Concepts and Theories Flashcards
What is sociology?
The study of society and the science that involves social lives of people
What are social structures?
Patterns of stable social interactions
Name the 3 social structures
Microstructure
Macrostructure
Global Structure
Whats an example of a microstructure?
face-to-face interactions
Whats an example of a macrostructure?
Workplace or University
Whats an example of a Global structure?
United Nations
What is sociological imagination?
The ability to see connections between personal struggles and social structures
Name the 3 origins of sociological imagination
Scientific Revolution
Democratic Revolution
Industrial Revolution
Summarize Functionalism
Human behaviour is governed by stable patterns of social relations
- All aspects of society serve a purpose
Summarize Conflict Theory
Society is in a perpetual state of conflict because of competition for limited resources
- Privileged groups seek to maintain their advantage while subordinates struggle
Summarize Symbolic Interactionism
Society is a product of interactions and interpretations of individuals
- Individuals are shaped by culture and simultaneously shape culture
Summarize Feminism
Gender inequality and poststructuralism
Summarize poststructuralism
Challenges the existing of structures of society
What would Functionalists think of the fashion cycle?
Fashion serves as a mean to distinguish individuals and rank in the social hierarchy
What would Conflict Theory think of the fashion cycle?
Fashion serves as a mean for industries to profit and cause even greater class disparity
What would Symbolic Interactionism think of the fashion cycle?
Fashion help express identity and culture
What would Feminists think of the fashion cycle?
Fashion is a form of patriarchy
Who coined the word sociology?
Auguste Comte
Who thought of Social Darwinism
Herbert Spencer
What did Karl Marx believe in?
Conflict Theory
What are 2 things that Emile Durkheim believe in?
Functionalism and Social Solidarity
What are 2 things that Talcott Parsons believe in?
Functionalism and Equilibrium
- institutions must work together to make society work
What are 2 things that Robert Merton believe in?
Functionalism and Manifest and Latent functions
- social structures may have consequences and be dysfunctional
What did Max Weber think of Conflict Theory?
Conflict theory doesn’t only apply to class dynamics