LESSON
Sociology and the Study of Society
2 Defining Sociology, its goals and perspectives
Learning Objectives
After taking up this module,the students will be able to;
A. define sociology
B. identify the different characteristics of society
C. identify the different sociological perspective on culture and society, and
D. demonstrate an understanding of the significance of studying society.
Pre-Test
Directions: Read each statement below. State whether you AGREE or DISAGREE to each of the
statements. Write your answers on the space provided.
_____________1.Society shapes the social behavior of man.
_____________2.Just like culture, society is also a complex whole.
_____________3.Sociological perspective highlights the importance of studying our society.
_____________4.The symbolic interactionist theory states that each part of society has a function.
_____________5.The social conflict theory originated from Karl Marx’s writings on class struggles
Defining the Nature of Sociology
The focal point in the study of society is man’s social behavior since his behavior is greatly
shaped by the society where s/he belongs. As a social being, we need to understand the social behavior
and processes in our community. To understand clearly our society, it is necessary to deal with the wide
variety of social dimensions such as social change, social institutions and social stratifications and other
broad range of phenomenon that deal with the underlying recurring patterns of influence on social
behavior. Thus, the branch of social science that is responsible for helping us understand the complexity
of our society is Sociology.
Sociology is a behavioral science that deals with the study of society. Derived from the two
Greek terms “socius” which means group or partners and “logos” which means study.
A group of people living together is considered to be a society if it has the following
characteristics:
1. It comprises a complex whole - society is a complex whole because it is a social system. As a
complex whole, it is made up of individuals and groups that interact in a relatively stable and patterned
manner. A change in one group of individual will affect the stability in the other parts of the whole
system.
2. It is relatively large–People must be socially integrated to be considered relatively large than being
individually scattered. Thus, all the smaller social groups and units composed of family, neighborhood,
communities, nations and the world are socially integrated to be relatively large in scope.
3. It provides means for socialization for its members - Societal norms can be shared and taught to
those people who come from other societies before being accepted as functioning members of a certain
society.
4. It endures, produces and restrains its members for generations- For a society to survive, it must
have the ability to produce, endure and sustain its new members for generations.
5. The members of a society share a common culture –All members of society are bonded by the same
culture.
6. It occupies a definite territory – The members in a society must live in a certain specific habitat or
place and have a feeling of belongingness and sense of purpose.
Sociological Perspectives on Culture and Society
Sociologists employ three primary theoretical perspectives: the symbolic interactionist theory,
structural-functionalist theory, and the social conflict theory. For social sciences, it is important to follow
the theoretical perspectives as a framework for understanding the phenomena such as the ways on how
people form groups. Theories can provide us with explanations on the existence of society and the
interaction processes taking place therein.
• Symbolic Interactionist Theory
The first theory suggests that people attach meanings to symbols and they act according to their
interpretation of these symbols. The premise of this theory is that the process of interaction is an
indispensable one in any society. However, not all interaction processes are relevant or meaningful to its
members. Interactions only become meaningful symbolic the moment meanings are attached to it.
In the Filipino institution of marriage, symbols may include wedding bands, vows of
commitment, white bridal dress, wedding cake, a pair of doves etc. Clearly, it shows that Philippine
society attaches general meanings to these symbols. However, critics claim that symbolic interaction
theory neglects the macro level of social interpretation. This macro level of social interpretation pertains
to how individuals perceive the scenario in a bigger picture or perspective. In other words, symbolic
interactionists may miss the larger issues of the society by focusing too closely to the smallest detail.
• Structural-Functional Theory
The second sociological perspective is the structural-functional theory which is also known as
functionalism. This approach views society as a complex whole with an interconnected system wherein
every part works together as a functional whole. A metaphor for this approach is the human body. You
have arms, legs, a heart, a brain, and so on. Each part has its own neurons and system for working but
each part has to work together for a fully-functioning structure or system. Same with our society where all
the institutions have their own functions but they need to work together to achieve a common goal.
Furthermore, functionalists believe that society is held together by social consensus in which
members of the society agrees and work together to achieve what is best for society as a whole. If all goes
well, the parts of the society produce order, stability and productivity. However, if all does not go well,
the parts of the society must adapt to recapture a new order, stability and productivity.
For example, during a financial recession with its high rates of unemployment and inflation,
social programs are trimmed or cut. Schools offer fewer programs; families tighten their budgets and a
new social order occur.
• Social Conflict Theory
The last sociological perspective is the social conflict theory. This theory views society as a
competition of limited resources. This perspective is a macro- level approach which is mostly identified
in the writings of the German philosopher and sociologist, Karl Marx who saw society being made up of
individuals in different social classes who must compete for social, material and political resources such
as food and housing, employment, and education.
According to conflict theorists, the existence of these inequalities in a society usually have
conflicting values and agenda that causes them to compete against one another. However, social conflict
theorists emphasizes that such conflicts between individuals help them in motivating people and societies
to evolve over time.