Capitalism

Capitalism is a society in such a way that the wealth and means of production are privately owened by capitalists.

Pros:

• Economic freedom helps political freedom
• Firms in a capitalist based society face incentives to be efficient and produce goods which are in demand
• Helps with economic growth

Cons:

• Monopoly power. Firms with monopoly power can exploit their position to charge higher prices for their products.
• Social benefits are ignored
• Inhertied wealth and wealth inequality
• Societies which are highly unequal create resentment and social division.
• Dimenishes the Marginal utility of wealth
• Capitalist economies have a tendency to booms and busts with painful recessions and mass unemployment.

Globalization

Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships Of culture, people, and economic activity. Globalization and new technologies such as the Internet allow widely dispersed memberships for new religious movements and new age movements, without the need for geographical base. Some pros to globalization are People around the world are more connected to each other, information and money flows much faster, Good and services produced in one part of the world is available to all parts of the world, and it helps keeps the economy running smoothly and efficiently. Some cons to globalization are it makes the rich richer and the non-rich poorer, mutinational Corporations are accused of social injustice, many say globalization isn't working for the majority of the world, and many believe business is only run thru rich companies who have made a name for themselves around the world. So many believe we should have globalization and many believe we shouldn't since it's supposedly hurting the majority of the world. My perspective is that globalization is helping the world economically since money is flowing into many countries for products these countries produce, but then again I don't know all the facts laugh out Loud. :D

Positivist or interactionist approach?

I think a positivist approach provides better methods to understand sociological issues more clearly. They simply go by the facts and conduct their research based on the statistics of that particular issue. So you know everything a positivist says is 100% correct and they aren't trying to ster you in the wrong direction and trying to get you to believe something that is a myth. A interactionist approach on the other hand believes that a person or people around them will learn by their or someone else's mistakes which I find totally untrue. The reason I disagree with a interactionist approach is because a person won't learn by their mistakes unless the know the consequences of performing that particular act. So someone is not going to all of a Suddenly stop what they've been doing for who knows how long. So that's why I think a positivist approach is more reliable and helpful.

The culture of poverty

Many families are living in poverty around the world including: Mexico, Haiti, Afghanistan, and many other middle east countries. These people walk around bare foot because they aren't able to afford to buy shoes. The parents of theses families living in poverty are unable to buy food to feed their family members due to the little income the family is bringing in. By the entire family not eating it causes them to become weak and often sick. This is a major problem across the globe because these families are unable to work due to starvation and their bodies feeling extremely weak. However, I don't have sympathy for all of them because many of them choose to live in poverty and not work. They just become lazy and want the whole world to feel sorry for them and donate money that they work hard forever single day of the weak instead of trying to find solution to this problem which is looking for work even if it's a part time job. This will get money in their pockets and if they gradually accumulate enough funds they'll be able by a cheap apartment, have food in their bellies, and they'll be clean, but I do have to say many people don't choose to be this they just loose their job and they are unable to pay their bills and the bank kicks them out of their house into the street. Now these people I feel really sorry for but the thing is you don't know who to believe because I have seen people soliciting for money on the streets and then they job into a brand new car. So the point I'm trying to get across is be careful who you give your money to because you never know if they they are poor or not.

Forces and institutions that influence today's society

In today's society many teenagers are influenced by music they listen to, clothes they see celebrities wearing in magazines, the way teens see rappers in music videos sagging their pants so they then think its acceptable and cool to walk around with their pants down to their knees but really it's completely unacceptable and looks retarded if you ask me. Also the way some teens act out of school is influenced by the shows they see on MTV and bet where the actors are
Partying, getting drunk, etc. so teens then think that looks fun I should try it sometime without thinking about the consequences that can result in those actions. Another thing that influences pop culture, when basketball players, or any other famous sports player wears a brand of Macys, jc penny, or Ralph laren's clothing teens will then want to buy clothing from those places so they can be like that particular sports player and fit in, the samething with shoes and accessories famous people advertise. So those are some ways pop culture in today's society is influenced.

Symbolic interactionism

    Symbolic interactionism is a social psychological theory developed by Herbert Blumer. According to Blumer, the three important priniciples of this theory revolves around meaning, language, and thought. Symbolic interactionism is saying that society gives you a role and you have the option of accepting it or doing what you feel is right. Charles Cooley looks at symbolic interactionism as a “looking glass self” which means that we see ourselves to be a reflection of other peoples judgement and that our self-concepts are created in “primary groups”. George Mead on the other hand, believes that humans act to situations based on their meaning of the situation. It is said that by interacting with others, we develop a sense of self. So symbolic interactionism is more of a sociology concept instead of a psychology concept.

Functionalism or Marxism?

I believe functionalism has withstand and will continue to withstand our society because functionalist goals are to maintain social stability, keep society running smoothly, and resolve conflicts. So they believe in everything running smoothly in a society and to solve a problem as soon as it happens instead of the problem lingering and causing bigger problems. Functionlistes magic word is consensus because they're consensus about the goals and values of the social structure. The also believe that the individual has to submit to this higher order, which exists outside themselves which was their before the persons birth and will continue to be with them after death. Marxist view on the other hand believes that the capitalist class shapes the rest of the society which is total b.s in my opinion because people are taught by their parents about how they should act and treat people and not by the capitalist class. So if I was to choose which theory has withstand our society and will continue to withstand our society it'll be Fuctionalism.