EDU453 - EDUCATIONAL SOCIOLOGY

REFLECTIVE WRITING

NAME : SITI NURUL AINA BINTI RAZALI

MATRIC NO. : 2016579303

GROUP : ED247(2B)

LECTURER’S : MADAM KHADIJAH BINTI SAID HASHIM

NAME
INTRODUCTION

Theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social
world. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated
propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon.
It provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories helps us to explain and predict the social
world in which they live. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspective which is
functionalist theory, labelling theory and conclict theory.
 The picture above shows a family potrait which is define as a fundamental social group
in society typically consisting of one parent and their children. In my opinion, this picture truly
reflects to one of the theories outlined by educational sociology, which is the functionalist
theory. Functionalist theory is simply defined as a system of interconnected parts that work
together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole. This
picture concerns in the structure and functioning of a certain organisation or group, which is
every members of the family plays an important role to establish happy and harmony life.

The organisation of a family provides a context of reproducing, nurturing and

socializing their children. The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of
society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. As Durkheim
outlined the importance of education in creating moral values as the foundation of society, the
picture does adhere to it such as the parent are responsible to educate their children as the
education offers a way to transmit a society’s skills, knowledge and culture to its youth.
 As return, their children learned the moral values during childhood and growing up to
be a successful person. The ability to fully comprehend a role and functions accurately will
lead to achieving this mutual goal. The family members will surely strive to organise
themselves in a functional way with taking into account both external demands which is
playing their own role in the family. As well as internal demands which is the personal needs
and preferences of the family members.
 The picture above illustrates a person wearing “Daniel Wellington” watch. This watch
itself has been consider as an expensive watch but it can be either original or fake watch. A
society always labelled that people wearing this type of watch is just to show off. This kind of
classification is related to the interaction and interpretive theories which is the labelling theory.
In sociology, labelling theory is the view of deviance according to which being labelled as a
"deviant" leads a person to engage in those deviant behaviour.

Labelling theory also suggests that our identity or sense of self is shaped by social
interaction. We develop our self-concept by observing how others interact with us and labelling
us. For instance, from the picture above, a person wearing watch easily labelled as a punctual
and on time person. Accordingly, as he or she keeps being label in such way, there is a high
possibility that they might begin to behave like that or become one. In my opinion, labelling
theory is not just focus to negatively view from the society, but it also concern about what
others interact into a certain situation that may be positive outcomes.
 This picture illustrates a set of food in a Western restaurant. As we all know, food is
basic need of human nature. In this picture, I would like to align it with the conflict theory. The
conflict theory views society as composed of different groups and interest competing for power
and resources. The conflict theory explains various aspects for our social world by looking at
which groups have power and benefit from a particular social arrangement. For instance, the
picture above shows that not every people can afford to eat this type of food. There will be
contrast between people who can afford to eat and whose not.

The origin of the conflict theory can be traced to the works of Karl Marx. He suggested
that all societies go through stages of economic development. The division of society into two
broad classes of people – “the haves and the have nots”. It is beneficial to people who afford
to eat such many foods without worrying their financial status. Unlike the have nots, they intend
to eat local food that is much more cheap compare to the picture above.
REFERENCES

Mooney,Knox, and Schact. (2007). The Three Main Sociological Perspectives. Understanding
Social Problems 5th Edition.

Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/sethallen26/major-theoretical--

perspectives-in sociology-14044354

Retrieved from https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/sociological -perspectives-three-theories