Free Sociological Theory Essay Examples & Topics

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A sociological theory is a framework of thought. We use ideas and concepts to explain how the social world functions and interacts. We ask questions about the process of social change or the essence of social hierarchies. Sociological theories also tackle social problems and conflicts in society and offer solutions and different perspectives.

An introduction to sociology theories would not be complete without talking about sociological imagination. In simple terms, it is the function of connecting personal experience to the issues at large. A society is made up of systems working with each other; those systems are made up of individuals. Sociological imagination tries to understand the connection between individuals and systems. Through it, we try to see the world from a perspective, which is broader than personal experience alone.

Below, our experts have detailed how to write a sociological theory essay. We have also provided a breakdown of the key perspectives that you can study in your paper. Plus, you will find some sociological theory essay examples written by students just like you.

3 Sociological Perspectives You Should Know

There are three major perspectives that sociological theory considers. Each one has a distinct viewpoint on society and the behavior of people around us. They provide a different set of frameworks through which we can study the social world. The significance of the sociological perspectives is that they allow us to understand society as a concept rather than an object.

If you are writing a sociological perspective essay, you will likely look at these perspectives:

  • Functionalist Perspective

A functionalist sociological perspective takes into account the systems installed in place within the society we live in. The logic behind it is that a community consists of different parts. For example, there are educational and political systems. A functionalist perspective deconstructs those parts. It looks at how they interconnect to create something whole. Each part has a function in creating a stable society, but they also influence and change one another.

  • Conflict Perspective

The conflict perspective is somewhat of a polar opposite to the functionalist one. This view dictates that systems do not work together to reach social stability. Instead, they compete for resources and power. Its origins can be found in Marxism and the notions of class struggle. Besides, it is often utilized in discussions about social justice and other similar sociological concepts.

  • Interactionist Perspective

In contrast to the two perspectives above that look at the broader picture, the interactionist perspective is more concerned with individuals. According to this one, human behavior is shaped and maintained by our interactions with others. This is referred to as symbolic interactionism. These interactions create meanings through which we define ourselves. Proponents of this perspective suggest that people react to their definition in a situation rather than the situation itself.

You will be able to find sociological perspective essay examples at the bottom of the page.

How to Write a Sociological Theory Essay

Writing assignments such as sociological essays or research papers typically follow the same set format regardless of the topic. We have outlined some advice for you.

These steps can help you start writing straight away:

  1. Start early. You need to make sure that you have time to conduct your research. Beginning your work earlier gives you sufficient space to think about the applications of sociological theory. Plus, you will be able to fix any mistakes you’ve made along the way.
  2. Get a good topic. Whether you decide to write about the conflict perspective or functionalism, finding an idea that interests you is essential. Read through essay samples or browse online to find the perfect topic for yourself. Try our topic generator if you’re struggling with getting an idea.
  3. Come up with a thesis. A thesis statement is the guiding principle of your sociological theory essay. You will keep referring to it all throughout your work. Make sure it reflects your views and the message you want to deliver in your writing. Our thesis generator can help you formulate one!
  4. Outline your essay. A solid essay structure will always include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The body paragraph part is where you will concentrate your discussion of sociology theories. Ascertain that you keep your thesis in mind while writing.
  5. Implement examples in your paper. There is nothing more reliable than real-life instances. If you are unable to conduct first-hand research, browse through existing studies. Evidence is essential to support your claims. Just make sure everything is cited correctly!
  6. Proofread and rewrite. If you’ve followed our advice and began earlier, you should have plenty of time left to edit your work. This is where you polish your writing. Make sure that there are no glaring mistakes. Refer back to your guidelines to make sure everything is in order.

Thank you for reading! We hope that this advice will prove helpful to you in your work. You can now proceed to read the sociological theory essay examples below. You can use them as inspiration or as a reference for how to structure your work and use citations.

1015 Best Essay Examples on Sociological Theories

Life Is Better Today than in the Past Essay

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Why Working From Home Is Better

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Hofstede: South Korea Analysis

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The Advantages of Living in a Multicultural City

Living in a multicultural city provides one with multiple benefits such as having opportunities to learn about other cultures, developing a better understanding of different cultures, and having more chances to improve one's personality.
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Individual Freedoms and National Security

Moreover, the principle of the prevalence of individual freedoms over the national security underlies the democratic idea. This essay proposes that the protection of individual freedoms by maintaining national security is a fundamental principle and [...]
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Symbolic Interaction Theory Applied to COVID-19 Pandemic

The problem of understanding culture and its use by people was first considered in the concept of symbolic interactionism, which was formed in the 1920s and 1930s as a reaction to the behaviorists' "stimulus-response" approach.
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Contemporary sociological theory

This perception commonly referred to as methodological individualism, attests that "individual human action is the elementary unit that makes up social and that explaining of social institutions and social change is necessitated by a demonstration [...]
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Community Development in Theory and Practice

Community development theory is a framework of how the whole process should be carried out including the identification of the problems, the indicators of measuring development and the procedure of involving people in the projects.
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Social Sciences as a Career Field

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Why Appearance Is So Important?

Sending a positive message to the society regarding one's behavior and conduct is the aim of every person. Appearance of a person can tell whether the person is a crook or not.
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Marxists and Functionalists’ Views on Crime and Deviance

Also, the essay seeks to explain why people commit crimes in reference to a social and political transition, poverty, globalization of crime and state bureaucracy in order to evaluate the most effective conceptual approach to [...]
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The Process of Getting a Job

The process of getting a job remains one of the most challenging tasks for many job seekers in the United States.
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Bourdieu’s Concept of Habitus, Capital and Field

Bing in his description of habitus states, "The habitus embodied history internalized as a second nature and so forgotten as history is the active presence of the whole past of which it is the product".
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Smartphone Addiction Problem Statement

Uncontrolled use of smartphone requires users to review the need to respond to smartphone alerts, deactivate the alerts, and consult their colleagues rather than the phone because such actions can reduce anxiety. Smartphone addiction is [...]
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Urbanization Negative Impacts

Change within a society may have political, social and economic effects on the society. This essay examines the negative economic and social impacts of changes that are associated with urbanization.
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Youth Crime According to Conflict Theory

The second one is that the youth might engage in criminal activities and violence due to misappropriation of resources, lack of jobs, and inadequate strategies to meet their social needs.
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Family Is a Universal Social Institution

The core objective behind this study is to talk about the theory of family Universal Social Institution that erects on the progressions made in the field of the schematic illustration of relational acquaintance in human [...]
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Positivism, Post-Positivism, and Constructivism

Thus, one of the main postulates of the positivist approach is that the reality existing "out there" should be analyzed by science, and the essential objective of science is "to predict and control natural phenomena".
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The Future of Marriage

Although today marriage is still a significant stage in the personal life and family is discussed as the fundamental factor for the social development, the role of marriage declines, the rate of divorces increases, and [...]
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Work to Live and Live to Work

To better explore and understand the "work to live and live to work" debate, it is important to understand each concept involved.
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Unabomber: Ted Kaczynski Case Study

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the case of Unabomber through the lens of general strain theory as well as social control theory.
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What Is the Functionalist Perspective?

The functionalist perspective is a theory that affirms that the world is a structure of interconnected parts in which every part is essential in ensuring that the structure works. The main aim of all the [...]
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Tattoo Disadvantages

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Social Issues: Choosing a Life Partner

This process involves the identification of a friend to determine if potential partners share some aspects in life before the friendship can grow to a relationship and if the relationship works for the partners, it [...]
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Theory of Structuration by Anthony Giddens

In other words, individuals are the ones that create and maintain the social systems. Giddens' objective is to comprehend power dynamics as an interaction between the structure and the actor.
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Psychological and Sociological Theories in Life

People tend to behave in a way that is beneficial for the development of the system. This theoretical paradigm explains people's choice to obtain the higher education as this enables them to contribute to the [...]
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Karl Marx’s Sociology and Conflict Theory

Thus, in Marx's opinion, Capitalism causes the alienation of the masses and the constantly growing indignation of the proletariat for being exploited by the bourgeois.
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State and Its Role Within Society

Thus, the state is considered to be a political structure which is thoroughly organized and fulfills the tasks of the complex societies connected with the increase of the geographic size and population, resolution of some [...]
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“The Order of Things” by Malcolm Gladwell

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Human Freedom in Relation to Society

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Parsons and Weber: Tools and Trade

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Interpersonal Relationship Theories

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Max Weber: Natural and Social Sciences

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Young Generation Healthy Lifestyle

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Social Theories of Technology

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The ROPES Social Work Model Report

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“Future Shlock” by Neil Postman

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Social concepts

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Merton’s Role Theory Definition

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Top of the Food Chain Analysis

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Social Stratification Forms and Functions

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Wellness and Its Five Dimensions

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Subject Matter of Sociology

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The Lessons We Take from Obstacles

Thus, as someone who has engaged actively in the process of data management, I have also had to learn to discern between important information and the data that could be described as irrelevant or unnecessary. [...]
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Highly Competitive Environment

The first effective side of the competition involves the desire of individuals to achieve greater results and motivation to persist. For example, with the help of competition, students become more productive since the incentive to [...]
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Muted Group Theory: Overview

MGT focuses on the communication experience of marginalized groups in terms of linguistics. MGT was developed based on the observation of women's experience as a low-power group in the 1970s in the US.
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Social Theories of Crime in Explaining Gang Violence

This theory incorporates the strain theory as well as the social disorganization it points out that as a result of strain and societal segregation there is a particular culture that establishes for the low income [...]
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Youth Crime in Functionalism and Conflict Theories

The analysis will focus on determining factors contributing to youth engagement in criminal acts, examining the types of delinquencies they are likely to commit, and establishing the socio-psychological facets associated with the teenagers in the [...]
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Wearing Strange Clothes in Public

To explain the occurrence of the deviant behavior of wearing strange clothes and describe societal responses to the deviant behavior, the experiment utilizes the labeling theory.
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Durkheim’s Concept of Social Integration

Durkheim considered the idea of community as important to explaining the existence of society: it develops and maintains social bonds. Adherence is the act of aligning one's attitudes, ideas, and actions to the standards of [...]
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Social Penetration Theory: Term Definition

For Altman and Taylor, self-disclosure is of course a symptom of social interaction, however, on the mind of the individuals who grow up among ruins and neglect self-disclosure is undesirable process.
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Obstacles in the Society to Accept the Change

The changes taking place in the society has also been triggered by the improvement in the level of technology. The rate at which the society accommodates change is determined by how the people are receptive [...]
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Conflict: Theories and Examples

The needs and problems of individuals in a society have to be understood and addressed so that the issues that preoccupy the groups and people lose significance and therefore conflict can be resolved.
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How Cellular Phones Have Changed Us Socially?

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A Reflection of Marxism in the Modern World

This is often done in the form of a dogmatic proclamation of Marxism as an all-powerful doctrine: "Marxism is one of the most influential intellectual movements in the history of ideas".
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The Functionalist Perspective and Functionalisms

Further more, their optimistic seeing of social that is scientific, supposes that the study of the globe of social could be without value, in the sense that the investigating people's values will not in essence [...]
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Modernization Theory by Lerner

Analyzing the modernization of lifestyles based on empirical material, Lerner pays the most attention to the growth of population mobility, the spread of literacy, and the mass media.
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Review of the Multidimensional Theory

The context of a person's life is broad, and it comprises multiple elements, which is reflected in the nature of the multidimensional approach.
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Subcultures: The American Football Fan

According to Anderson, the concept of community was fashioned by regional religious traditions previous to the surfacing of mass access to the printed forms of communication that were not of the church and were written [...]
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Motivation Hypothesis and Theories

The process motivated the interns to put in a lot of effort and reach even beyond the company's objectives. The intern's motivation resulted from positive attention, which made the intended conduct more likely to occur [...]
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Education Impact on Socialization

To pursue the American Dream, young Americans should complete all the stages of socialization effectively, and the process of receiving the education is the important stage.
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Deviant Behavior in the Public Space

The violation of this normative behavior is considered to be deviant because it makes other people to feel that they are not important in the society.
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Locus of Control

This person will not attribute the accident to human error but will see fate as the main contributing factor to the incidence of the accident is because people with an external locus of control tend [...]
  • Pages: 4
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Activities of Daily Living Disussion

Activities of daily living are vital and routine tasks; difficulty performing them indicates the need for professional assistance. ADL functions are necessary for an individual's self-care daily procedures, such as grooming and getting on and [...]
  • Pages: 1
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Modernity Theory and Social Change

Modernity, science and technology tries to educate the society in letting go of cultural as well as traditional values and embrace modern technology which enhances the progress of a society.
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Gay Marriage: Societal Suicide

While Colson and Morse cannot neglect the need to oppose gay marriage because it destroys human society, the tone, references to the law, and the language chosen for the article help the reader understand the [...]
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Individualism vs. Collectivism

From the perspective of collectivism, the society forms the fundamental element of moral concern, and a person has to serve the group to get value. In conclusion, collectivism and individualism are cultural aspects that have [...]
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“Urbanism as a Way of Life” Article by Wirth

In his article titled "Urbanism as a way of life," Wirth starts formulating the understanding of the city by contending that the element of urbanism gives a unique flavor to people's lives in metropolitan areas.
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“The Metropolis and Mental Life” by Simmel

It is a perception based on the necessity to ensure the optimal exploitation of opportunities to establish the compatibility and the ability to determine the significance and relevance of inspirations.
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The Design of Perfect Society

There should be well-built leadership structures within the society to ensure that all the people in the society adhere to the laws that are in place. People will be allowed to interact and work with [...]
  • Pages: 3
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Brown and Levinson Theory of Politeness

Levinson and Brown points out circumstances, which contradict with the notion of the face through the verbal and the non-verbal communication styles of the speakers, a situation is referred to as 'face threatening act'.
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Erving Goffman Theory

Both claim that "there is no gender identity", as evidenced by the following excerpts: Gender is performative, gender is always doing, "though not a doing by a subject who might be said to pre-exist the [...]
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  • Words: 2930

Subculture Theories: Response to the Dominant Culture

According to Hebdige, subcultures develop as a response to the dominant culture and exist in situations where there is recognized and organized collection of actions, values, as well as behavior that differ from the customary [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 846

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

In this case, the family works to raise children; education is important to provide the knowledge for following generations; religion provides the necessary knowledge related to spiritual issues; economy distributes the goods, and government coordinates [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1041

Social Life Order: Erving Goffman and Michel Foucault’ Views

Thus, Goffman discusses the social order as a result of the people's everyday practices, interactions, and activities; on the contrary, Foucault states that the social order is a result of the historical processes, authority's impact, [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1105

Arguments for Animal Rights

Instead of using shared pain and pleasure to show the similarities between people and animals, he strives to elevate animals to human status.
  • Pages: 9
  • Words: 2478

What Is a Parent?

In the cases wherein the egg and sperm do not come from the couple, and a surrogate is used to carry the child, who is the real parent of the child?
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The Concept of Otherness

Through the story of Thomas he shows that treating others as the other is so bad that it makes people ungrateful to others.
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Symbolic Interaction and Dramaturgy of Mead and Goffman

The essential tenets underlying the symbolic interaction method, based on Mead's approach, are as follows: people utilize symbols as a means of communication within their social settings; through social interactions, the self is created; and [...]
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