Chapter 5- Theory Flashcards
Define a theory (5)
- Set of ideas that explain an empirical finding or observation
- Provides a set of propositions to model how social or physical world operates
- Helps answers why and how questions
- Simulates development and accumulation of knowledge
- Facilitates interventions through development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, services, and programs
Define foundational perspectives (4)
- General orientation to developing research questions
- Structural functionalist
- Interpretive
- Conflict
Describe the structural functionalist perspective (2)
- Relationship between social structures/institutions and the individual
- Social structure/institutions function together to regulate behaviour so society runs smoothly
Describe the social constructionist/interpretive perspective (3)
- Verbal symbolic interactions with others that define social situations
- Form of micro-level, does not consider larger social system
- Symbolic interaction, Phenomenal
Describe conflict perspective (4)
- Society is made up of competing groups, changing and dynamic
- If one group has more, others believer that they are exploited and try to gain those resources from the ones in control
- Opposes status-quo
- Marxist, feminist, post-modern, critical
What contemporary perspectives and theories also came from foundational perspectives? (4/5)
Perspectives:
Social exchange, postmodern, feminist, life-course
Theories:
Activity, disengagement, age stratification, political economy of aging, critical gerontology
Explain the social exchange perspective (2)
- People search for social situations in which valued outcomes are possible and their needs are met
- Social scientist examine past experiences, current needs, values, and options to determine equality of a social exchange relationship
Explain the postmodern perspective (3)
- Science and knowledge are linked to social control and power
- Social constructionism: reality is socially constructed and evolves as we interact with others
- Deconstructionism: language is a social concept that must be deconstructed for us to understand the real meaning
Explain the feminist perspective and masculinity theory (3)
- Gender can create inequities that advantage men and disadvantage women
- Goal of feminist research are to understand social reality through the eyes and experiences of women and eliminate oppression
- Gender inequities are socially constructed and continued by dynamic social, economic, and political forces
Explain the life course perspective (2)
- Analyze the interplay between individual lives and changing social structures
- What happens in on trajectory often has an effect on other trajectories
Explain the activity/substitution theory (2)
- Individual adaptation in later life involved continuing an active life
- Continued social interaction maintains self-concept and a sense of well-being
Describe disengagement theory (4)
- Voluntary, functional process of older people withdrawing from labour force for younger people to enter
- Results in less interaction between individual and others in society
- Argued that it is not universal, voluntary, or satisfying, and not everyone gets to disengage
What is the continuity theory? (3)
- People strive to maintain continuity in their lifestyle
- Criticized to lack consideration of structural constraints, and aging involves both continuity and change
- Stems from symbolic interactionism and functionalism
Explain age stratification (3)
- Society is segregated into (young) education, (middle) working, and retirement
- Role allocation or age grading process to gain access to social roles
- Linear or chronological changes in class are only possible
What is the political economy of aging? (3)
- Politics and economics, not demography determine how old age is constructed
- Dependency and lower status in age are result of social, political, and economic factors
- Conflict or marxist perspective
