Sociology as a science is to understand the views or theories to interpret, analyze and interpretation of social phenomena. explain social reality that they must undergo a theoretical framework.
A
theory is defined as a general statement about how some parts of the world fits
together and works (Macionis, 1997).
Scupin
and Decorse (1995), a theory as a set of interrelated assumptions to provide a
general explanation of natural and social phenomena.It should also be noted
that the term "vision" and "flow" is often used
interchangeably with the term "theory".
There
are three main theoretical perspectives in sociology, which have an overall
framework provided by sociological studies. These structural-functionalism,
social conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. There are theories that
emerged from the major ones as well .
1. The
structural-functionalist theory
This
is one of the dominant theories both in anthropology and sociology. It is also
called functionalism. The theory tries to explain how the relationships develop
between the parts of society and how these elements are functional ( positive
consequences) and dis-functional (negative consequences). It focuses on
consensus, social order, structure and function in society.
This
theory sees society as a complex system in which the components work together
to promote the unity and stability; states that guided our social life social
structure relatively stable patterns of social behavior (Macionis, 1997).
Social structure is understood in terms of social function, which has an impact
on the activities of the society. All social promotes the functioning of
society. The key terms and concepts developed by anthropologists and
sociologists this theory include ;sequence, structure, function, and balances.
Holding
the view that it will ask: what hold society together? What is it stable? The
structural-functionalist theory pays much attention to the existence of shared
ideas in society. The functional aspects of the structural-functionalist theory
emphasizes the role of each of the components of the social system, while the
structural perspective suggests a picture of society in which individuals are
constrained by social forces, social background and group memberships.
Many
of the great founders of the early sociologists such as Augustus Comte, Emile
Durkheim and later Herbert Spencer and American sociologists as Talkot Parsons
and Robert K. Merton. -functionalist structural theorists of modern sociology
are more likely to follow in the tradition of the writings of certain Emile
Durkheim, who is considered the leading proponent of this view (Hensiln and
Nelson, 1995).
After
dominating the sociology and anthropology for a long time, this theory has been
challenged by the major critics, especially those who represented the social
-conflict theory (see below). The theory was attacked because of the emphasis
on stability and order, while neglecting conflicts and the changes that are so
important in a society.
2. The Social Conflict Theory
This
theory is also called Marxism; to indicate that give big boost to the theory arises
from Karl Marx's writings theory sees society as part of a class conflict and
focuses on the struggle for scarce resources by different groups in a given
society. It asks questions like how the society pulls apart. How to change
society? The theory holds that the most important aspect of the social order is
the domination of one group by another, actual or potential conflicts are
always present in society. The writings of Karl Marx generally the spirit of
conflict theory, Marxism and affects most theorists conflict in modern
sociology.
The
theory is useful in explaining how the dominant group to use their power to
exploit the more powerful groups in society. Key concepts developed in this
direction are: conflict, complementation, struggle, power, inequality and
exploitation.
3. Social
Exchange Theory
This
theory focuses on "the costs and benefits that people get from social
interactions, including money, goods, and status. It is based on the principle
that people are constantly working to maximize the benefits. However, to
receive these benefits, there must always be an exchange process with others
"(Marcus and Ducklin, 1996: 26)
Public
Choice Theory: This theory suggests that collective organizations such as
political parties act rationally to maximize their own benefits. It argues that
individual differences are best resolved through collective involvement in the
organization. The role of government is crucial in arbitrating between the main
interests (ibid, same page).
Rational
Choice Theory: This theory assumes that people will act in a rational way and
will try themselves for the good of the life choices they make structuralism.
This
theory denies any basis for active people, because consciousness is no longer
seen as the basis of meaning in language. Structuralism is different from the
traditional mainstream theory that rejects objective social reality and a
concept of society as an objective, external entity. It refers to the social
reality in terms of the relationship between events, not in terms of objects
and social reality. Its basic principle is that it is remarkable only useful to
the extent that it may be related to an underlying structure or sequence (swing
Wood, 1984).
The
equivalent of structuralism in anthropology, promoted by the famous French
Structuralist anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, states that "the origin
of the universal principle that the way we act and think about the world order
can be found in structures of human thought "(Howard and Dunaif-Hattis,
1992: 373) .. the problem with this theory is that they see in society static
and does not help much in explaining the variation between society. The theory
treats culture as a certain order and failed to explain the adaptive cultural
dimensions.
Cultural dimensions:
Post-structuralism
and post-modernism:
focuses
on the power of language in the construction of knowledge and identity. The
authors in this field is highlighted the role of language in human life, the
language dictates the attitude we have, and how it constructs meaning for us.
Post-Structuralists argue that people can not come they can call us at
(universal) truth. There is no connection between words (language) ideas and
real world. It denies the sociological idea that our concept has some relevance
to the real world. It is not possible to cause dangerous sociological facts and
such attempts (Bliton, et al ,. 1996 Kirby, et al. 2000).
Postmodernism: The basis of
post-modernism post-structuralism. Postmodernism is defined as a cultural and
aesthetic phenomenon mostly rejected orders and development, objective and
universal truth; and supports the need for recognition and tolerance of various
forms of reality. This is to celebrate the tendency to chaos and disorder,
diversity and fragmentation in modern global society, rather than want to get
the order. The theory states that absolutely no reason human life and existence
(Bliton, et al ,. 1996 Kirby, et al. 2000). Post-Modernists assert, "Power
has become decentralized and fragmented contemporary society" (Torres and
Mitchell, 1998). The theorists of post-structuralism share lost by the
post-odernists.
A
note on the use of sociological theories of health, culture and society can be
important here. Each of the above sociological theories of his own views on
medicine and society. But for the sake of brevity, it would just focus on the
three main theories:
• Structural
functionalism: the version of this theory, as applied can be referred
to the medical advertising community as "medical ecological approach sees
the structural functionalism theory of medicine and healthcare systems as
important social institutions, and address. These functionality and roles
played by institutions and odder maintaining stability in society. the medical
or scientific or traditional and various practitioners exists to meet the needs
of individuals and society (and Henslin Nelson, 1995).
• Symbolic
interactionist theory: this theory, as applied to medicine and society
can be termed as the "cultural interpretationist approach This approach
focuses on the social and cultural constructions of health, illness and disease
.
According
to this theory, illness and health are not the only things that exist "out
there"; These productions of social interaction; and health and disease
are largely determined by the way people as actors give meaning to them and how
the actors react to it socially and culturally sanctioned way.
• Chaos
Theory: The equivalent of this theory to medical sociology and
anthropology can be designated as "critical" or "radical
political economy" approach. It is an approach that emphasizes the
socio-economic inequalities in power and wealth greatly affects the health
status and access to health services in turn. Individuals, groups, communities
and even countries therefore tend disproportionate share of resources to
health; and this often leads to uneven distribution of morbidity and mortality
patterns under a certain society; enjoying the power and dominance of better
health and marginalized groups that suffer the burden of disease (Turner,
1987).
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