Sociological Theories

Take a moment and call to mind some of the groups to which you belong. Most of us have some groups in common even though the individuals are different, like family, coworkers, and classmates.

Even if we don’t consciously think about the daily interactions we have, every exchange contributes to the web of connections that makes up American society. Society is complex, and so are its members. If we want to understand how all the pieces fit together, we can use theories to take a closer look. A theory is a system of ideas that work together to explain something.

Sociological theories view society, interactions among people, and the dynamics of workplace cultures from a broad perspective. We can use these theories to reflect on our own experiences and explore solutions to issues in society. Using these theories, we can examine social challenges, their causes, and their potential solutions.

Before you respond to the questions below, be sure to complete this week’s learning activities. Each of those activities helps to build your knowledge and develop a sociological perspective. Respond to the following questions and share your ideas with your classmates and instructor in a minimum of 175 words:

• Choose 2 sociological theories you encountered this week that you think are particularly relevant to social issues you are familiar with.
• In your own words, explain those theories and give an example of how each theory could be used to explain or understand a social issue.
• Which sociological theory was most challenging for you, either to understand or to consider as it might apply to a social problem?