Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist free essay sample

Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist SO1050 Sociology Functionalist, also known as structural functionalism because of its views on the ways social structures accompanies social needs. In perspective, functionalism structures social influences by what is visible and in demand now. (Boundless. com/Sociology)Functionalism has been criticized for downplaying the role of individual action, and for being unable to account for social change. In the functionalist perspective, society and its institutions are the primary units of analysis. Individuals are significant only in terms of their places within social systems (i. e. , social status and position in patterns of social relations). Functionalists have been disputed because of its terms of how socialism is accounted, because of how it lacks the support and accredited ability of one’s actions and how socialization transforms during its process. Functionalist is the oldest theory but the most popular one used to determine groups because of its basic terms toward how social groups react and functions of how the mind and body works. We will write a custom essay sample on Functionalist and Symbolic Interactionist or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The structure of how people interact with others and the ability to fit in certain groups are determined by the mind state of acceptability. When evaluating functionalism it is more of a hypothesis that could be proven right or wrong in its factor of determining how society works when it comes to grouping and organizations of people by characteristics. (Boundless. com/Sociology)Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism, is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Symbolic Interactionist, known also as symbolic interaction perspective, is a form of social grouping based on how people are forcefully placed into groups, events and social organizations. Unlike functionalism, Symbolic Interactionist believes that peer pressure and environmental exposure has much effect over socialization and its developments. People adapt and form social lifestyles by what they are exposed to, such as cigarette smoking, drinking, dating, etc. When ressured into doing something for the first time just to have some forms of acceptance, people tend to try things and develop habitual behaviors that are introduced by peers. (Anderson, M. L. and Taylor, H. F. , 2009). Critics of this theory claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro level of social interpretation—the â€Å"big picture. † In other words, symbolic Interactionist may miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the â€Å"trees† rather than the â€Å"forestâ € . The perspective also receives criticism for slighting the influence of social forces and institutions on individual interactions. The theory of Symbolic Interactionalist has been criticized because critics believe that it focused too much on individuals and how they react to personal ways of how people react to wanting to be a part of a group and/or organization, that it lacked the focus of how groups and organizations are developed based on its biological influences. I believe that the symbolic theory has a better and clearer perspective of all theories because it focuses on how peer pressures and environmental behaviors has its influences on people as individuals, which eventually becomes a group or organization of socialization when manipulated by the growth of numbers. Functionalists do make a great point about how everything works together as one unit when it comes to social groups and the coordination of how socialism is formed. I do not agree with the full aspect of functionalists but the co-ordinance of its concept does make some sense. Symbolic Interactionalist forms its theory by reviewing probable causes using surroundings and its peers as a way of understanding social formations. I choose the Symbolic Theory because of its somewhat accuracy of how groups and organizations are formed and past down from generation to generation. I do believe peers and a person’s environmental surroundings have much to do with social connections and how its functions are developed. Reference Boundless. com- https://www. boundless. com/sociology/understanding-sociology/theoretical-perspectives-in-sociology/functionalist-perspective/ Copyright  © 2011-2012, Boundless Learning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Anderson, M. L. and Taylor,