A Review About The Perspectives in Sociology

What is a Perspective?
Concept & Meaning

Perspective is general refers to “wisdom” and “angle of approach” to a certain subject matter, problem, object or situation. However, when applied in theoretical terms to understand a certain subject matters it has a more specific meaning.

A working set of perspective may also be referred to as “an approach” or “paradigm”.
Sociological Perspective: Definition and Explanation

In sociology, a perspective can be defined as,

A set of broad assumptions about society and social behaviors which provides a basis and angle of approach to study and observe specific problems.

In order to observe, understand and study sociology we require a set of pre defined assumptions for our subject matter, its nature and working principles on the basis of which we can further our study hence the need of a sociological perspective arises.
4 Major Perspectives in Sociology

Evolutionary Perspective
Interactionist Perspective
Functionalist Perspective
Conflict Perspective

1) Evolutionary Perspective

The evolutionary perspective has originated from the works of August Comte (1789-1857) and Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) and is one of the earliest perspectives in sociology.

This perspective focuses on patterns of change and developmental cycles in different societies and synthesizes common sequences or trends. Making use mostly of the historical data, the evolutionary perspectives calls for objective observation and empirical interpretations on the part of a researcher.

The evolutionary perspective has now regained popularity with sociologists after it fell from favor in the later decades.
2) Interactionist Perspective

Maccionis has defined interactionist perspective as,

Its broad focus is on social structures that shape society as a whole.

This perspective draws inspiration from Max Weber in the sense that,

Understanding a social setup from the angle of the human beings who act and live within it.

Society, by large is composed of abstract components such as social institutions, social groups, economy and state which cannot be understood due to their abstractness and are unable to exist and act in individual capacity. Hence, it is the individuals who interact with each , these institutions and hence make the society a workable and understandable phenomenon.
Symbolic Interaction

This form of interaction was propagated by the symbolic interactionists like C.H. Cooley (1846-1929) and G.H. Mead (1863-1931). They believed that interaction takes place between individuals and groups by means of symbols; signs, language, gestures, signals, facial expressions and written or spoken words.

Words and symbols in their independent existence have no meaning. It is only their usage which lends them meaning hence rendering them usable for people. The interactionist perspective therefore inquires into the understanding, interpretation and response of people in a society to these symbols.