Sociological Theory

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[Word Count: 1733]Sociological Theory

Sociological theories are complex theoretical frameworks. Sociologists use them to explain and to analyze how different social action, social processes and social structures work. The sociological study of society is an interesting and challenging adventure. For the scientist of applied sociology, especially if you are considering intervening in families, communities or organizations, social perspectives provide valuable information to help understand these institutions, and to predict what will emerge from these interventions. Sociologists have spent more than a century fighting great battles based on these three completely different ways of looking at society. Sometimes these battles are recalled in the current discussions. The aim and o0bjective of this paper is also to talk about social perspectives in terms of criminology which is one of the most important parts of the society.

THREE PARADIGMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

As mentioned above that sociological theories are complex theoretical frameworks so, there are various perspectives of the sociological theories. The following are the three perspectives of the sociological theories:

Symbolic Interactionism

Functionalism

Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism is a sociological theory of the micro-sociology that deals with the interaction between persons engaged. This theory of action based on the idea that the meaning of social objects, situations and relationships lie in the symbolically mediated process of interaction (Cullen and Robert 2010).

Functionalism

Functionalism is a sociological theory that attempts to explain social phenomena by the function exercised by the institutions in society. If a particular social change promotes a harmonious balance then it is considered as functional, if you break the balance, then this is dysfunctional, and if no effect can be observed is then it would be non-functional. Current theory derived from anthropology and sociology that society form an integrated system in which each party plays a key role with respect to all (e.g., the role of family in relation to society). Functionalism assigns overriding importance to the role of values ??and socialization in explaining social problems (Cullen and Robert 2010).

Conflict Theory

The theory of conflict is one of the great schools of modern sociological theory, is considered a development that occurred in reaction to the static structural functionalism. Conflict theory pays emphasis that that all social action is represent by the conflict (or controversy) of social actors (Cullen and Robert 2010).

THREE PARADIGMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY IN RELATION TO CRIMINOLOGY

The following part of the paper discusses above mentioned perspectives of sociology in terms of criminology.

Symbolic Interactionism and Criminology

The symbolic interactionists argue that social problems are not social facts. In their view, some problems arise simply as a result of processes of social change that give rise to conflicts between groups when one group can achieve public recognition of its claim that the behavior of another group should stick labeled as problematic which in turn give rise to criminal behavior (Roberts 2003).

Functionalism and Criminology

Functionalism tries to understand the society with the help of its functions and the interaction of its various organs. Functionalist approaches in sociology are based on the autonomy and emergence of social ...