Introduction To Theories And Methods Flashcards
What was the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution was a process that begun in England and spread across Europe. This brought a total change in the way people lived their lives. Work was concentrated in specific places built for that purpose, namely factories and mills. This led to a split between where people lived and where they worked: people were no longer spread across the land, growing crops on land where they also lives. For the first time, people became concentrated in cities.
Define urbanisation.
Urbanisation was the process by when people slowly became concentrated in cities due to the Industrial Revolution.
What was the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment was a period that reached its height in the mid-18th century. It was a period where traditional notions of how society should operate were being replaced by changing ideas, this covers a rise of science as a method of explanation and, as a result, the declining importance of religion. The idea was that people were not merely the passive subjects of God’s will but were, in some way, able to comprehend and master their own world.
How did modernity develop?
Modernity developed as science replaced religion as the main basis of knowledge, ideas about the people and democracy replaced religion and monarchy as the main form of government. It was a period of intense change and inevitably led to people questioning the implications of these changes for society and the way people lived. The idea that people themselves were capable of understanding issues and therefore participate in the construction and administration of that world was the central theme.
Why did sociology begin?
Some argue that there was a need for sociology to restore a degree of stability, while others argued that future changes to society were made on informed scientific statements.
Who was Auguste Comte?
Comte invented the term sociology and promoted it as the main element in his philosophy. He argued that society passed through various stages of development culminating in what was the current period: the scientific period. Although society was free of religious thought, for Comte this also led to a decline of community and shared morality. He argued that sociology should play a central role in rebuilding this loss of community and a shared morality by providing for a state regulation over society.
Who was Herbert Spencer?
In contrast to Comte, Spencer argued that if the state was to try and intervene to control people and lead to a shared morality and community, this would lead to a loss of human initiative. Spencer argued that if humans were allowed the freedom to act as they pleased free of government control, then human society would progress.
What is a structural theory?
Structural theories examine large scale institutions and how society’s structures shale and control is as individuals.
What is a social action theory?
Social action theories examine individuals/small scale groups and how they actively and freely interpret and give meanings to what they do in the world.
What is the main difference between structural and social action approaches?
Structural approaches remind us that we are born into an already existing society, therefore we will be shaped and influenced by this society. On the other hand, social action approaches see the individual in society, and recognise that society is constructed by individuals rather than individuals being constructed by society.
What is a consensus theory?
Consensus theories see agreement or consensus as the basis of social life. Without it, society would collapse into anarchy with its members being unable to agree on rules and norms. Consensus provides the basis for co-operation and social unity, and value consensus provides the basis for a harmonious society (meaning there is agreement over values).
What are conflict theories?
Conflict theories see conflict as the essential characteristic of society. It means that there are basic conflicts of interest in society with some groups gaining at the expense of others. For example, the higher class is at conflict with the lower classes, as their loss is the other’s gain.
What type of theory is Functionalism?
Functionalism is a structural, macro, consensus theory.
What type of theory is Marxism?
Marxism is a structural, conflict, macro theory.
What type of theory is Feminism?
Feminism is a structural, conflict, macro theory.
