Sociological Perspectives and Thinkers: Functionalism, Conflict, Interactionism and Classical Contributions
This domain tests perspectives and classical contributions. You must apply theories, not just name them.
Perspectives
Functionalism (Durkheim, Parsons, Merton) asks what an institution does for system survival; Merton added manifest/latent functions and dysfunctions. Conflict theory (Marx, Dahrendorf, Coser) asks who benefits from inequality and how groups struggle. Interactionism (Mead, Blumer, Goffman) asks how meanings are produced in everyday encounters.
Classical thinkers
Comte coined sociology and promoted positivism. Durkheim studied social facts, anomie and suicide types. Weber used verstehen, ideal types and authority types; his Protestant Ethic linked ethics to capitalism. Marx analysed class, alienation and historical materialism. Simmel examined social forms and money.
Worked example
Education: functionalists see socialisation and skills; conflict theorists see credentialism and class reproduction; interactionists see labelling and classroom identity. A strong answer shows what each reveals and obscures.
Traps
Do not make functionalism 'everything is good'; it includes dysfunction. Do not reduce conflict theory to Marx alone. Do not use interactionism for macro questions without scaling up. Do not attribute verstehen to Durkheim or social facts to Weber.