Sociology Essay: Examining Societal Structures and Deviance

This sociology essay delves into the core concepts of the discipline, examining social behavior, societal structures, and the roles of family within society. The essay explores two major sociological perspectives: functionalism and conflict theory, providing detailed analyses of their viewpoints and applications. Functionalism is presented as a perspective that views each facet of society as contributing to the overall function of a social group, highlighting its interconnectedness, while conflict theory is explored as a perspective that challenges the status quo and emphasizes the dynamic nature of societal disputes. Furthermore, the essay discusses the role of family in society through the lenses of feminism and functionalism, and it examines control theory and anomie theory, exploring deviance and the factors that influence individual behavior within social contexts. The essay provides a comprehensive overview of sociological theories and their practical implications.

Sociology

Table of Contents
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Essay.....................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1................................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1................................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

TASK 1
1.1 Essay
Sociology is basically referred to the study of social behaviour where it involves the
origin of a society on which, the research is being conducted by together referring to its
development, networks, organisation and institutions, etc. It is an integral study of social science
that is done by attempting an empirical research work to critically analyse the facts of social
behaviour. It however tends to distinguish from one social perspective to another and is often
based upon two distinct conception of micro and macro sociology. The present survey of
sociology is hereby collaborated by two leading perspectives of functionalism and conflict
theory. Both these perspectives have in turn reflected a study on macro sociology. This essay
have separately undertaken both these approaches as a way of exhibiting the societal views on
these terms.
Wherein, functionalism is hereby tends to depict the perspective of a functionalist where
it states that each of the society's facet is autonomous in nature and makes a greater contribution
in the overall functioning of a social group. It has basically enlightened an interlinked approach
where the governmental bodies emphasise the families to educate their children that
subsequently results in tax payment to keep the state into an operational position. This in turn
reflects the dependency of the families where they are hereby dependent on the schools to
nurture their children in terms of education and on whose basis, there future will be decided. As
a result to which, these children will later aid their families in fulfilling their needs where this
entire procedure results in law abiding children who are the taxpaying citizens of the future. This
will resultantly support the state where in case, this all goes into a well directed context, then the
society will hereby bring forth an ordered, stabilized and productive future. However, on dealing
with a contradictory situation, the society with a full fledged responsibility is required to adopt
some newer approaches to meet the demand of being into an orderly state of stableness and
productiveness.
This is for instance to specify about the phase of fiscal recession that in turn results into a
higher rate of unemployment along with yet another atrocious state of inflation. Wherein, this
consequently trim down the societal programs like the offers made by schools in context to their
educational programs, etc. Additionally, the families are together apparent to tightly control their
1

budgets by avoiding any major expenses as a way of responding to a new societal order within a
stabilised and productive context. It is where the functionalists are referred to accept that the
society is closely held by social coherence where all societal members are in concord to a certain
thing for a collaborative achievement by attaining the best.
However, this perspective of functionalism in consideration to its societal coherence
comprises with two elementary forms that are termed as mechanical and organic solidarity. It is
where the former context of mechanical solidarity exists when people are more likely to undergo
with the undisputed norms of the society by participating in analogous tasks. It is hereby related
to the conventional forums of the society with a factual instance of Amish society. Herein,
another tact of organic solidarity is that form of societal consensus where the social classes are
mostly independent in nature with distinct set of beliefs. It is therefore a most common illusion
of industrialised sectors with composite social groups in big American cities like New York, etc.
It is where this particular perspective of functionalist has achieved a superior popularity among
the American sociologists in between the year 1940's to 1950's.
Although, it has together suffered with some major criticism where societies with
functionalism perspective are evident to ignore any pessimistic roles of an event like divorce
where some the evaluators have powerfully argued about such cons of this perspective. Where it
tends to confirm the status quo and complacence of the society members by not encouraging the
people to actively change their social surroundings even if it benefits them. Alternatively, the
functionalism perspective visualize an active societal change as an undesirable tact where as per
their views, it will in turn make all society members to suffer with an unnatural counterbalance
in case of any such problematic concern.
Another sociological agenda termed as conflict perspective is primarily developed by a
famous philosopher named Karl Marx on the basis of class struggles that tends to present the
society in a distinct illusion. It is basically in comparison to the perspectives of functionalists
where they are more convergent upon the affirmative aspects of society. However, societies
relied upon conflicted perspective are more focussed upon addressing any disputed and dynamic
nature of the society. It is a completely different approach as that of the functionalists where the
society with a conflicted perception are more ambitious in nature and thus refers to challenge the
status quo as a way of encouraging beneficial changes in the espoused norms of the society. This
2

also involves social revolution where it exists with yet another belief of imposing the social order
on weak and miserable people by the rich and compelling people.
The conflict perspective was duly ignored by the American sociologists in the year 1940's
to 1950's in favour of functionalism where after dealing with certain problematic concerns, they
started approving the dimensions of conflict perspective during 1960's. Here, they extended the
persuasion of Marx by stating the key disputes of the society to be purely economic in nature
(Lash, 2014). In context to which, the conflict theorists addressed varied societal conflicts among
the groups that raised due to an unequal state of living where these were further based upon
racism, gender inequality and other religious disputes, etc. It is where these theorists with a more
emphasis upon economic differences have enlightened the fact where unlike groups are more
likely to get into disputed beliefs that in turn results in competing against one other. Also, such
state of competition among these groups tends to create a base to handle the dynamic nature of
society.
Conflicted perspective has together undergone some leading critiques where they are
more stressed upon pointing out the overly antagonistic prospect of a society (Shoemaker and
Reese, 2013). As a result to which, this theory is finally attributing to the human-centred efforts,
egoism, democracy and civil rights, etc. It is basically done to contend such designs that in turn
control the groups by not inheriting any prior interests in the protection of the society and its
societal order.
TASK 2
2.1
It can be evaluated that role of family in society is crucial in relation to undertake
Feminism and Functionalism approaches which assesses that society needs to be structured in an
appropriate pattern. However, it assesses that a man and woman marry in regard to form a
family. Thus, process has been repeated several times in regard to enlarge the population.
Therefore, it is essential for them to improve the implementation of approaches and thus carry
out effective relationship within children and their parents (Downes, Rock and McLaughlin,
2016). Family plays a crucial role within society and thus implements crucial role and thus uses
feminism and functionalism approaches in regard to improve the role of family in the society.
With the help of functionalism approach it assesses that society needs to be fair within its
3

operations and thus involve each and every member of family within society. Such theory helps
in explaining that it has equal perspective within the society and all the family members needs to
equally contribute to maintain their position in society. While, applying fundamentalism
approach helps individual to look towards the society and works towards the same. However, the
parts of the society work at the same pace with the other organs and therefore, make effective
practices. Hence, the society would result in effectively functioning satisfactorily and therefore,
maintain proper policies so that they can attain desired results (Williams and et. al., 2016).
Furthermore, applying another approach in relation to identify the role of family in
society is Marxist perspective and thus it showcases that family helps in showcasing that men are
considered ad dominant factor in family and therefore he guides other members to follow his
path. However, conflict theory within family showcases that the differences are faced within
family due to lack of mutual consent among members of family. For instance, in the case of
nuclear family it results that division of family and thus results in rising of nuclear family (Gras
and Chanez, 2016).
Thus, it can be evaluated that role of family in the society is that it is essential for each
and every member of family needs to be carried out so that best results can be attained. Thus,
society moves forward with the contribution of all the members and thus involves functionalism
and feminism in regard to improve the theories and imply the same in regard to enhance the level
of people involved in family. Thus, both these theories are implied in terms of identifying the
role of family in society and therefore, improves the same through adopting proper principles
and bring radical change for delivering happiness to people (Alexander, Thompson and Edles,
2016).
TASK 3
3.1
Control theory
With the help of control theory it assesses that there are few people who behave
indifferently due to uncertain conditions within society. Hence, such theory helps in explaining
that the fact that certain people doe not react to the situation or senses. For example, it evaluates
that any individual may steal from any place without obtaining permission and thus they face
fear or embarrassment due to social security (Hegtvedt, 2016). However, it may occur due to
4

lack of interaction among personal socially. Also, such theory does not focus upon the social
aspects and led to differentiation within the behaviour.
Anomie theory
Further, such theory explains that psychological aspect helps in relating the fact that
condition of individual which results into less moral guidance and thus affect them within
different pats of society. However, it also explains lack of any social or ethical standards within
society, for example, implementing constant change within any industry which is at growth stage
requires implementation of advanced technology in order to improve satisfaction of customers
(Ip and et. al., 2016). Thus, through implementing such theory it results into identifying their
needs and then implement the same approach so that satisfaction can be attained. While, there
are certain limitations being faced within such approach in regard to identify person's perspective
and help them to take right or wrong decision. Hence, such form of social perspective are missed
from the approach.
Analysing deviance
Main reason of analysing deviance of certain people is that it may be due to certain
prospect and thus helps individual who are not socially active. However, another reason of
deviance from the society is that individual might have fear of embarrassment as per the control
theory and therefore, it is essential for each and every individual to have control on their actions
so that best results can be attained. While, it is also essential for individual to maintain their
perspective in regard to carry out effective decision and help them to interact with society.
However, it has been assessed that different persons with society has different perspective and
therefore implementing different approaches results into analysing the main role of family in
society and taking crucial decision to obtain best results (Downes, Rock and McLaughlin, 2016).
Thus, it can be reflected that through analysing properly it has been evaluated that
individual plays a crucial role within society and therefore, they need to be involved in decision
making so that better results could be attained. Also, it is effective in regard to improve
appropriate outcomes and thus results in performing the desired actions and thus carry out
appropriate results so that success can be attained.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Alexander, J.C., 2014. Positivism, Presupposition and Current Controversies (Theoretical Logic
in Sociology). Routledge.
Alexander, J.C., Thompson, K. and Edles, L.D., 2016. Contemporary Introduction to Sociology:
Culture and Society in Transition. Routledge.
Downes, D., Rock, P. and McLaughlin, E., 2016. Understanding deviance: a guide to the
sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
Downes, D., Rock, P. and McLaughlin, E., 2016. Understanding deviance: a guide to the
sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
Durkheim, E., 2014. The rules of sociological method: and selected texts on sociology and its
method. Simon and Schuster.
Gras, D. and Chanez, P., 2016. New sociology for better understanding severe eosinophilic
asthma: introducing the SOCS family. European Respiratory Journal. 48(3). pp.608-610.
Hannigan, J., 2014. Environmental sociology. Routledge.
Hegtvedt, K., 2016. Sociology of Emotions. Sociology. 29(1).
Ip, P. and et. al., 2016. Socioeconomic gradients in school readiness of Chinese preschool
children: the mediating role of family processes and kindergarten quality.Early Childhood
Research Quarterly. 35. pp.111-123.
Lash, S., 2014. Sociology of postmodernism. Routledge.
Mannheim, K., 2013. Essays Sociology Knowledge (Vol. 5). Routledge.
Shoemaker, P.J. and Reese, S.D., 2013. Mediating the message in the 21st century: A media
sociology perspective. Routledge.
Stanley, L. ed., 2013. Feminist praxis (RLE feminist theory): Research, theory and epistemology
in feminist sociology. Routledge.
Williams, M. and et. al., 2016. Can’t count or won’t count? Embedding quantitative methods in
substantive sociology curricula: a quasi-experiment. Sociology. 50(3). pp.435-452.