Sociological Theories Essay Examples and Topics

One of the most tragic things about people, who are addicted to alcohol, is that they are rarely viewed as the victims of a disease. Moreover, the very phenomenon of alcoholism is practically never considered as a disease by most people, which is very wrong. Alcoholism is a malady, which eats at people, and denying […]

Introduction Understanding the dynamic nature of human personality has become a complex issue in the contemporary society owing to numerous factors such as nature, genetic makeup, and the social environment that control and influence individual’s behavior. Sociologists argue that human behavior, besides being influenced by the environment, is also controlled by certain aspects such as […]

Introduction Different scholars look at education functions from different perspectives depending on the theory they deploy in interpretation of their perceived features of education. The theories that tend to explain the sociological functions of education are collectively termed as sociological theories of education. Young posits that sociology of education entails the study of the manner […]

Problem Identification In everything that one sets to do, there is need to ensure that it is done in the expected manner. Acting within expectation is what defines an accomplished worker from an ineffective individual. Because of the increasing demand in every sector of the economy, there is always the need to work beyond the […]

All people live in the society and they are to subject to the rules of this society. Living in the modern world, many Europeans and Americans are unable to understand how other nations, especially those who live in the Far and the Middle East. At the same time, looking at the social changes and the […]

Introduction When one person gets wealthier in the society, it is difficult for others to enjoy the benefits that come with that increase in wealth. It has been, therefore, the aim of every society to ensure equal distribution of income such that everyone in the society can have access to resources that will enable them […]

Introduction Social class can be defined as a manifestation of structural inequality in the present day social system which creates different “classes” of individuals based on their economic status. This is commonly manifests as the following social classes: Upper Class This class within society is normally associated with individuals who have accumulated considerable amounts of […]

Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that deals with how people formulate social norms. These are the everyday day affairs that people engage in creating social norms. This phenomenon is a result of a study by Garfinkel in 2002. Ethnomethodologists are able to tell how such norms come into existence by breaking such social norms. Social […]

Currently this community has to struggle with the proliferation violent street gangs who can be engaged in deviant or criminal activities. The main task is to find cost-effective solutions to this problem. This issue should be addressed with the help of a transformational leadership theory which is helpful for changing the behavior of individuals. These […]

Neoliberal citizenship, political and social abjection The artistic control and manipulation of media have contributed immensely to continued discrimination of the undervalued in society (Hindess, 2010). Throughout the considered neoliberal states, resistances at all times emerge at the levels of social abjections. Considering the radical potentials of the abject together with limitations, there should be […]

According to Ball and Youdell (2009), there is a hidden privatisation in public education. The authors say that “international agencies and national governments have hidden education agendas to privatise public education”. In some cases, privatisation is quite explicit in educational policies while in other cases, it is hidden. Privatisation is pursued as a solution to […]

Introduction In an organization, employees experience a number of challenges that relate to their level of motivation and performance. These challenges include poor working relationships between junior and senior staff, deprived working conditions, meager salaries and wages, as well as different needs of employees. These challenges result in poor performance as employees fail to meet […]

History of the Neighborhoods In this social economic analysis, I will focus on Austin city located in Texas as well as Harbor Hills in New York. Austin is the capital city of the US state of Texas. It has a population of approximately one million people according to US Census Bureau. Since its foundation in […]

François Lyotard is one of the most influential postmodern theorists who explored the concept of knowledge in the twentieth century. Lyotard (1979) analysed different types of information and knowledge and the role knowledge played in the society. His discoveries revealed the major trends which existed at that time. Thus, the theorist exploits the concepts of […]

Introduction Probably, music is the most popular way of entertaining people in the modern culture. Artists create different music to suit different people, situations and needs. This has resulted to the emergence of many songs which aim at attracting audience in unique ways. For example, Classic Rock music targets elderly people showing its unique characteristics […]

Patricia Collin’s article “Shifting the Centre: Race, Class, and Feminist Theorizing about Motherhood” is a clear castigation of the feminist theory of the white woman which widely makes standard personal autonomy and other experiences related to emotional nurture of the economically secure white middle-class nuclear families. The author starts by bringing into the limelight the […]

Summary The post-colonial theory represents the tendency in the humanitarian sciences which has become urgent since the second half of the XX century. Its area of study encompasses the problems of the interaction between the colonizers and their colonies. It focuses on the social development of nations being under control of the large European empires. […]

Introduction Social stratification entails the arrangement of a cluster of people in a society as depicted by their social status. Power, wealth, and prestige are the major determinants of social stratification in any given society or nation. It is important to note that social stratification affects the entire life of an individual through a myriad […]

One of the themes of Post-colonial theory deals with identity in a personal and social context. The way an individual thinks of their own character and how they interact with the surrounding environment and society, has a major impact on the whole population. The theoretical perspective or “lens” is described as a set of attributes […]

Introduction: Same Old Story Complaints about the spoilt children of the next generation have been around since the beginning of time. Even though it might seem that the concerns about the spoilt generation have started to appear since the beginning of the XX century, every single generation is no stranger to the fear for children […]

Social class Social class refers to the social differentiation of people within a society depending on their social status, which is majorly determined by their economic status. People of low economic status usually belong to a low social class and vice versa. Karl Marx presented a two class model of society comprising the bourgeoisie and […]

Introduction The rapid changes experienced in the contemporary world have left human beings overwhelmed, forestalling, and others mesmerized depending on the age group factor. Perhaps one would wonder why the world seems entangled in different perceptions over the current global image, especially the differing presumption over matters pertaining to socio-economic structures. Traditionally, culture has been […]

Immigration in the US has been a common practice for quite a long time now and this has resulted into rapid accumulation of diverse populations within America. However, reaction to the diverse population caused by immigration is mixed. Some states are much friendly to foreigners who happen to find their way in their territories while […]

Introduction Many societies are changing at a very high rate in the modern world. This has been triggered by the increasing rate of globalization, which has transformed the world into a global village. The changes taking place in the society has also been triggered by the improvement in the level of technology. Due to these […]

Introduction In the Canadian population, the composition of the aboriginal people takes 4%. There has been a 90% increase in the incarceration rate of aboriginal offenders with a fast rate within a frame of 10 years. Through the Needs Assessment of Federal Aboriginal Women Offenders – an examination of the program needs of incarcerated Aboriginal […]

Introduction Historically, women in prison and their children have attracted minimal interest from scholars, policy makers and mainstream commentators in spite of the deleterious effects occasioned by incarceration on inmate mothers, their children and all of society (Luke, 2002). With the dramatic increase in female incarceration rates in the United States due to radical shifts […]

Public transit forms the backbone of commuter transport in Melbourne1. It consists of buses, trams, and trains. City circle tram, which offers a free service, forms the main mode of transport around the perimeter of the Central Business District (CBD). In the year 2010, these three combined made 504 million trips, which played a major […]

Introduction The formation of societies started centuries ago and has continued significantly. There are changes that have taken place in the society including structural changes and those pertaining to relationships. This paper discusses three theories of social transformation including functionalist, conflict, and interpretive models. The functionalist theory of societal change was coined in 1975 by […]

Abstract This paper describes the regional stereotypes attached to the people of Kuwait. It, therefore, looks at the misconceptions and opinions associated with the Kuwaiti nationals and the Arab world. The introduction gives a summary of the main points. Literature review, then, summarizes other scholar’s articles and researches related to these stereotypes. The evidence and […]

Introduction Nations have experienced various transformations since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Even though, there are differences at in development rates nations are struggling to ensure they adopt modern technology and transform various production activities. There are many occasions where human progress is associated with technological advancement and these two cannot be separated (Puttergill […]

In sociology of education, it is always believed that lay knowledge or everyday knowledge is the type of information that is within the public domain. This type of knowledge allows people to interpret their surrounding since it provides a frame of reference or direction. This knowledge is usually acquired through the process of socialisation because […]

Answers to the question The definition of family provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics focuses mostly on formal and conventional aspects, for example, marriage, the residency in the same household, or blood relationship. However, it does not describe the interactions between people who compose a family. For instance, nothing is being said about such […]

Aim of the Research The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of the lives of Iraqi and Cuban refugees who have arrived the United States. Specifically, this paper will focus on the statistics of the refugees, their emotional standing, their living styles, problem arising due to language barriers, and the difficulties that […]

Introduction One of the post-modernity’s main aspects is that fact that, as of today, the growth of the human population has attained a clearly defined exponential momentum. This raises certain concerns about whether the human civilisation will be able to maintain its resource-related sustainability in the future. After all, unlike what it happened to be […]

Introduction Max Weber’s contributions in the field of sociology remain unparalleled. He is a classical sociologist whose ideas, themes and theories influenced the course of sociology. Importantly, Weber was opposed to the idea held by positivists that empirical research was the most effective way of understanding social reality. He advocated for qualitative research in analyzing […]

Introduction Technology is an important constituent of all human cultures which impacts positively as well as negatively up on people’s lives and which are in turn affected by them. Human activities in all sectors of a society is made easier by general and/or specific collection of implements and tools which has been invented by man […]

Introduction Social construction is a sociological theory that deals with development of social contexts and social phenomena. Human choices made out of the divine nature and will are a result of social constructs. The thinking pattern of the members of an organization that is socially constructed influences the long-term performance of the organization. The realities […]

There are varied principal values that govern various activities undertaken by people in different social structures like the school, health care systems, mortuary and boot camp. From a school perspective, students are taught many lessons ranging from the formal elements of the curriculum to the informal elements related to the student’s behavior, dress code, body […]

Kotler and Keller (2006) state that the population of people over 50 years old is going to be about 115 million in the next 25 years. This information is extremely helpful for understanding the needs and preferences of people in this age. The increased number of such people will require from the society to meet […]

Taking responsibility is often discussed as a challenging process because of the associated limits and frames in behaviors and feelings of blame or duty. In addition, responsibility is usually associated with the personal maturity of an individual who can act conscientiously and focus on consequences of his or her actions (Perring, 2014, p. 18). From […]

Heterogeneity Latinos are a diverse population with different national origins. However, the greatest Latino group living in the U.S is of the Mexican origin. The culture and ethnicity of this populace are diverse with variations existing in languages they speak. General understanding of these differences is greatly important as commonalities are also identified (Furman, Negi, […]

Contemporary applications to Weber Ritzer (2010) and Zelizer (2002) explore Max Weber’s perceptions of the socialist theory. The authors offer insightful analysis of the modes of production and consumption in various economies. In actual sense, they effectively and critically analyze the Marxist socialist theory by giving a straightforward explanation of how different modes of production […]

The two articles in question dwell upon such issues as division and stratification of the society (social, economic, cultural and so on). At the same time, the articles focus on different aspects of people’s lives to reveal the division and analyze its causes and effects. Thus, Edles and Appelrouth (2014) concentrate on Durkheim’s theory of […]

Research for quantitative research and methodology Determinants of birth rate on a global scale Introduction Understanding the factors that lead to increased or decreased birth rates across the world is key to implementing development agenda. Research demonstrates that a country’s birth rate could have an impact on the future development path of that country. If […]

Population density is a universal concept in determination of population with specific focus on unit area and volume. Population density usually suffices in quantification of living organisms within a specific geographical location (Nielsen, 2011). It is an integral pillar in demographic considerations because it offers clear guidelines with regard to population trends in demographic contexts. […]

One of the most peculiar aspects of a contemporary living is the fact that nowadays, it is specifically the extent of a particular individual’s integration, within the society, which defines his or her chances to attain self-actualization. This creates a certain contradiction – in order for just about anyone to be able to realize its […]

Introduction What is Community Asset Mapping? The phenomenon of the community asset mapping is typically defined as “an important tool for building community, for understanding community strengths and assets, and for sustaining economic viability” (McIntosh, 2011, p. 261) and serves the purpose of identifying the key problems that the community in question has at the […]

Introduction People have different behaviors depending on their culture, age, sex, race and academic backgrounds. However, modernization has forced them to live with one another despite the presence of these differences. It is necessary to explain that even though people come from different backgrounds they have managed to live together without serious conflicts among them […]

Abstract Sociology is an intriguing study. It explains and examines human life at personal, societal and global level. The main subject of concern in sociology is human interaction with fellow human and institutions. Sociology gives explanation for world’s happenings such religion, politics, environment and peace. Similarly with other area of study, sociology has its strengths […]

Introduction Sociological theories have immensely contributed to the development of the sociology discipline by explaining various sociological processes. These postulates observe various sociological phenomena from varied viewpoints which may either be similar or different. This paper seeks to explore selected scholars and their insights into sociological concepts. Marxism Marxism propagates the idea that societies advance […]

Introduction Social constructionist inquiry is concerned with explaining the processes by which people come to describe, explain, or account for the world in which they inhabit. Social constructionist attempts to articulate common forms of understanding as they currently exist, as they have existed in prior historical periods and generally, as they might exist should creative […]

Ethnomethodology is the development of means of analysing problems and issues of sociological nature. At home, hospitals, work place and in various institutions where people interact on daily basis, social issues arise and are a matter of concern for many. These social issues and problems occur because people take for granted simple things like every […]

Sociological theories are the key components of sociology as a discipline. They function as guides for researchers and also guide practitioners who conduct intervention strategies. Sociological theories are defined as a set of concepts which are interrelated. They explain, describe and predict the relationships among different parts of the society. The theories are made up […]

Unemployment Contextualizing Responses Pioneer Advocate Society intends to illustrate impacts of unemployment in American society. The institute has a responsibility of presenting its finding and possible interventions for corrective measures toward solution to social problem in the society. This proposal is based on responses from two hundred New York citizens who are employed or jobless. […]

The world has different kinds of people and they hold varying views and have different attitudes. The outlook that the person has determines how he will react to the views and behaviours of other people. It will also influence the level of tolerance that a person has. One of the types of people is the […]

Introduction This essay focuses on Brown and Levinson’s theory of politeness. Brown and Levinson developed this theory in 1987.The theory focuses on politeness strategies between native and non-native speakers in the context of Brown and Levinson politeness theory. In this essay, I will apply this framework to one data one part of the dataset collected. […]

The following literature review critically evaluates the existing debates central to the relevant themes and aims of this dissertation. These include social constructionism, namely the development of this theoretical framework and how it relates to the view of the self using accountability as an example; the rise of the dominant discourse on health and safety […]

Introduction From my own understanding, rationality is the kind of thinking that a group of people or an individual wish to have to attain their goals if they are conscious of their best interests. Thinking is about the goals, beliefs, and decisions that individuals and organizations have. Rational beliefs are coherent rather than contradictory, but […]

In Chapter four of her book, Social Constructionism, Vivian Burr discusses the Foucauldian concept of discourse. The author infers that we are created through knowledge. It is often argued that the knowledge we encounter (our experiences) defines who we are. If this is the position, would it not be in order to infer that those […]

Obedience can be termed as an act in which one responds or adheres to certain instructions from a higher authority without questioning. As a result, obedience allows individuals to follow guidelines and instructions as per by-laws within society, school, homes and other social places. Conversely, conformity is acting in accordance to the desire of other […]

Karl max and the concept of alienation On his part, Karl Max understood work as alienating. His argument was based on the capitalistic mode of production which has its roots in the industrial revolution of 1600. This mode of production is characterised by two groups of people namely the capitalists and the proletariats. According to […]

Cooper (2012) considers three conflicting responsibilities, (1) conflicts of authority, (2) role conflicts and (3) conflicts of interest. Conflicts of authority are based on the subordination of one person to several people (laws, rules) and in case one contradicts another one the conflict appears. The most disappointing aspect is that there is no way out […]

Abstract This paper examines the social theories of law that were proposed by two of the greatest social theorists, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. The paper seeks to examine what each of the two theorists wants to bring on board in their theories with regard to law in the society. The study will then go […]

An analysis of the Theory of Politeness According to Brown and Levinson, politeness is an important aspect in the day to today interactions and socialization of people in different situations. In communication, there are certain variables, which people consider either consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, for clear understanding of the theory, it is important to note […]

Introduction New Zealand “is an island country that is found in the south-western Pacific Ocean and comprises two main land masses and numerous other smaller islands” (Atkinson, 2003, p. 45). The country is democratic with capitalistic economic model and has a rich cultural tradition that is a blend of European and the Maori culture. This […]

Introduction Conflict is part of human existence. Theories expounded by scholars and theorists state that conflicts are the result of human needs not being met, or as a result of competition. When these needs are addressed to, conflicts lose significance. There are a number of theories discussed in this essay and most delve on the […]

At present all politicians and officials like referring to public opinion. Newspapers and the Internet contain numerous articles about public opinion. Nevertheless, there is still no clear understanding of what public opinion really is and how it is possible to research, define and interpret it. Floyd H. Allport pointed out that the science of public […]

Introduction The theories of sociology serve to widen our understanding on the world’s problems. When faced with social challenges such as crime and deviance, we apply the theories in interpreting them. Without the theories, it would be almost impossible to decode social problems that are increasing on daily basis. Construction is a theory, which postulates […]

The science of public opinion is in the spotlight nowadays. If there is a science of public opinion, or is it an issue that is still not developed and deserves close attention? There is much questioning concerning this issue among scientists which provokes much debates. One of the founders of the social psychology, Floyd H. […]

Discussion Actor-network theory is associated with the works of Bruno Latour, John Law and Michael Callon. The individuals were Science and Technology Studies scholars. It is a unique approach to the social research and theory. The origin of the actor-network theory can be traced from the science studies. This approach is distinguished from other approaches […]

Mankind has experienced problems of varying magnitudes over a long period of time now. These problems have been viewed to originate or to be caused by various factors. A number of sociological theorists have attempted to provide explanations concerning the occurrence of the realities faced by human beings. Examples of sociological theories of knowledge focusing […]

It nowadays became a commonplace assumption that, since the notion of taste/aesthetics implies subjectivity, than the incorporation of subjectivist aesthetics into the conceptual framework of a particular ideology, undermines the extent of this ideology’s discursive appropriateness. In this paper, however, I will aim to show that, contrary to the earlier mentioned assumption, it is entirely […]

According to Crone (2011), there are many ways that sociology can help in solving the present problems in the society. Sociologists can enlighten the society about the problems, conduct research about the problem and give report to the public on what needs to be done. The research performed by sociologists can be used by policy […]

The fact that sociology officially appeared only at the end of the XIX century sheds some light on the human nature. While paying close attention to society in general and the behavioral patterns of other people in particular, as well as the interactions between the members of society was practiced earlier, the idea of studying […]

Nowadays, it became a commonplace practice among sociologists to discuss the essence of the surrounding social reality, within the conceptual framework of the theory of Social-Constructivism, which denies the objectively predetermined nature of people’s tendency to act in one way or another, while remaining as the society’s integral elements. Nevertheless, the close analysis of the […]

Introduction In this paper, sociological theories will be analyzed in regard to the current social event represented in the chosen newspaper article. In order to make an analysis, the article will first be summarized, along with the two chosen sociological theories – Conflict Theory and Structural Functionalism – that relate to the topic of the […]

Definition of Sociology Sociology is a social science that studies human beings in their social setting including their descent, institutions, systems, organisations and their influence on societal development. It is concerned with understanding the structure and functioning of human society, how it changes over time and the forces that account for the changes. Sociologists thus […]

Introduction The theory of panopticism is very crucial for social and political development in society. This theory is built around the concept of a panopticon. This is a circular building that has an observation tower at its center and an outer wall surrounding it. The wall of the panopticon has cells for its occupants. It […]

In his discussion about machines and their role in the day to day industrial world, Karl Marx looks at the various aspects of machinery. These include its development, its worth in terms of the product made, its impact on workers, the rising conflicts between workers and machines, industrial changes brought about by machinery and its […]

Conflict history Human society has been characterized by conflict since time immemorial. Therefore, it can be noted that conflicts have been part and parcel of the human society. Conflict can be defined as the state of incompatibility between individuals or groups. Conflict may also be defined as a disagreement that may arise between individuals in […]

Early life Emile Durkheim is considered as the pioneer French educational sociologist. His life was dominated by his educational profession, although he was extremely and affectionately engaged in the affairs of French people. Durkheim was born in 1858 to a rabbi in the southern French region of Lorraine. He studied the Old Testimony, Hebrew and […]

According to Goffman, in his 1959 article on presentation of self in everyday life, he argues that the first impression is very essential in determining the subsequent relationship between interacting parties. He gives an example of a waitress and explains how the waitress serves a customer on the first instant the customer takes a seat. […]

Diffusion of innovation describes how a new idea, behavior, or item (an innovation) is disseminated to a population in a given period of time through specific avenues of communication (Rogers, 2003). Innovations are not always adopted even when they have obvious and clear-cut advantages and Rogers (2003) identifies four factors of diffusion: time, the social […]

It is just a few people who can comfortably discuss the topic “Diffusion of innovation”. Not many have even ever heard of it. Yet to those who have had the chance to know a little about it, it is a topic that left them yearning to have some more of the information. This has been […]

Introduction For a long time, sociologists have had different opinions about what dimensions of social experience most shape our collective reality. This paper seeks to compare how Karl Marx, Max Weber and Judith Butler provide different ways of understanding the relation between ideas, language and materiality. The paper will also identify the theorist that gives […]

Introduction Sociology is a subject that studies societies and social behavior of individuals in a society. Social issues are matters that pertain to people’s lives as they interact with one another in a society. This paper seeks to discuss sociological aspects. Based on a newspaper article, the paper will explore concepts of sociological imagination and […]

Pat Tillman’s death Pat Tillman was a true patriot whose death sparked an enormous debate in the public domain. Tillman, a former Corporal and football player, died in April 2004 after being short severally in the forehead during the American- Afghanistan war. Tillman denounced his football career even after being promised fatty returns and joined […]

Introduction Liberty argued moral and partisan code that seeks to discover the form in which human beings are able to govern themselves. Liberty is how we visualize the roles and tasks of the distinct in society in connection to the idea of free will. Individual liberty entails the freedom of a person from outside obligation […]

Durkheim’s idea of Anomie Durkheim studied various components of society in order to understand how each part related to another. This was an attempt to look at society and establish how it works. A stable society operates smoothly with its functional, social arrangements. Such a society reflects consensus, cohesion and cooperation. Conversely, if arrangements of […]

Introduction: Through the Prism of the Social Standards The aspect of norm and normative in the modern society has become a considerably questionable issue because of the culture diversity on the one hand and the freedom of self-expression on the other one. Therefore, I would like to bring into discussion the manner in which Butler […]

Introduction In any society one of the most important aspects is to understand the various aspects that characterize the day to day activities of the local Australian community members. For a health professional, it is important to understand all the pertinent factors that such as culture and issues of diversity that may have an effect […]

In reference to an article published in the New York Times on September 6 2011, most people from New York are largely discontented with the quality of education that is being offered in most government schools within the city. According to them, the system has gone down since the Mayor in charge took over leadership […]

Introduction The nature of human freedom entails the totality of man’s whole life. Human freedom has to do with the freedom of one’s will, which is the freedom of man to choose and act by following his path through life freely by exercising his ‘freedom’) (Morrison, 1997). But this perspective has not been without much […]

In an effort to explain sociology based on how relevant it is in daily life, many sociologists today find the term sociological imagination coined by C. Wright Mills inevitable in their discussions. Through his work under a similar name, Wright Mills stands out as the most appealing sociological theorist to me. Therefore, as pointed out […]

Introduction According to Karl Marx, analyzing social classes and structures as well as variations in the structures are critical in understanding modern capitalism other social systems or even modes of production. Marx and Engels argue that the communist in the manifesto ‘…the history of all hitherto existing in the society is the class struggles” (Marx […]

Introduction In the recent years, the world has seen an increase in population of people. In turn, this has led to an increase in the population density in the world today. By definition, population density is the amount of people that are living or occupying a certain area divided with the size of the area […]

Introduction The current population of a country is a product of the past trends in the population of the county under investigation. Consequently, this population will determine how the future population of the country will be. This has been demonstrated by a comparison of the population pyramids of the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Ethiopia. A […]

Contemporary sociological theory covers the theoretical orientations that have been influential in shaping up the society since the mid-twentieth century. Contemporary theories are majorly based on the ideas of the classical age theorists. Some of the theoretical orientations that have heavily influenced contemporary theories include; “phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology, sociology of emotions, symbolic interaction, social […]

Introduction The fields of sociology, law and economics have had many contributions from renowned people of the ancient and modern era. This has led to many scholars advocating for increased attention on the intersection of these disciplines forming what is commonly known as the economic sociology of law. Amongst the ancient contributors is the great […]

Meaning of Otherness Why does it happen that a person in our modern open society still feels alone and alien? The first reason is that you feel that people who surround you cannot understand you. Thus, you retreat in yourself. It is a very dangerous condition because the others do not know that you need […]