ASSIGNMENT

Course: Intro to Sociology

Topic: Social Phenomenon applied into three Social Perspectives.
Submitted to: Ma’am Azka Mughees
Submitted by: Muhammad Younas Raza (0031)
Date: 30, December, 2019.
 Social Phenomenon
Definition: A social Phenomenon is any behavior that responds to other behavior whether
contemporary or historical. (Harvey, 2012-20)

Explanation: Coser (1977, p.129) discussing Durkheim, stated: Social phenomenon are
“social facts” and these are the subject matter of sociology. We gather knowledge and experience
throughout our life by individual and external social constructions. Our behavior, morals and
interception of the society develops with time and experience, behavior of others also molds our
behavior and perception. For example, as a kid perception and ideas are molded by the behavior
of the parents and their look on life but as a person grows they develop their own ideas based on
their experience such as romantic relationships develop ideas about love and evaluation of risk.
Social phenomenon is vast and it covers every aspect of life such as racism, it is a social
phenomenon because it is a ideology of a group of people that directly effects the behavior of
another group, how they live and interact changes due to this behavior. There are many examples
of social phenomenon such as marriage and divorce.

Social Phenomenon of Divorce: Social phenomenon of divorce is the separation of a

married couple. Divorce has existed from a long time and with time it has developed. Earlier in
time it was considered bad and it still is considered bad in some societies but with time ideas and
thinking of people have changed, people have become more acceptable of it and is even
supported. Divorce is a social phenomenon because it directly affects a group of people ranging
from the couple and kids to the families of that couple. It changes their life completely, to
different extent for everyone else from behaviors to lifestyle, a lot changes.

This phenomenon can be applied and explained into three sociological perspectives:-

 Structural functionalism
 Conflict
 Symbolic Interaction

Functionalism: Although family and marriage is believed to be a productive phenomenon

that advances and provides the society with benefits and divorce hinders the society by
dissolving families but that is not entirely true, while having its negative effects divorce provides
functionalism in the society too. Divorce occurs when a couple isn’t compatible together and a
couple that isn’t compatible together can’t be productive to society. Therefore, when a divorce
occurs both the individuals become productive and look for other partners to form a family and
then produce offspring with the partner they are compatible with. Similarly a divorce can make
an individual stronger and more productive in their field work when they have to provide for
themselves and don’t depend on another; this also makes the society stronger and more
productive, mostly economically. Also a corporate part of a society that is of lawyers and
advisors depend on divorces to make sure the individuals get their fare share and it is done right.
While all these points are valid. Divorce is still looked at something that failed because of other
institutions, the other institutions didn’t provide enough knowledge and awareness that they
could make it work and because of that uniformity is lost which is the main point of
functionalism.

Conflict: Divorce is most probably the best example of conflict. Conflict raises a lot in
divorces, for the share of resources, on the custody of children. Conflict between families is also
created, the families of both individuals have different ideas and cultures and based on those
ideas and cultures both families demand different things and have different views on the matter
that is why divorces become huge conflicts that are then resolved and settled in the courts.
Although this conflict is a sociological problem and on a minor scale and does not effect the
society as a whole, it still effects the individuals involved and then in turn they effect society
either in a productive way or destructive way. When this conflict arises the individuals choose an
easy way out and someone always benefits from this, such as getting a divorce is expensive and
while the individuals may suffer from this, the courts, lawyers and the government benefits from
this in the form of taxes.

Symbolic Interactions: The phenomenon of divorce also defines the perspective of

symbolic interaction because some symbols indicate that the person has been through a divorce.
The first and foremost can be being a single parent, living alone, being financially unstable,
working more to support themselves financially, hesitancy towards romantic relationships, being
emotionally unstable, being less social to avoid people or more to look for another partner, not
wearing a ring. All these symbols and behaviors can show that someone has been divorced, on
the hand they can have complete different meaning too depending upon the perspective and
analysis of the other person.

Conclusion: Social phenomenon is really vast and hard to explain. These phenomenon effect
almost every part of our life, an individual and as well as a group of people.

References:
 Harvey, 2012-20, Social Research Glossary, Quality Research International.
 Coser, 1977, Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in historical and social context, New
York, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, excerpt (pp, 129-132)
 https://study.com/academy/lesson/social-phenomena.html