Theories of Purpose of the Family

Symbolic interactionists believe that there is no permanent structure to society, and that there are no stable group formations, so there are no stable groups to form prejudices against (Hughes and Kroehler, 2002; Symbolic, 2004). They concentrate on the more changeable, evolving relationships in society. Different groups are seen as products of social interactions. These groups are said to arise when communication channels between different groups are limited and the groups develop different systems of meanings. Symbolic interactions see people as actors who can take on roles according to the situation, and adjust their behavior to what they see in others, so there is no prejudice from this perspective. Prejudice only exists if there are stable norms, and groups of people differ from these norms and are perceived as being different. In symbolic interactionism, role-taking plays a large role, and individuals can take the other's perspective, so they can see a situation from all sides. Symbolic interactionism concentrates on interactions between individuals and not groups, and relationships are in constant flux, so there is no chance for prejudice to develop in any organized way. For instance, there cannot be any racial prejudice according to symbolic interactionism because individuals can take on the role of any race and see the world through the other's eyes, so this type of prejudice, which is common in the world around us, is non-existent for them.

Related Essays

Theories of Family Therapy The purpose of this paper is to take four of the eight .... in understanding both the similarities and differences between theories of family therapy and use .... (1334 5 )

Parents & Theories of Adolescent Development .... correspond to well-known psychological theories of human .... It is the purpose of the adolescent lifestyle to .... friendships with adults outside the family, or living .... (2156 9 )

Treatment of Violent Juvenile Crime Abstract The purpose of this .... strengths include support from family, personal relationships .... The purpose of this research is to .... of the information regarding conflicting theories on causes and .... (4706 19 )

Critiques of Social Theories .... Accordingly, "the essential role of the family was . .... The theories of these men are used to bolster .... to Simmel, are "intermediate structures" whose purpose it is .... (2025 8 )

Theories of Biological Instinct .... and reproduction have been added theories of biosocial .... The purpose of this study is to test the .... by multiple and genetically diverse family units rather than by .... (3040 12 )

ith prejudice and discrimination in terms of tension or conflict among competing groups (Hughes and Kroehler, 2002). Those in higher positions are constantly prejudiced against those below them and this breeds continual conflict and tension in society as those in the lower ranks battle for what they believe should be their fair share of the pie. Prejudice exists in the world around us in the form of the differential pay scales for men and for women performing the same work, and the glass ceiling for women (with a few exceptions), who are limited in the heights to which they can rise in their chosen professions, limits which do not exist for their male counterparts. Part 1.8 Symbolic interactionists do not believe in the existence of stable norms and values, and so for them there is no meaning to the word "family" (Symbolic, 2004). They believe in individual relationships which change over time, and the idea of a family suggests a stable, "social institution that unites people in cooperative groups to oversee the bearing and socialization of children" (Families, 2005). It involves a social network based on common ancestry and marriage, providing the basic needs of life - food, shelter etc., and involves property-transfer ar

Category: Psychology - T