1 Sociology: Theoretical Approaches and Research — Quick Reference

Symbolic Interaction Approach

  • Goal: describe society in terms of how people experience the world; society = product of individuals interacting.

  • For social problems: two core questions

    • How do people become involved in problematic behavior?

    • How do people define issues as social problems?

  • Micro-level view; highlights perception differences among individuals; can underemphasize social structure (class, race).

Learning Theory

  • People learn troublesome attitudes/behaviors from others in the social environment; not a deliberate choice to break rules.

  • Differences between neighborhoods explained by learned norms and attitudes through social interaction.

Nanette Davis Study (1980s)

  • 30 women in sex work.

  • Prostitution emerges gradually due to loneliness or economic survival; years to learn skills, norms, and attitudes.

  • The role becomes livelihood and part of social identity.

Labeling Theory

  • Reality of a situation depends on how people define it; labeling can create or reinforce social problems.

  • Example: alcohol use labeled as dangerous binge drinking by officials vs normal partying by peers.

  • Factors in labeling: actor, observer, setting, and timing; distinctions can vary by audience.

Micro vs Macro Critique

  • Symbolic interaction provides a micro, real-world view of social problems.

  • It may overlook how social structure (class, race) shapes lives.

  • Prostitution example: learning + labeling matter, but broader gender dynamics (men’s domination) also matter.

Check Your Learning / Recap

  • How does the symbolic interaction approach view society?

  • How do learning theory and labeling theory help explain social problems?

Major Theoretical Approaches

  • Social Conflict Theory: macro-level focus on social inequality based on class.

  • Feminist Theory: macro-level focus on patterns of gender inequality.

  • Symbolic Interaction Theory: micro-level focus on how individuals actually experience social life.

Finding the Facts: Sociological Research

  • Sociologists use theory to analyze problems and gather facts.

  • Examples of researchers and findings:

    • Barbara Ehrenreich (2001): working poor; willingness to work is not always enough to escape poverty.

    • Lois Benjamin (1991): racism; interviewing 100 successful Black Americans; success does not shield from racial disadvantage.

    • William Julius Wilson (1996): Chicago poverty; long-term poverty tied to loss of good jobs, joblessness, unstable families, and loss of hope.