Goffman s Functionalist Sociological Approach - 1469 Words

Sociological approaches are â€Å"systematic, sceptical and critical study of the social. It studies the way people do things together†. (Macionis and Plummer 2012) It also â€Å"goes beyond everyday common sense by using systematic methods of empirical observation and theories† (Boundless [online] 2015). I will be using Goffman’s functionalist sociological approach of Dramaturgy to understand human life and to analyse my first few weeks of university. Goffman’s sociology is â€Å"concerned with everyday life, in particular with showing the tenuous nature of social life.†(Smart, n.d) His theory is based on symbolic interactionalism and used widely to look at micro sociological accounts of social interactions which occur in day to day life. Over my first few weeks at university I noticed a wide range of social practices and observed people handing unfamiliar situations as well as experiencing them first hand myself. Therefore I felt that taking the functionalist approach of dramaturgy was a relevant and fitting theory to explain an approach to understanding both human and university life and the presentation of self in society. Functionalist Erving Goffman studies the sociological approach of Dramaturgy in his book ‘The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life’ (Goffman, 1959), he built his theory based on earlier work completed by Kenneth Burke. However there are distinct differences in features of the theory between Burke and Goffman as Burke believed that life was in fact a literalShow MoreRelatedThe Presentation Of The Self By Irving Goffman1305 Words   |  6 PagesConcept note: Dramaturgy The sociological concept ‘dramaturgy’, developed by Irving Goffman (1922 – 1982), was initially used in his book The Presentation of the Self (1959). Dramaturgy uses the theatre as an extended metaphor to explain social interaction and social roles. Like actors in a play, people play roles, working together to up hold various social realities and functional institutions such as work, school, home, medical, legal or leisure. Key components of this theory are ‘front and back’Read MoreSocial Theories and Prostitution2468 Words   |  10 PagesThere are many sociological theories that can be used to explain prostitution in modern society. Two such theories are functionalism and symbolic interaction. Many people feel that prostitution may be an immoral act however, from a functionalist perspective there are social needs that are being filled through prostitution. Both social actors are gaining through the engagement of prostitution. Another sociologi cal perspective; symbolic interactionism; focuses on the interaction that occurs betweenRead MoreThe Main Principles Of Functionalism1429 Words   |  6 Pageslearned to adapt by adopting the nuclear family structure. This typically consisted of a mother, father and two children. Parson also said that the male of the family still needed to be the main income of the family and act as the bread winner . Women s place however was at the family home raising the children and carrying out domestic chores. Parsons agreed the family unit had several functions in society however its two main functions were socialization and stabilization of personalities (a sociologyofRead MoreProfessional Student4171 Words   |  17 Pagesthese Answer: D 3. The awareness that allows people to comprehend the link between their immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world is called A. the sociological imagination. B. anthropology. C. a theory. D. verstehen. Answer: A 4. A key element in the sociological imagination is the ability to view one’s own society A. from the perspective of personal experience. B. from the perspective of cultural biases. C. as an outsider. D. as an insider. Answer:Read MoreSymbolic Interactionism1727 Words   |  7 Pagesmost prominent version of the theory (Blumer 1969). Mead is generally regarded as the founder of the symbolic interaction approach. George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) was trained in social psychology and philosophy and spent most of his academic career at the University of Chicago. Mead s major work is Mind, Self and Society, a series of his essays put together after Mead s death and originally published in 1934, a work in which he emphasizes how the social world develops various mental states inRead MoreSociological Perspectives Of A Young Person With Whom I Work2617 Words   |  11 PagesThis essay will discuss sociological perspectives in relation to a young person with whom I work. Throughout this paper, I shall refer to the young person as Laura. This is not the real name of the young person, however by doing this I am complying with our organisations policy of confidentiality. This policy was designed to conform to the Data Protection Act of 1998 to ensure service users confidentiality. Laura comes from a single parent family. Her mother is a drug addict and she has never knownRead MoreCritically evaluate the contribution made by sociologists to our understanding of health and illness2889 Words   |  12 Pagesones health and guilty when becoming unwell. Whereas a negative concept of health views health as an absence of illness or disease, taking good health for granted and believing that no special actions are required to remain healthy. Within the sociological study of health there are two main models; firstly the biological model; which views how a medical professional views the body as a machine and the professionals role is to repair the disorder. The professional believes that if incorrectly maintainedRead MoreThe Failure That Is Total Institutions1643 Words   |  7 Pagesparticipating in society under that society s values and norms. Examples of socialization are entering a new school, job or country. This type of social interaction is often voluntary. Ind ividuals choose to adhere and to recognize their new status and role in society by their own free will. The opposite can be said for the re-socialization that is found at total institutions, a bureaucratic coercive organization. They control almost all aspects of an individual s life (boundless.com). The term total institutionsRead MoreHoward Becker s The On Opium Addiction3802 Words   |  16 PagesBecker additionally composed broadly on sociological written work styles and systems. Moreover, Becker s 1963 book Outsiders gave the establishments to labeling theory. Becker is regularly called a typical interactionist or social interactionist; nevertheless, he does not adjust himself to either system. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Becker is viewed as a component of the second Chicago School of Sociology, which likewise incorporates Erving Goffman, and Anselm. Becker first analyzes howRead MoreHow useful is ‘structural functionalism’ or ‘society as an organism’ as theoretical frameworks in considering the problem of ‘death’ as a sociological1775 Words   |  8 Pagesare sociological theories in which society is conceived of as a total structure made of functioning parts: this is structural functionalism. Rigney (2001: 17) describes structural functionalism as follows: â€Å"society is a system of independent parts working together to produce a vital functioning whole†. For example, as there are many roles played in society, good and bad, it can be likened to a theatre, in which our life is one big stage with many different parts being and acted out (Goffman, 1969)