Sociological theories are sets of principles that help explain social phenomena and provide a framework for understanding the social world around us. Sociologists study social events, interactions, and patterns, and they develop theories to explain why things work as they do. Sociological theories range in scope, from concise descriptions of a single social process to broad paradigms for analysis and interpretation. Some sociological theories explain aspects of the social world and enable prediction about future events, while others function as broad perspectives that guide further sociological analyses. Sociological theories can be used to create a testable proposition, called a hypothesis, about society. There are many different sociological theories, including:

• Structural-functionalism: This theory examines how each part of society functions together to contribute to the functioning of the whole.

• Symbolic interactionism: This theory focuses on how people interact with each other and how they interpret and give meaning to symbols.

• Conflict theory: This theory emphasizes the role of power and coercion in social relationships and how they contribute to social inequality.

• Feminist theory: This theory examines the ways in which gender shapes social relationships and how gender inequality can be addressed.

• Critical theory: This theory examines how power and inequality are reproduced in society and how they can be challenged and changed.

• Labeling theory: This theory examines how labels and categories are used to define and control social behavior.

Sociological theories can be used to study issues on a personal level, such as family conflict, deviant behavior, romantic love, and personal identity, as well as on a global level, such as war, peace, population growth, and immigration. Sociological theory is constantly evolving and should never be considered complete.