Theoretical Approaches
In the course of its development, sociology has developed a number of theoretical approaches, with different explanations of social life. In contemporary sociology there are three main approaches: functional, the conflict perspective and symbolic interactionist perspective (Newman 275).
Functional approach was formed on the basis of the ideas of Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim. Representatives of this approach consider society as a whole and focus on macroaspects of social life. In the 1950s – beginning of the 1960s, functional theory of T. Parsons and R. Merton took a central place in American sociology (Newman 278). Moreover, some of the proponents of this approach argued that it was almost synonymous with sociology.
Functionalists come primarily from the fact that the society is a system. The system is a holistic set of interrelated elements in the functional relationships and connections with each other for some time. Functionalists emphasize parts of society (individual subsystems), especially in its most important institutions – family, religion, the economy, the state and education. They identify structural characteristics of institutions just as biologists describe the basic properties of the body, and then determine the function of institutions (Newman 276-277).
One of the features of the system is in an effort to balance its components and their impact on power. Thus, a change in one institution has implications for the other institutions, as well as for society as a whole. For example, lowering the standard of living adversely affects fertility. This leads to a reduction in school enrollment, and then – to the closure of schools. Some institutions may change faster than others, causing an imbalance in the social system.
Proponents of a theory of the conflict perspective, just as the functionalists, are focused on society as a whole, examining its institutions and structural formations (Newman 285). However, these two approaches are very different from each other. If functionalists describe society as relatively static, then the conflictologists emphasize the processes that continuously transform social life (Newman 286). Where functionalists emphasize order and stability in society, the conflictologists stress about disorder and instability. Where functionalists see the common interests shared by members of society, the conflictologists are focused on divergent interests. If functionalists regard consensus as a basis for social cohesion, the conflictologists argue that social cohesion is an illusion, it can only be achieved by strength. And, finally, functionalists consider social structures as necessary and due to the requirements of group life, whereas the conflictologists believe many of these structures are unnecessary and unjustified (Newman 286-287). Best known are the concepts of positive-functional conflict of L. Coser, a conflict model of society by Ralf Dahrendorf and the general theory of conflict by K. Boulding (Newman 286).
According to the concept of Lewis Coser, social inequality, constant psychological dissatisfaction are inevitable among people. As a result of this, conflicts between them often occur due to their emotional and mental breakdowns. Such conflicts later evolve into social conflicts, according to Coser. Further, under the social conflict he understands the struggle for values and claim for a certain status, power and resources (Newman 289).
Finally, symbolic interactionism is another approach in sociology that studies the "symbolic communication", as one of the aspects of social interaction, that is, communication and cooperation, carried out with the help of symbols: language, body language, gestures, cultural symbols, etc (Newman 294).
According to the concept of symbolic interactionism, a personality cannot be formed outside of society: the individual, the person is always social. According to Herbert Blumer, symbolic interactionism rests on three main assumptions: 1) people act in relation to "things" based on the values that these things have for them. Sociologists imply the things everything that a human being perceives in the surrounding world: people, physical objects, social institutions, social categories (friends, enemies) and ideals (freedom and integrity), human behavior and the different situations that the person faces in his everyday life. 2) the value of certain things is not fixed and is not formulated in advance; on the contrary, they are modified and developed when interacting with the social environment. 3) these values are used and changed during individual`s interpretation of things that surround him (Newman 301).
Sociological Perspectives
Sociological perspective allows anybody to see his or her personal experience in the context of what is happening around us. It includes structural, historical, personal aspects, that is, the ability to understand the surrounding social environment (structure, communication, relationships, etc.).
Sociological perspective often is the ability to see the general in the particular. Mainly sociologists identify common patterns in the behavior of individuals. Sociologists through sociological perspective are able to identify general characteristics of behavior among particular persons. Nevertheless everyone has his own identity and is a unique person, human society shapes habits of people belonging to this society. People tend to see everything around them sociologically when they start understanding how the general categories shape people`s particular life experiences (Kirbly 143).
With the help of sociology, an individual can notice everything strange in what might have always seem to be familiar. Sociological perspective allows anyone to examine common things that happen every day and find some facts that are rather strange. For example, sociological perspective reveals that most of our life decisions were shaped not by personal choices only, but were shaped by ideas which dominated in the society a part of which we are (Kirbly 149).
Finally, sociology studies a society and, at the same moment, an individual. This means that with the help of sociological perspective social characteristics can be categorized into individual and studied separately. Sociology has also a broader view: through studying larger world and society`s place in it, sociologists came to the conclusion that people`s place within a society largely affects human life experience.
Sociological imagination
In real life, it requires a tremendous amount of time, the development of abstract thinking and knowledge of cultural studies, political science and sociology, and so belongs only to professionals. Therefore, the development of sociological imagination and the skill of its application in the social life is absolutely essential in the sociology of education both for those who plan to engage in academic research, and those who choose the practice-oriented occupations (Mills 20).
The development of sociological imagination is almost the same as the mastery of sociological theory. This is not about memorizing names and theoretical schools, definitions and arguments. The point is to use the theory that is to correlate it with a specific experience, considering the current problems of modern society, its dilemmas and opportunities, as well as the comprehension of our personal lives and life opportunities in the context of the theory. Sociological imagination should help professionals to find the way in the chaos of events, changes, and transformations (Mills 21). It gives us a better understanding of the world, a clearer view of things, therefore, gives us more opportunities to consciously and rationally build our lives and engage in public affairs.
More thorough analysis of the concept of sociological imagination shows that it has five components (Mills 28-29): (1) a skill to treat all social phenomena as a result of the activities of social agents, individuals or groups, and to identify these agents; (2) a skill to understand structural and cultural resources and constraints affecting the social life which are hidden behind the surface of phenomena; (3) study of the previous tradition, the living heritage of the past and its permanent effects on the present; (4) a skill to take the social life in its dynamics, changeable process of formation; (5) recognition of the huge variety of options and forms of expression of public life.
Works Cited
Kirbly, Mark. Sociology in Perspective. Heinemann, 2000. Print.
Mills, Wright Charles. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
Newman, David. Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. SAGE Publications, 2011. Print.
