A Comparison of the Functionalist, Interactionist and Conflict Theories

Over the course of years, sociology, as a science, has provided a relentless body of theories that have focused on studying the different occurrences taking place within the society. These approaches act as a viable platform for providing a comprehensive understanding of various constituents within the social context. In this respect, sociology has provided definite conjectures that have attempted to understand the society based on its different constitutions. Notably, these approaches comprise the Functionalist, Interactionist and Conflict theories. These theories provide a social and scientific understanding of the society in terms of the individual, social order as well as social change. In addition, each approach provides a distinct elucidation regarding the way each views these societal elements based on the relationships they possess within the social milieu. Regardless of the distinctions each theory possesses, there is evidence of a connection between them based on the social context.

Functionalism is one of the most important theories in sociology. Based on the findings of the suicide theorist, Emile Durkheim, the theory construes each element of the society in respect to its contribution towards the constancy of the general society. Simply, functionalism argues that society exists as a summation of parts, specifically institutions, that work together in order to ensure its longevity (Schaefer, 2010). The second theory, interactionism, assesses society by attending to the subjective nuances that individuals impose on entities, situations and behaviors. Based on this theory, the meanings construed by humans, based on them attempting to understand different human behaviors, enable them to forge social bonds (Schaefer, 2010). Lastly, the conflict theory exerts emphasis on the responsibility of coercion and authority in generating social order. Based on the deductions of Karl Marx, conflict theory generally asserts that society undergoes fragmentation into factions that struggle for economic and social resources (Schaefer, 2010).

Undeniably, the stated theories provide a definite approach on the society, the individual, social order and social change. For the functionalist approach, the conjecture views the society as a collection of parts. These parts determine stability or instability within the society. Therefore, in the case of occurrences such as crime within the society, functionalism asserts that the society is dysfunctional. In addition to this, the constituents that determine stability comprise the institutions. Based on this, functionalism surmises that instability from any institution of the society leads to the emanation of social problems (Schaefer, 2010). The result of this is the occurrence of social change. In general, the functionalist theory advocates for consensus among individuals since it views social change as undesirable and threatening to social order. The interactionist perspective, on the other hand, implies that the society is a result of the interpretation of its respective individuals.

Based on interactionism, the manner in which people interpret their situation determines the occurrence of social change and order (Schaefer, 2010). Therefore, if individuals view their respective situation as proper or rather, too demanding to change, then the result will comprise continued social order and lack of propagation towards social change. However, the conflict theory goes against the ideals of functionalism. It advocates for the disruption of social order via social change in order to ensure equality among social classes. Indeed, the conflict approach routes for disruption of the status quo (Schaefer, 2010). This is because it provides that the social order prevalent in the present society is a product of the coercion enforced on the poor and feeble by the wealthy and influential people.

In conclusion, the discussed sociological approaches provide conflicted assumptions concerning the society, the individual, social order and social change. Even though the functionalist and the conflict theories oppose each other, the interactionist approach views the individual as the determinant of the society as well as the agent of order and change within the community. Nonetheless, it is impossible to view the general society in a fully positive or negative way. This is because of the positive and negative issues, which occur within the society and thus, provide an elucidation of the social factors responsible for such causes.

References

Schaefer, R. T. (2010). Sociology. New York: McGraw-Hill.