SOC 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Symbolic Interactionism
Document Summary
Many students are confused especially by the differences between the conflict and functionalist paradigms. A few sociologists would answer by stating that one of the two perspectives is wrong. But others (including me) would say that both are right that there is both consensus and dissent in society, and that both consensus and conflict need to be studied. In my experience, the paradigm adopted depends on which of these aspects of society one judges to be the more interesting and important. As you might guess, sociologists tend to ask different kinds of questions about their subject matter depending on the paradigm or perspective they hold. Those who have adopted the functionalist or consensus perspective tend to focus on what holds society together and on how changes in one part of society lead to changes in other parts.
