Theoretical
Perspectives for
Studying Individuals
& Families
HHS 4U/C
Learning Goals
By the end of this lesson you will
understand seven theoretical perspectives.
 You will be able to compare the theories
to each other.
 You will be able to evaluate the usefulness
of each theory.

Norms
THE RULES OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS OF
A SOCIETY.
 change over time as a society’s values
change.
 Examples:
–Divorce laws
–Mothers in the labour force
–Abortion rights
 identified in society by watching people’s
behaviour – in their ROLES >> creates
‘predictability’.
 Different cultures have different norms
(culture shock!)

Internalization
During
SOCIALIZATION
PROCESS, NORMS
are ‘internalized’
and become part of
conscience.
 You don’t even realize
you’ve been
PROGRAMMED!

Theories
When scientists explain their observations,
their answers reflect their theories
 Some theories have been used to explain
human behaviour for many years
 Other theories have been revised and
replaced
 Theories are NOT FACTS, just attempts to
explain evidence

Theoretical Perspectives


Like “filters” that we
look through when
studying society;
different filter =
different view
THEORIES are NOT
facts, but rather
attempts to explain
evidence
– Different theories can
attempt to explain same
set of observations
– Different theory = different
explanation
Social Scientists ask four
fundamental questions:
What happens?
 How does it happen?
 Why does it happen?
 How can people change what happens?

MICRO vs MACRO Perspectives

MACRO (large scale) theories study the
interaction between society and
institutions such as the law, family,
politics, etc.

MICRO (small scale) theories emphasize
the relationships within individual families
Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalism

Systems Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Social Exchange Theory

Developmental Theories

Conflict Theory

Feminist Theory
Theoretical Perspectives Chart
Complete the handout chart using the text
pages 33 – 43.
 Provide the following details:
What kind of theory is it? (Macro, Micro /
Anthro, Psych, Soc, other)
What does it attempt to explain?
What are the main areas of focus?
What are the main concepts and principles?
What are its strengths/weaknesses?

Applying the Theories

Briefly explain one of the following topics
using the basic principles of each
perspective:
Legalizing Marijuana
Home Schooling
Child Abuse
Structural Functionalism
MACRO Approach / Sociology Theory
 Attempts to explain how society is
organized to perform required functions
 Focuses on how institutions, such as the
law, political system, and the family
function
 Assumes societies are stable when
structures function to benefit society
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE8QuBDkkw

Structural
Functionalism
Examine the ROLES individuals play to contribute
to the bigger picture
– Status = a specific position within a social group
– Role = the set of behaviours an individual is expected
to demonstrate within a status
– Norm = most prevalent behaviours in that role
Example: An individual with a “father” status is
expected to take on behaviours such as working, child
care and providing to fulfill his role. It is the norm for
a father to work outside the household. It is abnormal
for him to stay home.

Structural
Functionalism

Strengths of Approach:
-
Explains how family interacts with society
Emphasizes family strengths rather than weaknesses

Weaknesses/Criticisms of Approach:
- Does not explain why societies or families change
- Change and individual differences are seen as disruptions
- Only one acceptable form of family rather than many
variations
- Doesn’t deal with interpersonal relationships
Systems Theory





MICRO AND MACRO / Sociological Theory
Attempts to explain how groups of individuals
interact as a system and influence each other
A system is a set of interrelated parts
Family systems have a complex organization
Individuals within the system influence each
other in a reciprocal way
Systems Theory
The family system changes when a
change in one person’s behaviour causes
the behaviour of another to evolve
 The larger family system contains
subsystems (father-child, mother-father)
 A genogram diagram depicts the
relationships within a family system

Genogram
Below is a genorgram of disaese patterns within a
family
Systems Theory

Advantages:
– Explains the behaviour of individuals as inseparable
from the group
– Explains why behaviour continues in destructive
patterns even through generations

Disadvantages:
– Can be difficult to determine how others within the
family are influencing an individuals behaviour
– Overlooks experience of individuals
– Social/Structural factors, such as unemployment are
not taken into consideration
Symbolic Interactionism





MICRO Approach / Psychological Theory
Attempts to explain how individual choose how
they will act based on their perceptions of
themselves and of others
People define and interpret their experiences
and give meaning to them
Couples Retreat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TmugJoc9Y&feature=related
Symbolic Interactionism
“Me” =objective qualities (tall, male,
student)
 “I” = subjective self (good student, shy,
lonely)
 Role taking = being able to anticipate how
other’s will respond
 Communication requires common language
and use of shared symbols

Cooley’s Looking Glass Self
“I
am not what I think I am. I
am not what you think I am. I
am what I think you think I
am”
Symbolic Interactionism

Advantages
– Emphasizes mental processes and takes individual
perception and interpretations into consideration
– Sense of individual control
– Explains importance of shared symbols and
communication

Disadvantages
– Observations of researchers may be influenced by the
researchers interpretations
– Pays little attention to the impact of wider society and
does not explain society-wide changes in families
Social Exchange Theory
MICRO approach / Psychological Theory
 Attempts to explain the social factors that
influence reciprocal relationships
 People act to maximize the benefits and
minimize costs to themselves
 Individuals interpret their experiences in
terms of costs vs. benefits

Social Exchange Theory
Relationships are stable when the benefits
that each person receives balance the
costs of the relationships
 This theory is used to explain how
individuals make decisions to form and
maintain relationships that may be seen as
unacceptable to others

Social Exchange Theories
Weaknesses
-A limitation of this theory is that some
people are offended by the cost/benefit
analysis
-Attempts to explain individual behaviour
and needs and pays less attention to
family dynamics

Developmental Theories
MICRO approach / Interdisciplinary
(examines biological, psychological, social
and cultural factors that influence
development)
 Describes patterns to explain growth and
change throughout the human life cycle

– Developmental Tasks = role expectations that
challenge people to develop
Developmental Theories
Different factors at different ages
 Outline predictable stages marked by normative
events
 At each stage there are developmental
prerequisites
 One must complete on developmental task to
move onto the next

Developmental Theories

Disadvantages
– Not all stages will fit all families or individuals
– Some families will experience non-normative
events such as death of a child, etc
– Stages make the theory restrictive because
they do not always occur in order, or occur at
all
Conflict Theory
A MACRO interdisciplinary sociological and
political theory
 Explains how power (ability to control the
behaviour of another) holds a society
together
 Conflict exists because of inequalities
 Groups compete with each other to meet
their needs

Conflict Theory
Describes the relationship of men and
women within a family as one of
exploitation and oppression, and is used
for analyzing power and authority within
the family
 Developed in the 19th century when there
were large social inequalities in society
 Disadvantage

– Negative approach
Feminist Theories
A branch of conflict theories
 Developed in the second half of the 20th
century to explain the impact of sex and
gender on behaviour
 Considers issues from the point of view of
women

Feminist Theories
Argue that change is required so that the
needs of all people are met
 Attempts to explain social inequalities
between men and women from a variety
of female perspectives
 Socialist feminism is based on the
assumption that the status of women is a
social inequality rooted in the sexual
division of paid vs. unpaid labour

Application:
Let us now take a look at
Teen Suicide
from each theoretical perspective.