FRHD 1020 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theories

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Family Relations and Human Development
• Course: FRHD 1020
• Professor: Shayna Skakoon- Sparling

Document Summary

Analysis involves trying to understand a phenomenon or event by breaking it into its parts and seeing how they fit together and are organized. We often assume that people do things through self-motivation. Normative theories: assume that social norms predict behaviour and action: formal norms: laws or rules, informal laws: unwritten, but shared by many. Macro-historical theories: assume that forces beyond the individual or society create change. Our behaviour is determined by macroscopic forces such as historical dialectics and evolution. Functional theories: family is essential in all societies to perform the functions of reproduction, control of sexuality, and socialization of children. Conflict theories: this framework tends to think of the family as a social group that mirrors and is affected by forces such as historical dialect materialism or a clash of cultures. Feminist theories: perception that women or subjugated and oppressed by patriarchy.