Chp 3 - Critical Theories

Question 1

What do critical theories focus on?

Answer 1

Power and praxis.

Question 2

What are the 4 branches of critical theories?

Answer 2

Conflict theories, power reflexive theories, feminist theories, and postmodern theories.

Question 3

What are the assumptions of conflict theories? (3)

Answer 3

Social rules emerge out of conflict and serve the interests of the powerful, members of powerful groups are less likely to break rules, and members of powerless groups are more likely to break rules.

Question 4

[Conflict] Why are members of powerful groups less likely to break rules?

Answer 4

Because the rules were created on their behalf.

Question 5

[Conflict] Why are members of powerless groups more likely to break rules?

Answer 5

Alienation causes them to act out in rule breaking ways and the social rules have defined the powerless’ acts as deviant.

Question 6

[Conflict] What did Marx argue caused deviance?

Answer 6

The exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie creates a sense of alienation among the proletariate; resulting in deviant behaviour.

Question 7

[Conflict] What are the 2 types of Marxists?

Answer 7

Instrumental and structuralist.

Question 8

[Conflict] What do Instrumental Marxists believe?

Answer 8

The social rules are created by the powerful to serve their own needs; a deviant label is a means of control.

Question 9

[Conflict] What do Structuralist Marxists believe?

Answer 9

The social rules are created by the powerful to protect the capitalist system; a deviant label is attached to anyone who threatens the system.

Question 10

What do pluralist conflict theories emphasize?

Answer 10

The multiple dimensions of inequality or power as opposed to just an economic dimension (politics, religion, race ethnicity).

Question 11

What do cultural conflict theories maintain?

Answer 11

That the dominant culture within a society imposes its normal on everyone, regardless of varying norms within society.

Question 12

[Conflict] What problem do powerful groups run into when they try to impose their will?

Answer 12

They must convince the powerless that the social rules they create a legitimate.

Question 13

[Conflict] What are the three explanations for how the powerful convince the powerless that their rules are legitimate?

Answer 13

Ideology (Marx), hegemony (Gramsci), and false consciousness (Frankfurt School).

Question 14

[Conflict] How do ideologies convince the powerless of rule legitimacy?

Answer 14

The powerful groups are the source of dominant ideologies, so it is easy for them to pass their ideas off as in everyone’s best interest

Question 15

[Conflict] How does hegemony convince the powerless of rule legitimacy?

Answer 15

Dominance over less powerful groups makes it easy to portray their ideas as common sense.

Question 16

[Conflict] What is the false consciousness explanation for convincing the powerless of rule legitimacy?

Answer 16

There becomes a false idea within people’s heads that the dominant ideology is beneficial for everyone.

Question 17

What does the power-reflexive theory emphasize?

Answer 17

The interconnections between knowledge and power; multiple discourses exist but power dynamics determine which discourses become legitimized.

Question 18

[Power-Reflexive] What are discourses?

Answer 18

Bodies of knowledge.

Question 19

[Power-Reflexive] What does Foucault discuss?

Answer 19

The pervasiveness of regulatory mechanisms within a panoptical society, resulting in self-surveillance.

Question 20

What is the common emphasis among feminist theories?

Answer 20

Female experiences and their divergence from male experiences.

Question 21

[Feminist] What have mainstream sociological theories been criticized for? (3)

Answer 21

Being “malestream;” ignoring women altogether, assuming research on males can be generalized to females, and treating women as the peripheral “other.”

Question 22

What is the main idea of postmodern theories?

Answer 22

To question all knowledge.

Question 23

What are the two types of postmodernism?

Answer 23

Skeptical vs. affirmative.

Question 24

What is skeptical postmodernism?

Answer 24

We can’t ever know anything.

Question 25

What is affirmative postmodernism?

Answer 25

We can generate knowledge, but only in specific contexts.

Question 26

[Postmodern] What has rapid social change since WWII resulted in?

Answer 26

Society being more commercial than industrial, people are consumers instead of citizens, any moral code by which deviance can be judged is eroded.

Question 27

What have conflict theories been criticized for?

Answer 27

Failing to recognize that consensus exists in society.

Question 28

What have critical theories been criticized for?

Answer 28

Reflecting processes, perspectives, or ideologies rather than formal theories.