1.1 Sociological Perspectives

Question 1

what is determinism?

Answer 1

behaviour is entirely shaped by external forces e.g. society

Question 2

what is free will?

Answer 2

individuals exercise choice over their own life

Question 3

what are structural sociologists?

Answer 3

those who emphasise the power of society over the individual

Question 4

what are social action/interpretive sociologists?

Answer 4

those who stress free will

Question 5

what do structuralists say society is a system of? and what does it do?

Answer 5

interrelated parts
socialises us into our roles, norms and values
exercises social control over our actions

Question 6

Structuralists prefer macro-sociology, what does this mean?

Answer 6

looking at the whole of society as a system

Question 7

what are some examples of the ways society controls our behaviour?

Answer 7

media
education system
parents + teachers
tell us what to say, do, wear

Question 8

what does social action involve individuals doing?

Answer 8

acting on & shaping society through their interactions

Question 9

why is social action also known as interpretivist?

Answer 9

people interpret and give meaning to their actions and others motives
norms and values are seen as flexible and open to interpretation

Question 10

interpretivists prefer micro-sociology what does this mean?

Answer 10

looking in depth at individuals and their experiences to understand behaviour

Question 11

structural sociologists can be split into two groups what are these groups?

Answer 11

consensus theorists

conflict theorists

Question 12

what do consensus theorists see society as?

Answer 12

society is based on agreement over shared norms and values

Question 13

what do conflict theorists see society as?

Answer 13

characterised by conflicts of interests, powerful groups impose their norms and values on weaker groups

Question 14

Is functionalism a conflict or consensus theory?

Answer 14

consensus

Question 15

functionalists believe society has basic needs, how are these needs met? and what is it possible by?

Answer 15

by cooperation, solidarity and social order

shared norms and values

Question 16

in order to have shared norms and values what do functionalists believe we need to have?

Answer 16

effective socialisation

Question 17

in order to have effective socialisation, what do functionalists say we need mechanisms of?

Answer 17

social control

Question 18

which French sociologist was the first to develop functionalism?

Answer 18

Emile Durkheim

Question 19

what did Durkheim argue society was greater than? what did he mean?

Answer 19

the sum of its parts

exists outside the individuals who make it up

Question 20

what are social facts?

Answer 20

institutions and morals in society that have a life of their own

Question 21

if social facts persist overtime what must they serve?

Answer 21

purpose or function

Question 22

what makes society work?

Answer 22

individuals being socialised into accepting norms

Question 23

what analogy did Durkheim use to explain society?

Answer 23

organic analogy

Question 24

explain Durkheim’s organic analogy?

Answer 24

different parts of society are similar to parts of the body each institution has its own role and they all work together for the smooth functioning of society.

Question 25

give examples of events that bring people together and emphasise shared values according to functionalists:

Answer 25

``` Olympics wars royal events natural disasters celebrations Christmas ```

Question 26

what are 3 criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 26

assumes everyone shares the same norms and values (different backgrounds, cultures) ignores conflict optimistic doesn't explain change

Question 27

who was the founder of Marxism?

Answer 27

Karl Marx

Question 28

is Marxism a conflict or consensus theory?

Answer 28

conflict theory

Question 29

marx developed historic materialism what is this belief?

Answer 29

the belief society is based on physical resources and how we make them as opposed to norms and values

Question 30

what is change in society caused through?

Answer 30

change in the mode of production or relations of production

Question 31

what is the mode of production?

Answer 31

the technology

Question 32

what are the relations of production?

Answer 32

the system of owners and workers

Question 33

what 2 groups does capitalism consist of according to Marxists?

Answer 33

the bourgeoisie | the proletariat

Question 34

who are the bourgeoisie?

Answer 34

the ruling class who own and control the means of production

Question 35

who are the proletariat?

Answer 35

the workers who own nothing and work to survive

Question 36

what do the ruling class take from the working classes work?

Answer 36

profit in the form of surplus value

Question 37

what leads to class conflict?

Answer 37

class conflict

Question 38

what did marx believe capitalism was?

Answer 38

evil, unjust and exploitative system

Question 39

what did marx predict would eventually happen?

Answer 39

``` revolution leading to communism as the working class became more aware of their exploitation eventually to overthrow capitalism ```

Question 40

what do social action theorists argue society is the result of?

Answer 40

people coming together and trying to make sense of their own and others behaviour

Question 41

how are people able to work out what is happening?

Answer 41

by bringing a set of interpretations or meanings to social situation which they use the make sense of the situation

Question 42

according to social action theorists what does socialisation involve learning?

Answer 42

shared interpretations and meanings for given social interactions

Question 43

give an example of what families teach us? (social action)

Answer 43

how to interact and interpret the actions of others

Question 44

give an example of what education does? (social action)

Answer 44

brings us in contact with social groups and teaches us how to interpret social action

Question 45

what are the 3 components social action theorists suggest identity involves?

Answer 45

personal identity social identity the self

Question 46

personal identity refers to the aspects of individuality that identify people as what?

Answer 46

unique and distinct from others

Question 47

give some examples of things that are included in personal identity in aspects of individuality:

Answer 47

name nickname photo signature

Question 48

social identity refers to what?

Answer 48

the characteristics and qualities that particular culture associates with certain social roles or groups

Question 49

as children grow what sorts of social identities will they acquire?

Answer 49

brother/sister best friend student

Question 50

how will children know what is expected of their social identities?

Answer 50

socialisation and interaction will make it clear what obligations, duties and behaviour are expected of their role

Question 51

what is the self?

Answer 51

the individuals subjective sense of their own identity and uniqueness

Question 52

what is the self partly the product of?

Answer 52

what other's think is expected of a persons social identity

Question 53

what is the self a result of?

Answer 53

how the individual interprets their life history and experience

Question 54

what can the labelling theory help us understand?

Answer 54

how some parts of society may be responsible for socialising people into identities that may have negative consequences

Question 55

what is a self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 55

when a person internalises a label

Question 56

give an example of how a girl being labelled a troublemaker becomes a self fulfilling prophecy:

Answer 56

girl is labelled troublemaker by teachers isn't taken seriously blamed for things she hasn't done thinks what is the point starts to internalise the label and behave as a trouble maker

Question 57

what is a master status?

Answer 57

a label that overrides every other label defining the person in other people's minds

Question 58

give an example of a master status?

Answer 58

murderer