Introduction To Sociological Theory

Question 1

What are the two main approaches that sociologists view of how society is organised

Answer 1

Structuralist

Action

Question 2

Explain structuralist

Answer 2

Society is seen as a social system where institutions like the family, media, education interconnect and work together

Question 3

Explain action

Answer 3

These focus upon the individual and the importance of the meaningful actions they take rather than the institutions of society

Question 4

What do structural theories look at

Answer 4

How the institutions of society influence and mould our behaviour.
These institutions that are believed to determine our behaviour so that individuals fit into society easily no keep it running.
Look at the over all picture of society and how institutions connect together.

Question 5

What are structural theories often called

Answer 5

Macro theories

Question 6

Examples of institutions

Answer 6

Family
Education
Media
Religion

Question 7

What are deterministic theories

Answer 7

They believe our behaviour is moulted and constrained by society so there is little if any opportunity to have free will and to act as we choose

Question 8

What are three structuralist theories

Answer 8

Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism

Question 9

Who are the key writers in functionalism

Answer 9

Emile Durkheim

Talcott Parsons

Question 10

What are four key issues in functionalism

Answer 10

1. Biological analogy
2. Value consensus
3. Functional prerequisites
4. Share the same values

Question 11

Explain biological analogy

Answer 11

Where society is like a body where are parts are inter-connected and inter-dependent

Question 12

Explain values consensus

Answer 12

Society exists in harmony with little conflict as through socialisation the key values of society are transmitted to everyone and everyone accepts and believes these values

Question 13

Explain functional prerequisites

Answer 13

Society has basic needs and requirements the must be met to survive.
These would include matters such as socialisation, production of food and care of the young.
Social institutions exist to ensure that these are met

Question 14

Explain sharing the same values

Answer 14

Society runs smoothly as we share the same values which maintains social order and any change that occurs is slow and gradual like the changing role of women in society rather than a fast revolution such as the French Revolution

Question 15

Who are the two key writers in Marxism

Answer 15

Karl Marx

Frederic Engels

Question 16

What are seven key issues in Marxism

Answer 16

1. Economic determinism
2. Infrastructure and super-structure
3. Ruling class ideology
4. The two social class groups in society
5. False-class consciousness
6. What Marx would predict that the subject class would develop

Question 17

What is economic determinism

Answer 17

The economy is the driving force of society and it determines social institutions and our values

Question 18

What is infrastructure

Answer 18

The economy forms the infrastructure of society
This consists of the means of production which is the way in which society those needed by society such as factories, land and the relations of production

Question 19

What is super structure

Answer 19

This is the other institutions which transits beliefs needed for society to keep going these benefit those who own the means of production which is called ruling class ideology 
E.g.
Family
Education
Politics
Mass media 
Religion

Question 20

What is ruling class ideology

Answer 20

The superstructure transits beliefs needed for society to keep going these benefit those who own the means of production

Question 21

What are the two social groups in society

Answer 21

Ruling class
Subject class

Question 22

Explain what happens between these two groups ruling class and subject class

Answer 22

The proletariat sell their labour to the ruling class in exchange for wages however they are exploited and oppressed by the ruling class who pay them little so that they can make surplus profit.

Question 23

Explain false-class consciousness

Answer 23

The subject class do not accept that they are being exploited and oppressed as the ruling class ensure that the values passed on in society continue to justify the inequality between the two groups and encourage the subject not to question it

Question 24

What did Marx predicted that the subject class would develop

Answer 24

Class consciousness and a revolution would occur. He predicted that society would change and we would live in a society organised as a communist state and there would only be one class with no equality and everything collectively owned

Question 25

Explain communist state

Answer 25

Where the means of production is shared

Question 26

What are the three different types of feminists

Answer 26

Liberal
Radical
Marxist

Question 27

Give 4 ideas from liberal feminists

Answer 27

Women’s position has improved in society
Gender role socialisation is key to changing the position of men and women
Equal rights have helped change the position of women in society
Legal change and education is essential in removing sexism and inequality

Question 28

What do liberal feminists mean about Bradley

Answer 28

The ‘acceptable face of feminism’

Question 29

What do liberal feminists mean about the glass ceiling

Answer 29

The glass ceiling limiting women in areas of employment is being eroded

Question 30

What do liberal feminists mean about wilkinson and the gender quake

Answer 30

A gender quake has occurred with women today having radically different attitudes to those in the past

Question 31

Give five key ideas for Marxist feminists

Answer 31

Women are oppressed in society
The cause of oppression is capitalism
The ruling class reproduce gender inequalities as it helps maintain capitalism
Men benefit from the oppression of women but they are not the main cause of it
Women will be equal to men when the subject class revolt and a communist society is developed

Question 32

Give five ideas of radical feminists

Answer 32

1.Women are oppressed in society and the cause is patriarchy
2.Men reproduce gender inequalities to benefit themselves and keep women oppressed
3.Institutions socialise women into accepting patriarchal ideology
4.Men and women form different sex classes and heterosexual men dominate society through force and fear of force and ideological
control
5. They draw attention to legal inequalities and personal areas of life where women are oppresses such as domestic violence and issues relating to sexuality

Question 33

What is patriarchal ideology

Answer 33

The beliefs and values transmitted by men to benefit themselves

Question 34

What is social action theory

Answer 34

Argues that the individual is the most important area of study than the structures of society

Question 35

How do social action theories compare to structural sociologists

Answer 35

Social action believes that individuals are not determined by society but have free will this means that they believe individuals are not moulded by external forces

Question 36

In social action what are sociologists concerned with studying

Answer 36

sociologists are concerned with studying the interactions between individuals and trying to understand how they make sense of everyday actions and how they define their own identity.

Question 37

What is a micro theory and give an example

Answer 37

Where the theory looks at small scale interactions

E.g. Social action theories

Question 38

What did parsons argue about a geographically mobile workforce

Answer 38

That is is easier for the compact two generation nuclear family to move than a three generation family to move do a nuclear family is better cuffed to the need that modern industry has for a geographically mobile workforce

Question 39

What did parsons argue about a a socially mobile workforce

Answer 39

The nuclear family is better equipped to meet the standards of the industrial society as an three generation family the father has a higher achieved status even if the son has a higher achieved status.