Social Perspectives Essay

Social Perspectives
Shantia Arzu
University of Belize

Social Perspectives
Sociology is the study of the development, structure, functioning of human society and human behavior whereas, the word perspective can be defines as a view of things in their true connection or importance. Hence, the social perspectives provide standpoints used to look at human behavior and interaction as they relate to individuals and groups within society. The social perspective emphasizes that to understand humans for not what is inside of them, but what’s influencing them that should be observed. There are four theoretical perspectives used to understand society and human behavior as to which will be entertained as to create a vast clearance of each. The

Interactionists focus on how humans use symbols, signs and gestures to develop views of the world with themselves and other as well as the importance of these symbols in social interaction and communication. Language is categorized as a symbolic interaction. Even though, symbolic interaction is seen to be interpreted as neglect to macro level of social interpretations because it misses the bigger picture of how society works. For example, the size of the diamond on the engagement ring could either be showing ones love to a person but influencing the woman to have the tendency to be of in interest of the partner’s wealth. They also believe that humans use these symbols to define themselves, by comparing one’s self to others and by constantly adjusting the view of themselves. Symbolic interaction can be seen all around in Belize especially in the cultural aspects. The different cultural groups in Belize have different beliefs and a distinctive mindset than the other cultures. When the different cultures interact they tend to share their beliefs and their norms with each other. In conclusion, the four major theoretical perspectives described above can be said that structure functionalist would focus on what is common practice in a certain society and would analyze the function symbol used to interact and communicate in that society. Whereby, symbolic interaction try to determine how individuals of a certain society interpret the environment or what others have on the development of an individual self-image. Meanwhile, conflict theorist would look at the power differences between various groups of a society, where they come from and what effect they have on