Sociological Theories and the Family

The impact that sociological theories has on the institution of family allows society and individuals to apply basic fundamentals that defines how society and individuals function.  These fundamentals help theorists spell out what impacts society by exploring information from the past, to what is happening today and how to project the future.   By looking at the family from different views the structural functionalist, conflict theorist and symbolic interactionism there are similarities and differences that are apparent across the theories.  In this review there criteria will be reviewed from the perspective of family and how each theory affects them; how social change is affected by applying each theory; and how the theory applied affects the society’s view of the family.  Each theory has its own structure, theme and value that helps to more clearly define and identify how the institution of family is to function and contribute to society.
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The Perfect Memory

This night was the night of the swimming state championship.  I was familiar with the surroundings of the pool that we were swimming in and knew how the events of the night would take place and that made me feel more comfortable.   

The meet begins, I swim in a few of the smaller races and had taken first place and won two blue ribbons.  This gave me confidence.  However, the main event was yet to be swam.  I was going to be up against my biggest and fastest competitor, Amy Barnes.  She and I had shared the spotlight on and off for years and this was it, the big night we’d both been waiting for, the biggest event of the year, the State Championship.  We would be swimming head to head on the final individual race of the evening.   

Dusk had fallen upon us and I don’t know why but swimming at this time of night leaves a bit of a mystery behind it; it feels like there is a secret that is not to be told and is without discussion for the final outcome will be revealed when the first hand hits the wall in victory. 

The Mbuti

The Mbuti culture is a foraging society with bands that exist today.  The social organization is made up of the nuclear family and the gender roles are of the traditional hunter - gatherer.  Mbuti are also known as egalitarian in that they have gender specific roles but they also believe in equality and they share and help each other.  Marriage and family is the foundation of their heritage in kinship and in the structure of their society.  They follow the patrilineal descent.  The Mbuti beliefs and values are embedded deeply within the cultural mythology and they pay homage to their forest.  Mbuti believe the forest is their great protector and provider.  The cultural tradition that they maintain allows them to continue with the rituals performed by their culture.  The Mbuti have a cultural tradition and they are still living their cultural traditions today.

The Mbuti, also called pygmies, are short people that can measure up to four feet six inches tall; this stature allows them to move through the forest quickly and efficiently.  They live primarily in the Ituri Forest which is a rainforest in the northern Zaire of the Congo region of Africa.  It has been speculated that the Mbuti were the first inhabitants of Africa.  The Mbuti, also known as the BaMbuti, live together as a band and have anywhere from 10 – 50 members in a band.  They are a foraging society of hunters and gatherers.  The women and children are primarily the gatherers and gather fruits, nuts, melons and tubers from the land.  According to this text: “Women foragers provide 80% of the food consisting of nuts, fruits, berries and tubers and collect this in one day that will feed the family for a whole week” (Nowak, 2011). 

Ethics in Persuasion

Ethical behavior and its significance in persuasion are essential.  From defining what ethical behavior is to the review of its direct affects on persuasion will be identified.  Using the ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology will be applied to persuasion and an exploration of universality will be included to help in determining the significance of ethics in persuasion.  Taking into consideration the professional environment and the many downfalls that “Corporate America” has experienced over the past decade this will also assist in walking through ethical behavior and further explain what an important role ethics plays in persuasion.  This review will show the unfortunate outcome of not practicing ethics in persuasion and will show how crucial ethics is in persuasion.

          Ethical behavior in persuasion is defined as “an attempt through communication to influence knowledge, attitude or behaviour of an audience through presentation of a view that addresses and allows the audience to make voluntary, informed, rational and reflective judgements” (Messina, 2007, pg. 33).  In essence, all human beings should have the