SOCA 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Talcott Parsons, Ethnocentrism, Consumerism

• School: WVU
• Department: Sociology And Anthropology
• Course: SOCA 101
• Professor: Daniel Brewster

Document Summary

Logical, rigorous frameworks for the interpretation of social life that make particular assumptions and ask particular questions about the social world, macro-level paradigm: large-scale patterns and institutions. Focuses on large-scale patterns and processes that characterize society as a whole. Effect of trade policies on unemployment rates: micro-level paradigm: social relations and interactions in specific, individual situations. Focuses on small-scale patterns of individuals" social interaction in specific settings. Functions are purposes and activities to meet different needs that contribute to a society"s stability. Manifest functions are the recognize and intended consequences of social phenomena. Latent functions are largely unrecognized and unintended consequences. Dysfunctions are inhibiting or disrupting to the working of a system as a whole. Function of deviance is to define what is normal, what is considered right and good: mile durkheim, talcott parsons. Symbolic interactionist theories focus on how people used shared symbols and construct society as a result of their everyday interactions.