CHAPTER 1 : Introduction to the social
Max Weber
Dimensions of Education
Education-(for sociologist) is one of the
major institutionsthat constitutes society.
There are various social science theories
that relate to education :
1. Consensus
2. Conflict
3. Structural functionalist
4. Interaction theories
Society has two faces (Dahrendorf &
Ritzer) :
+ Consensus- is a concept of society in
which the absence of conflicts is seen as the
equilibrium state of society based on a
general widespread agreement among
all members of a particular society.
+ Conflict – is a clash between ideas,
principles and people. (can be overt or covert
conflict)
2 parts of sociological theories:
1.Consensus theories- emphasizes on
social order, stability and social regulation.
Consensus theorist-examine value
integration in society
2. Conflict theories (Karl Marx)-focuses on
the struggle of social classes to maintain
dominance and power in social systems.
-It is a theory or collection of theories which
places emphasis on conflict in human society.
-emerged out of the sociology of
conflict,crisis, and social change.
Conflict theorist- examine conflicts of
interest and the coercion that holds society
together in the face of this stresses.
–emphasize social change and redistribution
of resources.
The consensus and conflict theories are
reflected in the works of certain
dominant social theorist:
1. Karl Marx
2. Emile Durkheim
3.
4. Talcott Parsons
5. Robert Merton
6. Louis Althusser
7. Ralph Dahrendorf
8. Herbert mead
9. Herbert Blumer
+bourgeoisie (rich owners)
+ proletariat (poor workers)
Max Weber- agues that schools teach and
maintain particular “status cultures”
Status Culture- refer to groups in society
with similar w/ similar interest and positions
in the status hierarchy.
Structural Functionalism-(Talcott Parsons,
Robert Melton)-states that society is made up
of various institutions that work together in
cooperation. –it concerned
with the functions of schooling in the
maintenance of social order.
-puts emphasize on social order and social
stability not on conflict.
AGIL scheme:
1. Adaptation- a system must cope w/
external situational exigencie It adapt to its
environment adapt its environment to its
need.the
–the behavioral organism is the action
system that handles….by adjusting to and
transforming the external world.
2. Goal attainment- a system must define
and achieve its primary goals.
-personality system- by defining system
goals and mobilizing resources to attain
them.
3. Integration- a system must regulate the
interrelationship of its component parts.
(A,G,L)
-social system- copes w/ the integration
function by controlling its component parts
-begins at micro level with interaction bet.
The ego and alter ego, defined as the most
elementary form of social system.
4. Latency (pattern maintenance)- a system
must furnish, maintain and renew both the
motivation of individuals and the cultural
patterns that create and sustain the
motivation.
-cultural system- by providing actors w/ the
norms and values that motivate them for
action.
4 Keys principles of the Functionalist
Theory:
1. Interdependency- one of the most
important principle of functionalist theory is
that society is made up of interdependent
parts.
-it means that every part of society is
dependent to some extent on other parts of
society, so that what happens at one place in
society has important effects else where.
2. Functions of social structure and
culture- closely related to interdependency is
the idea that each part of the social system
exist because it serves some function.
Social Structure- refers to the organization
of society, including its institutions, its social
positions,and its distribution of resources.
Culture- refers to a set of beliefs, language,
rules, values, and knowledge held in common
by members of a society.
3. Consensus and Cooperation
4. Equilibrium- a final principle of
functionalist theories - is the characteristic
of a society when it has achieved the form
that is best adapted to its situation.
Social Structures provide preset
patterns which evolve to meet human
needs:
+stability, order, and harmony
+maintenance of society
Component parts of a social structure:
+families +
neighbors +
Associations +schools
+ Churches + banks +countries
“Functionalist view society as a kind of
machine”
Parson believes that EDUCATION is a
vital part of a modern society, a society that
differs considerably from all previous
societies.
Interactionist theories- about the relation
of school and society are critiques and
extensions of the functinalist and conflict
perspective.
Basic forms of social interaction:
+ symbolic interactionism- (school of
thought)views the self as socially
constructed in relation to social forces and
social structures.
-symbolic interaction which require mental
processes
Symbolic interactionist-are interested not
simply in socialization but in interactions
between students and studebts nat bet.
Students and teachers. All types if
interactions refine our ability to think.
Importance of thinking to Symbolic
interactionist is reflected in their views
in
1. objects.
= physical object-chair or tree
=social object- student or a mother
=abstract objects- moral principle
The latter leads t the relativistic view that diff.
objects have diff. meanings for diff.
individuals.
2.looking-glass self (Charles Horton
Cooley)- we see ou self us others see us.
-you use other people as amirror into
which you look to see what you are like .

Social self- is an active product of human

agency rather than a deterministic product of
social structure.

interaction- is the process in which the

ability to think is both developed and
expressed.

+Non-symbolic interactionism- (Blumer)

Non-symbolic interaction which does not
involve thinking.