Melissa Alvarez

Sociology
The three main Paradigms
Explanation/examples
1. The functionalist perspective paradigm is a belief that society works on a balanced
process and it functions best at a level of equilibrium in which society is separated into
different modes of operation. Ones life is composed of family, religion and work/school
and when all are focused on at a level that balances ones life, then stability is reached in
society. When dysfunctional systems occur to threaten that balance then another is
created in order further the state of equilibrium. One example of the functionalist
perspective paradigm is the entire system of checks and balances. There is a balance
created between the judicial, legislative, and executive branch in order to keep a stable
government and not have one branch to become more powerful than the other. In a
family, the parents must retain their role as caregiver, enforcer, and nurturer, while
children continue to be pupils and learners, following their parents.
2. The conflict perspective paradigm is an assumption that order for society to undergo any
changes it first must be faced with a certain degree of conflicts that are strong enough to
move a society forward. The presence of a conflict serves as a motivator for the people of
a society in order to develop and grow and to adapt. Without the ability to grow the
society would dwindle. An example of this paradigm is the womans suffrage movement.
The woman in history grew restless of the inequality bestowed upon them in the early
1900s so through several protests, acts of rebellion, and changes in how they present
themselves, woman were able to gain the right to vote. Without this amount of conflict
the ability for woman to participate in the election process would be non-existent and
therefore conflict advanced the society.
3. The symbolic interpretation paradigm is the final paradigm in which it is believed that the
interactions and the symbols and gestures present in these interactions determine how a
person responds to their society. Whether it is focusing on emotions, facial gestures, or
overall symbols, society works through these markers in order to guide them to
understanding the society they live in. An example of this can be language. Everyday
face to face interactions occur and in these conversations there is an ongoing process of
understanding and trying to interpret gesture, body language, eye movement, pitch, and
intonation in order to completely convey the symbols in these movements correctly.
Sarcasm, what words to use, what gestures not to make and so on, are ways people listen
and focus onto people in order to process what the underlying symbols are. Seeing
someone cry, smile, laugh, glare, or shake their head are all symbolic gestures that serve
as markers and helpers in understanding one another in a society. This paradigm is ever

present in marriage or dating, when one partner is trying to correctly understand the other
by focusing on the symbols in their actions.