilibrium What is an ultimate difference from functionalism which pursues a social equilibrium?

10 Symbolic Interactionism Society = a created social world due to individual interactions To Understand Society = to understand how individual interactions between people influence their behaviors and how these interactions can impact society Causes of Social Problems = the meanings of the symbols in society Symbolic Interactionists George Herbert Mead use symbols to develop a sense of identity Herbert Blumer an individual s behavior depends on the meanings we have already created Erving Goffman human behaviors a complex series of actions and reactions

11 Basic Assumptions about Human People are physically weak. People need cooperation/collaboration. People keep the activities to promote cooperation/collaboration Difference of Humans from Animals: the mental capacity Assign and/or add values/meanings to whatever using symbols Able to communicate each other with symbols Able to create culture/world using symbols

12 Criticisms against Interactionism Inter-Subjectivity Is everything subject? No! Shared/overlapped subjectivity Inter-subjectivity = Objective social reality?!?!

13 Proposed Solutions Functionalism? Conflict Theory? Symbolic Interactionism?

14 Proposed Solutions Functionalism - Engage in research and active intervention to improve social institutions - Create new organizations to address social problems Conflict Theory - Build stronger social movements among groups with grievances. The conflicting groups may then engage in negotiations and reach mutual accommodations Symbolic Interactionism - Resocialize deviants by increasing their contacts with accepted patterns of behavior - Make social systems less rigid - Change definition of what is considered deviant and/or social problems

15 Basic Unit of Social Problem Analysis Individual Systems Person Blame System Blame Social Systems

16 Social problems are not value free. Values in our society are political. POLITICAL = relating to the ways that different people have power within a group, organization etc. (Longman Dictionary) POLITICS = the activities of people who are concerned with gaining personal advantage within a group, organization etc. (Longman Dictionary)

17 Social Structure SOCIETY VALUES Social Standard (Normal) Deviance (lack of the social standard)

18 Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills, 1959) A detachment from the taken-for-granted about social life ( Development of critical thinking) A willingness to view the social world from the perspective of others Focus on the social, economic, and historical circumstances that produce the problem

19 Any Questions