II.    Symbolic Interactionism

        A.    Historical Context
        B.    Basic Premises of SI

       1.    Human beings are unique creatures because they can create and manipulate symbols.

    2.  Human beings must be studied in their natural environment and cultural context.

    3.   The meaning of symbols is learned through social interaction. 

   4.  Human beings are born into an ongoing society with established social roles/norms.

    5.  Perceptions of situations influence human behavior.  People are not simple stimulus response creatures; human beings must define a definition before they respond/behave

    6.  Human behavior is based on individuals' interpretation of a situation and the meaning they give it:  "If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences" (Thomas Theorem)

    7.    Individuals are not born with a sense of self, but develop self-concepts through social interaction; Cooley's "Looking Glass Self"

    8.  The self is both a process and an object; Mead's "I, Me & Generalized Other"
 

            1.   As primary socialization agent, the family influences individual's self-concept as well as social roles, norms, values           

            2.    "internal conversations" important in family dynamics

            3.    Family members define situations differently; different types of families define situations differently

III.    Structural Functional Theory

        A.    Historical Context
        B.    Basic Premises

                1.    Society is like an organism
                2.    Society is comprised of structures, each of which serves a particular function
                3.    All of the structures in society are interdependent
                4.    Social change disrupts the delicate balance of the social order

        C.    Functional theory applied to the family
                1.    focus on the functions of the family within society
                2.    focus on the functions or roles within the family

IV.    Conflict Theory
        A.  Historical Context
        B.    Basic Premises
                1.    Human beings are "self-oriented" and will pursue their needs over others if necessary
                2.    Conflict is natural and inevitable in human nature and society
                3.    Conflict is created by individuals having different values, goals, or access to resources.

        C.     Conflict Theory applied to family
                1.    Interpersonal conflict strand
                2.    Economic determinism strand

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