Sociological Theories

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Compare and Contrast any TWO sociological theories and briefly evaluate them.

By Mark Cannan.

        

“A ‘theory’ is a set of ideas which provide an explanation for something. A sociological theory is a set of ideas which provides an explanation for human society. Critics of sociology sometimes object to the emphasis which sociologists place on theories, and suggest it might be better to let ‘the facts’ speak for themselves”

(Horalambus and Holborn, 1990. P765).

The above quote is an explanation of what a sociological theory is, it also gives a point of view from the critics side and is a debateable quote. Sociologists believe that theories are important as everything in life needs an explanation, theories therefore are the closest thing we have to an answer. The more understanding we have for why something in society is happening for example crime in society, the more chance we have of developing certain practices and procedures that help the sociologists understand it better.

Theories have existed since the nineteenth century and there are many theories including Marxism, Functionalism, Feminism, Postmodernism, Endomethodology but to name a few. The two that we will be comparing and contrasting here will be Functionalism and Marxism.

The Functionalist theory was first found by Auguste Comte (1798 – 1857) he developed this theory in an attempt to remedy the social unrest left by the French revolution in 1799. Functionalism wasn’t really understood until it was further developed by Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917). This theory was last theorised by the US sociologist Talcott Parsons (1902 – 1979) who developed it even further to the point it is at now. Marxism was found by the philosophers Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820 – 1895). This theory was produced under a promise to provide answers that functionalism couldn’t.

Functionalism was not a dominant theoretical perspective until the 1940s to 1950s. It is a consensus theory which means it is non-conflict. “Functionalists see agreement as the basis of social life and without it; society would collapse” (Taylor, Richardson, Yeo, Marsh, Trobe and Pilkington, 1998. P13). The Marxism theory however, is a conflict theory. Marxists believe that in order to survive, humans must produce food and material objects, it also see’s conflict as an essential characteristic of society. It was most influential during the 1970s mainly because functionalism was failing to provide answers.

According Durkeim functionalists have shared values and norms as the basic social order. They consider crime and deviance as dysfunctional and a threat to order but, they also believe that the public response to crime is functional because it serves to integrate societies. Karl Marx however sees crime and deviance as a natural growth of the capitalist society. Greed, self interest and hostility also generate and motivates crime at all levels of society in the Marxism perspective.

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Functionalists like Parsons believe too little crime or deviance is seen as a threat to social order as this indicates that the values and norms are so strong, they prevent the change necessary for a healthy society. However Marx believes crime is rational and it does make sense in a ‘dog eat dog’ society (Horalambus and Holborn, 1990. P629), where competition is the order of the day and individuals must fend for themselves in order to survive.

Marxists think that all individuals are defined as social failures that are responsible for their own criminal activities. Blame and condemnation are directed at ...

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