Unit 2765: Sociological Theories and Perspectives

1. Introduction to Sociological Theories

• Definition and importance of sociological theories
• Overview of theoretical perspectives in sociology

2. Classical Sociological Theories

2.1 Karl Marx

• Historical materialism and class struggle
• Concepts of capitalism, alienation, and social change

2.2 Emile Durkheim

• Social facts and collective conscience
• Division of labor and social solidarity
• Study of suicide and social integration

2.3 Max Weber

• Social action and verstehen (interpretive understanding)
• Types of authority and bureaucracy
• The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

3. Contemporary Sociological Theories

3.1 Functionalism

• Social structures and their functions
• Concepts of stability, equilibrium, and social order

3.2 Conflict Theory

• Power, inequality, and social conflict
• Role of social class, race, and gender in conflict

3.3 Symbolic Interactionism

• Role of symbols and language in social interaction
• Construction of social reality and identity

3.4 Feminism

• Gender inequality and patriarchy
• Social construction of gender roles
• Feminist critiques of traditional sociology

4. Structural Functionalism

• Society as an interrelated system
• Functions of social institutions (family, education, religion, government)
• Manifest and latent functions
• Criticisms of structural functionalism

5. Conflict Theory

• Emphasis on power struggles and inequality
• Conflict between social classes and groups
• Role of ideology and social change
• Critiques and contemporary applications

6. Symbolic Interactionism

• Microsociological perspective
• Meaning-making in social interactions
• Role of the self and identity formation
• Applications in everyday life and research

7. Feminist Theory

• Overview of feminist perspectives (liberal, radical, intersectional)
• Critique of patriarchy and gender norms
• Gender, power, and social justice
• Feminist contributions to sociology

8. Critical Theory

• Origins in the Frankfurt School
• Critique of capitalism, culture, and ideology
• Power, oppression, and emancipation
• Role in promoting social change

9. Postmodernism

• Challenges to grand narratives and universal truths
• Concepts of identity, reality, and knowledge
• Emphasis on diversity, fluidity, and complexity
• Implications for sociological research and theory

10. Summary and Integration

• Comparing and contrasting sociological theories
• Relevance of theories in analyzing contemporary social issues
• Reflecting on the evolving nature of sociological thought