Social Theories
Sociology theories have been crucial in creating a better understanding of societies, relationships, and social behaviors. Sociologists are always on the run to develop theories to explain certain concepts. The development of theories is always aimed at answering questions that trouble the minds of people without adequate information. Social theories are, therefore aimed at explaining how certain social structures were formed and the relationship between various social systems. Several social theories have been developed in the past, although most of them have faded with time while others have remained firm. Some of the remaining social theories are symbolic interactionism, functionality, and conflict theory. Working in an adult daycare has exposed me to several social theories in the application. The application of social theories is essential in social institutions because the theories well explain the objective of the institution as well as the challenges faced.
Adult day care helps in offering care services to adults who are either lonely or under health care services. A family may, for example, decide to take their relative to an adult day care if the institution promises better care services (Aseyedali & Tabrizi, 2019). The motivation to work in the daycare service is associated with my experiences that I went through while growing up. Having a sick adult who required close supervision meant that someone would have to take a day off work to look after them. Also, the daycare promises a positive growth with most people realizing that day care services for adult are more effective than household care.
Symbolic interactionism is concerned with an individual’s ability to think and interact with other people. Social interaction is crucial in ensuring that people’s way of thinking is well-structured (Denzin, 2016). During social interactions, people come up with symbols and meanings that aid in successful interaction. The meanings and symbols developed by individuals can be altered to suit the changing ways of interaction. Eventually, the patterns of action developed during the interaction process divides people into social groups that can understand each other.
In the adult day care institution, symbolic interactionism applies extensively. First, the institution admits individuals from a large geographical area, and thus, language barriers may occur. However, the individuals come together to identify common symbols and language that helps them to communicate. Also, the interaction with strangers brings new interaction groups that share beliefs and practices. The interactions lead to further social groups with mixed identities. The capacity for thought makes the people in the daycare institution to share ideas that lead to transformations.
Functionalism theory is concerned with the way that human beings try to keep issues in a state of equilibrium. A state of equilibrium means that conflicts are kept at bay, and any deviation from equilibrium is treated as an abnormality (Turner, 2017). The functionalism social theory is based on the claim that a state of reorganization will always come up to restore the equilibrium state. Therefore, human beings find themselves reorganizing to restore normality, even where circumstances require a state of abnormality.
The adult day care system brings together individuals with different problems. For example, some individuals come to the institution because they are lonely and need people to interact with during the day. Also, other people are brought by their families to release the burden that comes with taking care of adult people. When different people interact, they discuss and come up with solutions to some of their problems. Therefore, social interaction helps individuals to go back to their normal lives easily.
Conflict social theory contradicts the theory of functionalism. According to the theory of conflict, society is divided into conflicting groups that fight for dominance. A certain group is always able to dominate over the other groups in society (Pérez & Mugny, 2018). People always have interests that make them suppress the interests of other people. Theorists have always viewed conflict as the result of the desire for power, and the belief has been true. However, conflict theorists have argued that power is essential in maintaining power in a society. The existence of certain positions in society ensures that society is orderly, and no unnecessary competition is allowed.
The application of the conflict theory in the adult care institution takes different perspectives. First, the conflict of interest by family members leads people into the day care institution. Also, the adults in the daycare system are interested in social interaction despite being ill and end up seeking the services of a daycare system. Additionally, people inside the daycare compete for power over other people’s ideas. Generally, society is built on a power-seeking foundation, and everyone is determined to emerge dominant.
In sum, the structure of different societies is explained by social theorists. The conflict, functionalism, and symbolic interactionism theories are some of the outstanding social theories. The different social theories are applied in social institutions to maintain order. An example of an institution that is built on the three social theories is an adult day care institution.
References
Aseyedali, M., & Norouzi Tabrizi, K. (2019). Adult Daycare Centers in the World. Iranian Journal of Ageing, 13(4), 518-529.
Denzin, N. K. (2016). Symbolic interactionism. The international encyclopedia of communication theory and philosophy, 1-12.
Pérez, J. A., & Mugny, G. (2018). The conflict elaboration theory of social influence. In Understanding group behavior (pp. 191-210). Psychology Press.
Turner, J. H. (2017). Functionalism. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, 1-9.