Sabella Singh

June 24, 2016

Sociological Paradigms: Functionalist, Social Conflict, Symbolic Interaction
In sociology there are three main divisions of social paradigms, or assumptions about
how society operates, which allow sociologists to answer difficult questions and gain insight into
research of different sociological problems. The first of these three paradigms is the functionalist
paradigm. This paradigm, or perspective, assumes that society is complex and is a system of
various parts which are structured to maintain social order and stability. These parts, which are
societys institutions, that are deemed dysfunctional and disrupt either social order or integration
will dissolve away or cause another institution to develop and combat its undesirable
consequences. For example, poverty could be labelled a social dysfunction, but another
institution such as welfare or other entitlement programs would be brought up to counteract its
effects. Another example of dysfunction would be recession, in which multiple institutions
would have to counteract inflation or unemployment: a familys budget would become
increasingly micromanaged and limited, and political or social programs would be given less
funding and would trim their benefits.
The second paradigm, which contrasts the functionalist paradigm, is the social conflict
paradigm. Defined by inequality and conflict, social conflict addresses power and the allocation
of social resources. In this perspective society lacks stability and revels in conflict, which is
designed to generate social change by means such as protest, strikes, or revolution. Society is
never fully understood, but it is examined and analyzed by how the status quo is established and
maintained by groups who control key resources. These resources include material resources
such as money, land or property; cultural resources such as education, knowledge and beliefs;
and social resources such as social networks, prestige, and familial connections. This paradigm
also assumes how society's structure maintains the privileges of certain groups while exploiting

and keeping others in inferior positions. For example, in industrialization workers benefit less
than the owners of a business. Workers are denied many of the resources received by owners
which can include higher levels of income, better medical care, improved housing, and other
luxury items not accessible to the workers. Many try to change the gap between those who have
more resources by striking against their employers for high wage pay or better working
conditions. This class division of those who run the company and those who work below the
owners depicts how resources are allocated to those higher up in society and how there is a
conflict between equal representation of income and allocation of resources to those who are
wealthier and more successful.
The third and final paradigm is the symbolic action paradigm which assumes that society
exists due to everyday forms of social interaction in which individuals establish shared
meanings, or symbols, and construct order. Moreover, because human interaction is subjective
towards how individuals act towards one another and make sense of their interactions, society
itself is fluid and subject to change. While the first two paradigms deal with macro levels of
analysis, or analysis centered on large scale phenomena or civilizations, the symbolic interaction
perspective depends on micro analysis which contemplates the study of small groups and
everyday interactions and experiences. For example, as a teenager an individual may believe
their parents are set on making their life miserable. They may believe their parents are unfair
because they treats their siblings better or unloving since they pay less attention to them than
other people around the individual. Symbolically, the individual may see their parents as never
there for them and unsupporting. Now as an adult, the individual may have changed their views
on their parents as he or she may come to both parents for advice or support. This new perception

shows how the relationship with these parents can grow and fluctuate, and change their social
interactions and relationship.