SA 231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Talcott Parsons, Symbolic Interactionism, Nuclear Family

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SA 231
• Professor: Barry Cartwright

Document Summary

To critically evaluate family sociological theory, with a focus on selected perspectives. To u(cid:374)de(cid:396)sta(cid:374)d the (cid:448)alue of (cid:858)(cid:373)i(cid:454)ed (cid:373)ethods(cid:859) app(cid:396)oa(cid:272)hes i(cid:374) fa(cid:373)il(cid:455) (cid:396)esea(cid:396)(cid:272)h studies. To highlight key ethnical issues in studying family. Which theory is correct? (no right or wrong) Deductive (scientific method) vs. inductive research (social construction thinking) Interactionist: structural functionalism, social/conflict/political economy, feminist/masculinity, social exchange, family development, life course, other windowspost modernist, family stress, social ecological. Its argued that everyone has biases and dispositions towards certain theoretical perspectives because they are often associated with certain values and assumptions about families. Ex. how certain groups might be biased for/against certain family types/structures. Biological organism analogy society seen as an organism with different structures and parts to be functional. Society is the body and different parts are our institution. If all run smoothly, have a smooth running society. Instrumental and expressive roles- dad were breadwinners, moms were giving emotional support.