S W 327 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Formal System, Feminist Theory, Human Behavior
Document Summary
Describe the primary focus of each theoretical perspective. Identify at least one strength and one limitation of each theoretical. Theory is based on a series of assumptions, or beliefs held to be true, that can be subjected to empirical testing. Focuses out attention on particular aspects of the person-environment configuration. Perspective is broader and can encompass several theories. Perspective is like an umbrella that related theories fall under. For example, the conflict perspective includes several theories, such as feminist theory and critical race theory. Sees human behavior as the outcome of the interaction within and among systems of interrelated parts. In other words, behavior is a result of interactions between people and social systems. Focuses on how inequality in power, privilege and resource shapes human behavior. Living in a society is a struggle for power between groups engaging in conflict for limited resources for limited resources. Power in unequally divided, and some social groups dominate others.
