Unpacking Sociological Theories

The premise of sociological theories is to provide an interpretative framework for understanding the social world around us.
They explain the underlying patterns and structures that shape human social behaviour and institutional practices.

Key Sociological Theories

Functionalism

Functionalism views society as a complex system where all parts work together to provide social stability and coherence.
Education, family, and religion, viewed as societal “organs,” contribute to the overall harmonious functioning of society.

Conflict Theory

Conflict theory focuses on power disparities and social inequality resulting from conflicting interests among different social groups.
It asserts society’s change is driven by the clash between dominant and subordinate social groups over limited resources.

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism maintains that social reality is constructed and maintained through interaction and interpretation of the social world.
It emphasises the role of symbols and interpretation in human interactions, like the meaning of language, gestures, and actions.

Feminist Theory

Feminist theory investigates the status and roles of women in society. It seeks to understand and change the social situations that disenfranchise women.
It stresses the importance of gender roles in a society’s structure and advocates for gender equality.

Sociological theories allow us to interpret social phenomena from different perspectives.
They highlight the impacts of societal pressures and influences on the actions and choices of individuals.
They are instrumental in shedding light on societal issues, such as inequality, prejudice, discrimination, and issues of power and oppression.
An understanding of these theories can provide a nuanced view of how society evolves and operates, aiding us in predicting future social trends and policies.
Sociological theories also provide a basis for sociologists to present conjectures about individual and social behaviour in their research.

Having these sociological theories in mind, we can better understand the multitude of social influences that shape society, and how they change over time. This is key to understanding social issues within our society.

Using sociological theories to analyse and explain human social behaviour