SOCIAL

STRUCTURE
THEORY
Structure in Social Studies (EDUC 205)

PRESENTED BY: ANGELICA B.

RACRAQUIN
SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES
• T h is a re t he orie s t ha t e xpla in the
i nte ra ct ion be tw e e n groups

• It e xp la in s the a c ti viti es tha t a ll ow the

b a la nc e w ithin t he soc ie ty

• Sh o ws w ha t a re the di ffe re nc e s th a t
c o uld ge n e ra te c onflic t
Social structure
theories brings
a sociological
approach to
studies of crime
and deviance.
So c ia l struc ture the orie s stre ss tha t a
c e rta in b e ha vior re sults from:

• So c ia l
• e c on o mic
• Po litic a l pow e rs
• p ov e rty
Social Structure theories
• view m e m be r s o f s o c i a l l y and
econo mi c a l l y di s a dv a nt a g e
grou ps a s be i n g m or e l i ke l y to
com m it c r i m e
The three branches of social
structure theories are:
I SM F L I C T I S M
A L CON TI O N
O N TH E O R Y A C
T I T E R
N C I N
F U
Social Structure Theory

FUNCTIONALISM
 Functionalism
Functionalism is a social-
structural perspective that
argues society has a well-
defined function that is
necessary for its survival .

Emile Durkheim(1858-1917)
Below are just two of Durkheim’s key ideas:
1. Society shapes the Individual

• From this point of view it is not

the consciousness of the individual

that directs human behaviour but
common beliefs and sentiments which
shape his or her consciousness. In
short, according to Durkheim,
society shapes the individual.
Below are just two of Durkheim’s key ideas:
2. Social solidarity socialization

• Durkheim argued that societies needed to

create a sense of social solidarity –

which is making individuals feel as if

they part of something bigger and teaching

them the standards of acceptable

behaviour.This is achieved through family,

religion, etc.
 Functionalism
Talcott Parsons saw society as

working like a human body,

arguing that institutions in

society were like organs in

the body – each performing

specific functions which were

necessary to the maintenance

Ta l c o t t P a r s o n s
of the whole.
Examples of social theories of functionalism
are as follows:

• The family provides for a path to adulthood and

also allows the passing of values between
generations. It is functional because if families
did not exist, society would not reproduce itself
and pass down its values or ideas.
Social Structure Theory

CONFLICT THEORY
Conflict Theorist Perspective
C ontra ry to Func tiona lists ,
c onflic t the orists sta te t ha t
s oc iet y c ompris es groups
w ith very oppos ing vie ws
a nd wa nt powe r.
Conflict Theory
It proposes that society is

based on status and power

differences and the amount of

resources are not equal and

are distributed according to

power and status thus creating

a conflict in society.
Karl Marx
.
Conflict Theorist Perspective

They a rgue that t he

dominant groups t ry to
ma intain the ir st atus by
s uppre ssing the rights of
those who are in a
s ubordina te posit ion.
Social Structure Theory

INTERACTIONISM
INTERACTIONISM

• argued that people develop

their self-image through
interactions with other
people.

George Herbert Mead

(1934)
Interactionists’ Perspective
• This is a micro-social approach and
focuses on individual interactions and
how they interpret those interactions.
• This explains that people do not merely
rely on the roles that society has set for
them instead they change them according
to the situation present.
Thank You