Key theoretical paradigms that explain social inequality and social change.
1. Apply the three key theoretical paradigms that explain social inequality and social change.
(The key theoretical paradigms are: 1 Conflict theory, 2 Functionalism and 3 symbolic interaction).
2. Analyse theoretical explanations in sociology to interpret contemporary social issues.
3. Discuss social theory approaches to society and the relevance to professional human services practice.
4. Deploy research skills to identify and access appropriate resources such as academic literature.
5. Engage in critical analysis of social theories and reflect on their relevance to professional practice by applying them to explain contemporary social issues.
6. Apply theoretical understandings through completion of assessment tasks in the form of tests, presentations and essay questions.
In order to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes, you must explain your understanding (e.g., what are the three key theoretical paradigms?) or provide evidence (e.g., when did you engage in critical analysis of social theories?).
Sample Solution
The three key theoretical paradigms that explain social inequality and social change are Conflict Theory, Functionalism and Symbolic Interaction. Conflict Theory is based on the idea that society is characterized by conflicting interests between various groups of people (Marx & Engels, 1848). This theory explains why certain groups of individuals tend to have more power than others. For example, in capitalist societies the wealthy upper class holds disproportionate amounts of economic power while the lower classes are denied access to resources which can lead to greater inequalities over time.
Functionalism focuses on how different parts of a society function together to form a cohesive whole (Durkheim, 1893). This theory claims that all members of society play an important role in maintaining order and stability which allows for it to continue operating as usual. It also states that any changes within a system must come from within since external forces are unlikely to cause meaningful transformation without internal agreement first.
Finally, Symbolic Interaction looks at how people interact with each other using symbols such as language or gestures (Blumer, 1969). This theory suggests that these interactions shape our beliefs and actions which can ultimately lead to unequal distributions of power or privilege across different social groups. For instance if one group is trying to maintain control over another their language may become increasingly exclusive making it difficult for those outside this group understand its goals or objectives.
Overall, these three theories provide valuable insight into understanding patterns of social inequality and change throughout history. By looking at how conflicts arise between competing interest groups, examining what makes societies work together harmoniously or exploring how communication influences behavior we gain deeper understanding about why some communities thrive while others struggle.
