Sociological Theories

 

Sociological Theories

Introduction

In a family unit, people communicate and interrelate with one another using various methods. These methods can be described as theories of sociology. There are three sociological theories that are commonly used in a family unit. The first theory is functionalism where it places all the members of the family as a structural unit meaning that they are interdependent on each other (Andersen, 2011). However, conflict theory tends to argue otherwise. It indicates that there are certain things in a family unit that dissociate one another. Finally, interactionism theory describes the different forms that communication in the family unit. Interactionism indicates that a family unit must always be in constant communication thus promoting communalism in the family unity (Bombeck, 2012). Therefore, when the three theories are applied in the family unit, they have a certain effect that might be similar or different with the other theories, leading to a significant change in the family unit.

There are three major sociological theories that impact greatly on a family unit. These are functionalism theory, interactionism theory and conflict theory. Functionalism usually reveals that every member of the family is interdependent. On the other hand, Conflict theory as practical to families challenges the tradition that families live in harmony (Andersen, 2011). Interactionism neglects the ideas of individuals rather accepting those based on communal interpretations. The three sociological theories, if applied in a family setting, have various impacts on the views of individuals and bring about changes in a society.

In a family, functionalism reveals that every member of the family is interdependent. For example, the parents provide education for the children in a family. They do this to help their children to be able to support their own families when they become adults.  This theory ensures that the functioning of the family unit is very effective. It makes certain that all family members play their role as required and have a positive attitude towards work. In addition to that, functionalism fosters unity and peace among family members. In case a situation arises that a family member does not want to play his or her role effectively, the whole family suffers from disunity, stress and dysfunctional tendencies. Functionalism stipulates that each family member should carry out his responsibility to the latter (Ferrante, 2010). If this happens, family members feel validated and will lead to the positive growth of a family. Functionalism emphasizes on the role of each family member so that all the members become independent in the future.

Functionalism emphasizes on the fact that the society is unity due to social agreement. Views of people in the society are interconnected with this theory. Members of the society hold meetings, discussions and work together to foster community development. Functionalism is different from conflict and interactionism because it neglects the impacts like divorce in families. Moreover, it does not encourage family members to take up active roles in changing their social environment. Instead, it views dynamic communal change as detrimental because different parts of the society compensate incase a problem arises. It also protects the status quo and avoids social alterations.

Conflict theory in relation to the family unit, challenges the tradition that families are harmonious, and instead concentrates on the capability of the family to deal with distinctions and alterations. Conflict theory asserts that disagreement in families is the ordinary state of relationships and that family changes can be implicit by identifying the sources of divergence and sources of supremacy. When conflict arises in families, children are usually affected. Some children tend to act out by developing strange behavior such as being violent and indulging themselves in gang groups. Some develop bodily symptoms such as stomach aches, and headaches. Others withdraw themselves from their friends in school. This will lead lack of unity and disagreements between family members. Some of the solutions that can be used to curb such conflicts are establishing good communication, developing understanding and empathy.

In the societal aspect, conflict theory presents a society in a different view than the interactionism and functionalism. These two theories emphasize on the positive aspects of society that contribute to its continual growth. Conflict theory is different because it focuses on the conflicted, unconstructive and ever- adjusting environment of the society (Tischler, 2010). Unlike functionalism which avoids social alterations, conflict theory opposes the status quo and encourages social modifications. Conflict theory is also different from functionalism and interactionism because of its negative perspective towards the society as a whole and it attributes democracy and other aspects of society in controlling masses other than preserving the society.  A similarity that exists among the three theories is that all society settings go through cycles of stability and conflicts. This is due to the fact that under all distinct situations, people behave in different ways.

Interactionism, from a theoretical point of view cultivates social processes from human relations.  It focuses on how individual tend to behave within a society. Symbolic interactionism is widely acknowledged as a branch of this theory. This is due to the fact the sociologist symbols are an aspect of our daily lives. These symbols are a direct reflection of how we interact with each other.   When this theory is applied to a family setting, there is constant face to face with each other.  This means that the members have more contact with each other thus; there is increased frequency of conflicts. The process in which people responds or act towards the members of the family may be different and this may lead to conflicts (Tischler, 2010). In the societal aspect, this face to face contact may more enduring or complex. The meaning or symbols that are encountered are tailored through an interactive process depending on the connection one has with others in the society. Internationalism differs from functionalism and Conflict theory it deals with symbols that offer different meanings.

In conclusion, the three sociological theories namely functionalism, conflict and interactionism find social interactions between  groups that inequality exists in areas such as gender, religion, political, families and racial. For example, conflict theory emphasizes that unequal groups have conflicting values hence causing them to disagree in many ways. Functionalism on the other hand views dynamic communal change as detrimental because different parts of the society compensate incase a problem arises. It also protects the status quo and avoids social alterations. Ultimately, interactionism centers on the cryptograms used by a family or society to designate its morals and values. Its main focus lies on the microscopic view of sociology. These can be mediated by the use meanings and symbols.

When the functionalism theory is applied to the family unit, it indicates that every member of the family has a role to play. These roles are interdependent to each other making the family unit rely on one another at all times. For instance, in the family unity, the father is expected to provide basic needs for the family. As he is doing so, his son is expected to clean the lawn as his duty while the daughter might clean the dishes as their mother cooks. In this case, each member of the family has a duty to perform (Ferrante, 2010). It would be impossible for the father to cook, clean the lawn and at the same time provide for the family. Therefore, functionalism theory shows that a family unit has performed several duties making the people interdependent.

Functionalism theory has certain similarities to the other theories. When all the theories are applied, they express an implied relationship between the different people in the family unit. For instance, functionalism theory shows how people are interdependent on each other as a way of relating with one another in the family unit (Bombeck, 2012). However, the Functionalism theory is different from conflict and interactionism theory in the sense that it promotes communalism. When compared to the other theories it states that for effective performance or development people must unite in the community.

Functionalism theory has certain effects to each member in the family unit that results to changes in the family unit. According to the theory, it encourages the different family members to perform their duties effectively. This results to an effective family unit. For instance, if the father was to take alcohol and forego his duties of providing to the family, the other members will suffer. The children will be helpless and the burden of providing basic needs will be placed on the mother. As a result, the family unit will not perform their work effectively. The application of this theory in a family unit affects the effectiveness of how a family unit performs their duties.

Based on the views of the family unit, functionalism theory brings the family members of the unit together as one to perform their duties effectively. According to the views of the society, functionalism theory affects the family because each member in the society is involved in a community development project. This theory encourages people to come together for quality and effective development of the society.

In conflict theory, its application in a family unit tends to define the various activities that bring about individualism in a family. In reality, everybody in the family unit was created in a certain way that is different from other members. This means that in a family, there are certain conflicts that are expected to arise to due to these differences. In addition, the application of conflict theory helps the family unit to identify how to cope with the differences (Tischler, 2010). Therefore, when this theory is applied in a family unit it describes the differences. Additionally, it helps to identify how people in the family unit cope with these differences.

Conflict theory is different from functionalism and interactionism because it explains the differences in a family unit. The other theories do not indicate the differences that might arise in a family unit or in the society. Additionally, it offers solutions to the various differences in the society. However, conflict theory has notable similarities with the other theories. It indicates certain relationship between the members of the family unit. This is similar to the other theories where they also show a certain relationship in the family unit (Malia, 2006).

Conflict theory has certain effects to each member of the family unit. For instance, after the father has ceased to provide the basic needs and has resulted to drinking, the mother might divorce her husband due to lack of support. In this situation, the children will be affected because they shall be torn between the two (Ibrahim, Soufani & Lam, 2001). This will affect the children emotionally resulting to change of behavior. They might develop depression and to some extent, they might be affected by posttraumatic stress disorder if the father turns and becomes violent.

According to the society, conflict theory helps people to understand the uniqueness of different people. People are different from one another. In this case, the society perspective is changed and people can understand why other people behave in a certain way. Additionally, the society changes its perspective towards certain behavior exhibited by people using these differences to their advantages.

In the last theory interactionism, when applied in a family unit, indicates the different forms of communication. In general, it can be applied in a family unit to indicate the human relations. For example, when children are in the presences of their parents, they tend to form new forms of communication that are not familiar to their parents (Malia, 2006). Similarly, parents form their communication methods when discussing private matters in front of their children. Therefore, the application of interactionism helps the members of a family to relate with one another effectively.

Interactionism theory is different from functionalism and conflict theory because it shows how people interact or communicate with one another in a certain group. The other theories, like functionalism shows that people work as a community, conflict shows that people have differences arising to conflicts. On the other hand, they all indicate the different relationships between people in a family unit (Andersen, 2011).

The interactionism theory has effects to the members of the family unit. When a family unit applies this interactionism theory, they tend to form certain communication skills that help them to communicate effectively with one another in the family unit. For instance, when a baby is born in the family, the parents teach the baby the form of communication the family unit is using. In this case, the effect will be on the baby because he or she will grow up interacting with the form of communication that he or she was taught by his or her parents. Therefore, interactionism helps the individual members of the family unit to develop human relation skills.

People in a family unit have a different perspective of interaction when they apply this theory. They are able to know why certain family units have different forms of communication. According to the society perspective, interactionism theory helps people understand why different members of the society relate to one another as they do. Additionally, it helps to distinguish people in different units in the society based on the form of communication or interaction used by each unit (Ferrante, 2010).

Conclusion

            A family unit is one complex sociological unit. In order to understand the unit, the application of sociological theories must be applied. There are three main sociological theories. The first is functionalism theory and it states that people in a family are interdependent to one another based on the activities they perform. Conflict theory is the second theory where it applications help in understanding that people in a family unit are different. Finally, interactionism theory help people understand how people in a family unit communicate and interact with one another. This theories are different from each other but when used together they explain why the family unit as a sociological unit.

 

 

 

References

Andersen, M. L. (2011). Sociology: The Essentials. New York : Cengage Learning.

Ferrante, J. (2010). Sociology: A Global Perspective. New York : Cengage Learning.

Tischler, H. L. (2010). Introduction to Sociology. New York : Cengage Learning.

Andersen, M. L. (2011). Sociology: The Essentials. New York : Cengage Learning.

Bombeck, E. (2012). Understanding families. The Study of Family Resources Management. 25-55.

Ferrante, J. (2010). Sociology: A Global Perspective. New York : Cengage Learning.

Ibrahim, A. B., Soufani, K., & Lam, J. (2001). A Study of Succession in a Family Firm. Family Business Review, 14, 3, 245-258.

Malia, J. A. (2006). Basic Concepts and Models of Family Stress. Stress, Trauma, and Crisis: an International Journal, 9, 3-4.

Tischler, H. L. (2010). Introduction to Sociology. New York : Cengage Learning

 

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