Wk 1 – Summative Assessment: Perspectives in Sociology Worksheet [due Mon] Wk 1 – Summative Assessment: Perspectives in Sociology Worksheet (Essay Sample)

Perspectives In Sociology Worksheet Name Institution Course Instructor Date Part 1: Sociology and Society Sociology, Society, and Culture Sociology's key focus areas include social behavior, interaction, and the arrangement of societies (Smelser, 2023). Society can be described as a group of persons residing together with shared customs, institutions, and values among members. Society also includes social institutions like family economy, family, education, and government. Culture entails several beliefs, customs, and behaviors acquired by cultural institutions. The sociology study explains how society and culture interact and impact the actions and relations of an individual. Society and culture coexist, and one does not exist without the other. Sociology, on the other hand, explains this interrelation. Cultures influence individuals' behaviors and beliefs. Culture provides a context of norms and values wherein these rules are implemented and upheld by the institutions of society. In light of this, sociologists analyze behavior patterns and how cultural expectations and social structures sculpt them. Therefore, understanding sociology will help us understand how people shape and are shaped by their social and cultural environments. Sociological Imagination Sociological imagination is the ability to define the connections between individual experiences and the wider society's patterns (Staubmann, 2021). It shows how sociopolitical, historical, and economic factors can impact people's private lives. The concept assists the individual in expanding their perspective and recognizing how decisions are influenced by factors out of one's control, like class, race, or history. For example, an individual's decision to pursue a particular career may seem personal. Still, sociological imagination explains how several factors shape this decision, including societal expectations, the education system, and economic conditions. Sociological imagination assists individuals in looking at and analyzing their everyday lives and reflecting on their issues. The process allows one to comprehend and relate to others, including those familiar with societal structures and history. Part 2: Sociological Theories Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic interactionism is concentrated on symbols, language, and interactions from the point of view of an individual. The theory's main aim is the study of human relations within a given society. The key feature of the theory is communication, which entails exchanging meanings using different symbols and language. The theory stresses that society is constructed through interaction processes and people doing something based on their perceived and interpreted meanings of objects and activities (Fuseini, 2021). Symbolic interactionists are sociologists who employ language and symbols in studying interacting people and their roles. For example, the idea of respecting people may be expressed in different manners in different cultures, and therefore, people may be expected to behave differently. Structural Functionalism Structure functionalism is the model of societal organization based on the presumed interdependence of elements or structures for attaining stability, order, and cohesiveness (Fuseini, 2021). All family, educational, or governmental institutions have an essential role within society to provide for its balance. Applying this theory helps sociologists explain how different institutions support society's work or correlate with one another. For instance, education empowers an individual with ability and information that assists in establishing economic stability, while the family teaches socialization and a person's emotional health. Proper values and social norms are essential in holding a society and a family in a functioning society. Conflict Theory Conflict theory is centered on the rivalry of interest groups, primarily on how power and resources are unequally distributed (Fuseini, 2021). The theory is based on the work of Karl Marx, who posits that there is no consensus in society and that society is a system where the dominant group subjugates the other. Conflict theory is applied in sociology to analyze how wealth, power, and status inequality bring about conflict and change. For instance, conflict theorists look at how class struggles, racial disparities, and gender differences are used to make sense of the world and change society. Sociologists currently utilize the framework to explain modern-day struggles between diverse genders, races, religions, and cultures. Corporate Culture and Sociological Theories Sociological theories are applicable in all areas of cultures and represent how we make decisions on various issues we are analyzing. Corporate culture entails values, practices, and beliefs that the members of the organization share (Graham et al., 2022). Corporate culture is rooted in the organization's strategies, goals, nature, and approach to its customers, investors, labor, and the greater community. Sociological theories can help explain corporate culture by offering a framework for understanding the individua...