Final answer:
The three major sociological perspectives are functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory, with functionalism and conflict theory being macro-level and symbolic interactionism being micro-level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three major perspectives in sociology are: functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. Functionalism and conflict theory are considered macro-level theories as they focus on societal structures and large-scale social processes that affect society as a whole. On the other hand, symbolic interactionism is regarded as a micro-level theory because it centers on individual interactions and meanings that people derive from these interactions within society.
Functionalism, influenced by Émile Durkheim, views society as a complex system with interdependent parts working together to promote solidarity and stability. Conflict theory, drawing from Karl Marx's ideas, sees society as a platform of inequality that generates conflict and change. Symbolic interactionism, which evolved from Max Weber's work, examines society by looking at the everyday interactions of individuals and the meanings they assign to these interactions.
The application of these theories allows sociologists to analyze various aspects of social life, including broader issues like religion, global inequality, and social institutions, as well as more focused studies on entities like marriage and family dynamics. Understanding these perspectives is key to grasping how sociologists interpret complex social phenomena.