The Functionalist Perspective

 

Sociology is dominated by three prevailing theoretical perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Your readings for this week provide an overview of how each of these perspectives address the issue of aging.
After reviewing this week’s learning resources, use your own words to respond to the following questions.
• What is the functionalist perspective? What is an example of a functionalist view of aging?
• What is the conflict theory? What is an example of how aging is associated with conflict in today’s society?
• What is the symbolic interactionist perspective? What do sociologists mean when they say that aging is a “social construction?”
• What are some ways in which we can change the narrative that aging is a social “problem?”

Homelessness

Select a social issue that has particular interest to you. It can be one that you have experienced yourself, one you have seen in your own community, or one you want to learn more about. Here are a few suggested topics:
• Race issues
• Homelessness
• Social class
• Health care
• Gender
• The environment
• Immigration
• Sexual orientation
• Technology
Please note that these are very broad topic areas. You should narrow your choice down to a more specific issue within the broader topic. For example, if you choose gender, you could narrow it down to gender discrimination, gender disparities in health care, gender identity, gender roles, gender stratification, and so on. This will make it easier for you to really focus on a particular social issue.
Once you have selected your topic, you will submit a two-paragraph project plan:
1. The first paragraph identifies the topic you have chosen and explains why you think this topic will be a good one to explore from a social science perspective. This paragraph should also include some preliminary discussion of the specific issues that are relevant to your topic that you plan to focus on in your final project (the number of issues you are looking for).
2. The second paragraph identifies the two social sciences you are going to use to examine your issue. Why did you choose these two disciplines? Cite the information from at least four relevant learning resources (from the course materials) to help validate your selection of the disciplines.

 

 

 

The Role of Disparities and Inequalities in the Destandardization of the Life Course

 

Life course researchers are beginning to study the role disparities/inequalities may play in contributing to, and the consequences of, a “destandardized life course”. The acknowledgement that the life course is not and could be argued never was standard, has raised the question of what is influencing life course trajectories and what variables could be used to determine how life course trajectories change longitudinally.

a) What social processes does life course theory aid in explaining? How does destandardization contrast with Elder’s framework for the life course? What might contribute to destandardization of the life course?

b)What constitutes a destandardized life course, what are its consequences at both a micro and macro level? How might inequalities be contributing factors to destandardizing of the life course or outcomes that result from destandardization?

c) In a context of your choosing, what demographic variables would help demonstrate the prevalence of a destandardized life course? Please include data points to illustrate whether or not there is a destandardized life course.

Any additional sources you use must also be peer reviewed. This should be 10 to 12 pages in length, double spaced using a minimum of ten sources from the course outline, and a minimum of six course themes (the areas we are discussing this term) also from any point in the term. Class notes are not to be used as this is meant to demonstrate your own understanding and analysis of the field of study.

Review of Transference and Countertransference

Review the transference and counter transference links from your readings this week.
Link to reading below
Transference-
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/transference
Countertransference-
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/countertransference
Boundaries-
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/boundaries
Respond to the following prompts in the Transference and Counter Transference discussion forum by Wednesday 10/25/2023.
• Why do you think that it is important for counselors to be aware of transference dynamics when they are doing counseling?
• How might cultural issues affect counter transference and boundaries?
• How does monitoring counter transference and using evidence-based practices help to create safety and trust?

Challenges with Reviewing Research and Interpreting Evidence-Based Practices

 

What are some of the challenges with reviewing research and interpreting evidence-based practices ?
How would the evidence-based strategies you select guide your foundational knowledge within your profession?
Did your literature review give you the foundational knowledge to implement practices and strategies in research and program evaluation?

Exploring the Sociological Theory of Strain and Its Application to Juvenile Violent Crimes

Research and Discuss a case in the News that has occurred within the last five years involving a juvenile who committed a violent crime.
2- Choose a Sociological theory from Chapter Five of your text book and desribe that theory in detail. You may choose to talk about two theories at most.
2- Use this theory in an attempt to explain why the Juvenile committed the act./crime.
Your paper must include the following:
–              Title Page (Not Page One)
–              Abstract (150-250 word paragraph summarizing what your paper is all about)
–              Introduction to your topic
–              Body of the paper
–              Conclusions
–              Reference Page (Not page 5)
–              Attached any article (s) (Copy)