The following passage will be comparing two theorectical approaphes to social

problems namely:the structural functionalist orientation and symbolic interactionist

orietation. One similar aspect of the two orientations is that they are in favour of

socialisation and social interactions, respectively, within the society.

Contrary, in structural functionalist orientation social problems are observed to be the

main reason for a weakened social stability whereas,the symbolic interactionsist

orientation highlights that the main reason for social problems within this approach is

fostered by the interactions between individuals. Another contrast is that the symbololic

interationist orientation makes use various symbols such as, words and gestures to

attain shared meaning and understandin for individual interactions, while the structural

functionalist orientation does not make use of any symbols but greatly focuses on

achieving social stability. In symbolic interactionist orientation individuals are able to

construct their own roles and do not actively have to practice roles set by the sociey, in

contrast to the structural functionalist approach which roles are enforced by the societal

system. The structural functionalist orientation is strongly rooted in achieving and

maintaining social stability whilst the opposing orientation is more focused on

interactions that lead to influential behaviours from other individuals. Solutions for social

problems under the structural functionalist orientation should be prsented in the form of

gradual social reforms as opposed to far-reaching techniques. However, because social

problems within the symbolic interactionist orientation arise through individual

interactions a plausible soution to this would be to either limit or restrict social

interactions, which is the inevitable.