Introduction
Social factors that shape a society such as culture, values, norms, and history, among others, and how these factors influence how people live, interact, and relate, can be explained from the sociological perspective. Societal life can be defined and understood better using sociological theories of structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, post-modernism, and conflict theory. The case study presents a typical picture of how societal behaviors, cultures, values, and relationships are held together by the social structure.
Structural Functionalism
The theory views society as a single entity held together by social structures. It likens society to a human body comprising parts that are intertwined and interdependent on one another. All the parts must work together cohesively for the body to be functional. Similarly, society comprises various social structures that must collaborate to succeed (Keltner et al., 2022). The social structures are represented by cultures, values, and norms, which must be shared and embraced by all individuals, lest the society risks disintegrating.
Sociological Imagination
In order to understand an individual’s life, it is important to analyze their history and the issues surrounding them. From the case study, the people are victims of historical injustices and institutional failure. Most individuals are members of minority communities who are victims of racial discrimination and economic marginalization in their society (Allen & Henderson, 2022). The economic marginalization is evidenced by their tattered clothing, old vehicles, and lack of happiness.
Cultures
Culture is one of the social structures that hold society together. It dictates how people relate, interact, and live with one another. Negative culture sets a bad precedence for society and prevents it from uniting. Looking at the composition of victims, most are members of the marginalized Native Americans, confirming racial marginalization (Keltner et al., 2022). The culture of racial discrimination cultivated in New Mexico society created a negative precedence for marginalized groups, rendering them economically disadvantaged and, thus, resort to drug abuse. Most individuals battling opioid addiction are the poor who form the minority communities.
Values
Values form part of the social structures making a society. They define how people behave, interact, and relate to society. Positive values create good behaviors and a progressive society. On the other hand, negative values create bad behaviors, affecting society in general (Allen & Henderson, 2022). From the case study, the high number of opioid victims among minority communities is evidence of negative societal values. The social configuration of society has all been torn apart, leading to the disintegration of values and behaviors of the people.
Subculture
The sociological structural functionalism theory states that society is held together by social structures such as culture, values, norms, and institutions. And the structures must work together towards the proper functioning of the society as a united entity. However, if the institutions and configurations fail to hold together, new units and systems may arise to fill the gap and satisfy the needs of the people. In the case study, the institutions making the society failed to unite the members through acts of marginalization and racial discrimination, creating room for marginalization and substance abuse.
Norms
According to functionalism, norms form part of the social structures making up a society. The norms must work in unison with other institutions in the social structures for the society to be united and functional (Alvehus & Hallonsten, 2022). However, the institutions in New Mexico created a negative norm among the people through racial inequality, marginalization, and discrimination. As a result, the norm has trickled down to the members of the society, leading to substance abuse. The lack of cooperation among the institutions of society created a negative norm.
Family
Family is one of the fundamental basic units of a society. It is defined and regulated by how well the social structures of the society are working together. When the structures are not properly functioning, the family risk disintegrating (Ge, 2023). In the case study, the social structures, such as the values, culture, and related institutions, are not working anymore. As a result, the family institution has fallen victim to poverty, depression, and other psychological problems.
Conflict Theory
The theory views conflict from an economic perspective, where clashes are caused by inequality and unequal distribution of resources. Due to limited resources, the privileged created by social patterns become the dominant members of society while the underprivileged become oppressed (Ge, 2023). As a result, different social groups are formed, leading to power struggles among various economic classes, races, and genders. Individuals in the lower economic rank begin to compete for resources with those at the upper end.
Poverty
According to the conflict theory, poverty is the end game for individuals in the lower economic rank. Following classification by the social patterns, the dominant group became the beneficiary of the societal resources, leaving the underprivileged oppressed with nothing (Allen & Henderson, 2022). The case study presents a clear example of a conflict of theory created by economic inequality and classification. The victims belong to the lower economic class who are poor and cannot afford proper means of transport as evidenced by their old worn vehicles and the use of bicycles.
Parenting
The conflict of theory explains how economic inequality influences parenting. While the families of the dominant group live in opulence with numerous opportunities, the underprivileged are left with little or no opportunities, and thus cannot afford proper clothing for the families as evidenced by the worn out clothes (Theiler, 2022). As a result, the children become vulnerable to drug abuse. In the case study, the victims are members of economically marginalized communities who resorted to substance abuse after lacking job and education opportunities.
Race
Economic inequality and social classification are evident among the victims. The social patterns have classified society based on race, with the White community being the dominant while the minority groups becoming the oppressed (Theiler, 2022). The dominant White community enjoys all the opportunities, leaving the minority groups poor and frustrated. The population distribution shows that most victims belong to minority races including Native Americans and Hispanic communities, who are underprivileged and economically oppressed.
Gender
Conflict theory argues that economic inequality creates a power struggle between genders as they scramble for limited opportunities. Men who are the economic custodians of their families become the most affected, rendering them vulnerable to psychological issues such as depression and making them candidates for substance abuse (Ge, 2023). From the case study, 70% of the victims are males while only 30% are females due to economic frustration on men attributed to inequality. As a result, they are dissatisfied and disappointed as evidenced by their facial expression and mannerism.
Ascribed Status
Economic inequality creates a social class with individuals ranked according to their financial potential. The rich, with many financial opportunities, occupy the highest economic status, followed by the middle-class group, while the poor occupy the lowest status with little or no opportunities (Orville & Disraeli, 2022). The victims in the case study represent the poor who occupy the lowest status as seen from their tattered clothing and old vehicles.
Symbolic Interactionism
The theory views society as an entity supplemented by the people’s actions through interactions and relationships. According to the theory, a society cannot be complete without the actions and interactions of the members (Basic, 2022). Through various activities and relations, the members interact and become one. Even though there are social stratifications such as race and ethnicity, they do not prevent the members of the society from interacting.
Language
Language forms an important tool in promoting symbolic interactionism by facilitating reaction. Having a common language makes it easier for the members of a society to relate well and interact. Although there are differences such as ethnicity and race, a common language enables distinct groups to interact (Carter & Lamoreaux, 2022). In the case study, the victims comprise Caucasians, Native Americans, and Hispanics united by a common language that allows them to interact and relate well.
Socialization
Regardless of ethnicity, race, language, or any social stratification, members of a society must learn how to socialize. In the case study, even though the people belong to various social groups separated by ethnicity and race, they stay together as one group (Theiler, 2022). They have learned to socialize through interaction, shared activities, and relationships. They have not allowed themselves to be divided by color, ethnicity, or any other social distinction.
Symbols
The behaviors, activities, and mannerisms reflect how individuals interact, relate, and are regarded in society. Negative behaviors and activities symbolize poor interaction, relation, and disregard in the society, while positive activities and mannerisms portray healthy relations and how one is valued (Orville & Disraeli, 2022). Opioid substance abuse represents negative behavior and unquestionable character, symbolizing how the victims relate, interact, and are treated by colleagues.
Post-Modernism
The theory views society as a lawless and dynamic entity that follows no rules and is constantly changing. According to the theory, no acceptable principles, behaviors, or values guide a society or the members within the respective settings (Orville & Disraeli, 2022). However, every member of society can pursue whatever course or follow any direction without being bothered since there is no right or wrong.
Cultural Diversity and Culture Shock
No culture is good or bad; therefore, no one should be punished or reprehended for engaging in any behavior. Similarly, culture changes with time, welcoming new activities and behaviors while abandoning old practices (Basic, 2022). In the case study, opioid abuse is a new culture among different races in New Mexico, and many are beginning to embrace it. In addition, different cultures are evolving from their unique practices to embrace the new order.
Taboos
Due to the dynamic nature of society and the absence of a common cultural determiner, beliefs such as taboos should not be tolerated. Society keeps evolving, adopting new practices, and embracing new behaviors; therefore, it is not possible to judge or rate people using old cultural beliefs (Basic, 2022). What is wrong today may be embraced tomorrow and become right. In the case study, the victims went against the norm of abusing opioid drugs.
Conclusion
In summary, the aspects of sociological theories explain how society is held together by the social structures that dictate and regulate how members interact, relate, and behave in their daily lives. In addition, they elucidate how factors such as economic inequality influence ways by which people interact in the society by creating various social groups and power struggles among genders, races, and ethnicity, among other human classifications. Understanding the facets is crucial for creating proper coexistence among the individuals in the community.
References
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