The structures that shape society
They refer to them as social structures that shape and influence individuals' behaviors and interactions within society. These structures are seen as enduring and patterned elements of society that help to maintain stability and order.
Macrolevel approaches in sociology focus on analyzing society as a whole, looking at broad patterns and structures that shape social life. These approaches seek to understand how larger social institutions and systems influence individual behavior and societal outcomes. Examples of macrolevel theories include structural functionalism and conflict theory.
Functionalism and conflict theory are two sociological perspectives that rely on macrolevel analysis. Functionalism focuses on how society functions as a whole, while conflict theory examines the ways in which power dynamics and inequality shape society.
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One of Robert Merton's most significant contributions to sociology was his development of the concept of manifest and latent functions. This idea aimed to bridge the gap between micro-level interactions and macro-level structures by examining both the intended and unintended consequences of social actions and institutions. Merton also introduced the notion of social dysfunction, which highlighted the negative impacts of social structures on society.
I believe that humans have an inherent desire to make sense of the world around them and where we are in this system. This can be supported by the creation of religion, searching for pattern, astronomy, physics, etc. If this is the case, then it logically follows that humans will study the deeper workings of nature, and that they will want to. The atomic structure is a pretty fundamental (but not the most fundamental) piece of nature. It allows for the study of chemistry, which allows for biology and macrolevel physics. Through these two avenues, we can find where we fit in the greater structure of the universe.