Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
Structural Functionalism - ANS Society is an organic being of interrelated parts that work
together in harmony to reach common goals
Conflict Perspective - ANS Society is the competition of a few groups of people for scarce
resources
Symbolic Interactionism - ANS Society is essentially a set of daily interactions that are guided by
symbols
Social Constructionism - ANS A theoretical approach that uncovers the ways in which
individuals and groups participate in the formation of their perceived social reality
The Looking Glass Self - ANS People shape their self-concepts based on their understanding of
how others perceive them
Cultural Relativism - ANS Individual beliefs and activities should be understood by others in
terms of that individual's own culture
Ethnocentrism - ANS The tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally
important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own
Macro - ANS The study of the entire system, group, or culture
Micro - ANS The study of individuals, small groups, or part of the larger picture
Manifest Functions - ANS Things that are intentionally put in place to keep society moving
forward
Latent Functions - ANS Things that happen as unintended consequences from decisions or
structures made by society
Sociological Imagination - ANS An awareness of a relationship between an individual and the
wider society (Basic definition)
Weak Social Constructionism - ANS The belief that social constructs are based on brute facts
Strong Social Constructionism - ANS The belief that the whole of reality is based of off language
and social habits, everything can be explained (no brute facts)
Structural Functionalism - ANS Society is an organic being of interrelated parts that work
together in harmony to reach common goals
Conflict Perspective - ANS Society is the competition of a few groups of people for scarce
resources
Symbolic Interactionism - ANS Society is essentially a set of daily interactions that are guided by
symbols
Social Constructionism - ANS A theoretical approach that uncovers the ways in which
individuals and groups participate in the formation of their perceived social reality
The Looking Glass Self - ANS People shape their self-concepts based on their understanding of
how others perceive them
Cultural Relativism - ANS Individual beliefs and activities should be understood by others in
terms of that individual's own culture
Ethnocentrism - ANS The tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally
important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own
Macro - ANS The study of the entire system, group, or culture
Micro - ANS The study of individuals, small groups, or part of the larger picture
Manifest Functions - ANS Things that are intentionally put in place to keep society moving
forward
Latent Functions - ANS Things that happen as unintended consequences from decisions or
structures made by society
Sociological Imagination - ANS An awareness of a relationship between an individual and the
wider society (Basic definition)
Weak Social Constructionism - ANS The belief that social constructs are based on brute facts
Strong Social Constructionism - ANS The belief that the whole of reality is based of off language
and social habits, everything can be explained (no brute facts)
