Key Concepts: Theories Flashcards
Theory
A set of ideas a school of thought or particular way of doing things.
Structural
Institution shapes us.
Social action
We shape institution
Consensus
Everyone is in agreement
Conflict
There are disagreements in society
Macro
Done through generalizations and looking through society as a whole
Micro
Looking at society in small lived examples
Top down
Control comes from the top down
Bottom up
Control comes from the bottom and goes up - social action
Positivist
Based on data
Interpretavist
Based on depth detail opinions
Quantitative
Based on data
Qualitative
Based on depth research and opinions
Functionalism
Everyone generally gets along and if you do well you will succeed. Structural, macro, consensus
Meritocracy
If you work hard you will do well
Organic analogy
Society works by all parts working together and all are necessary to function
Interdependent parts
Society works by everyone and everything working together
Value consensus
We all share common values that allow us to get along
Social solidarity
We all share certain values and norms
B.U.N.I
Society must be beneficial universal necessary and inevitable.
Anomie
A state of normlessness
Marxism
A theory that oppression is based on class. Conflict, structural, macro, positivist.
Bourgeoisie
The ruling class
Proletariat
Working class
Economic base
All things connected to the means of production
Superstructure
All that maintains the social system
Capitalism
The economic system that encourages making profit above all else
Revolution
A period of fast and rapid change in society
Alieanation
Workers feel disconnected from what they do
Communism
A political ideology to give power to the people and abolish capitalism
Ideology
A set of political beliefs
Exploitation
Workers being used for their labour
Feminism
Oppression is based on gender - conflict, macro, structural, positivist
Patriarchy
Society is controlled by men
Radical feminism
Men and women cannot co-exist and therefore women should only sleep with womeb
Liberal feminism
Society is slowly improving for women
Marxist feminism
Oppression is also based off class
Difference feminism
Oppression is based off many factors i.e. race and class
Black feminism
Oppression is based on gender and race
False universality
Theories applied to white cis het women cannot be applied to all women
Oppression
Where some are treated worse than others based on a characteristic out of their control
Malestream
Research done by men with men and assuming it applies to everyone
Subservient
One group is forced to serve another
March of progress
Things are slowly getting better for women through legislation
Subjucation
The act of establishing control over another group
Interactionism
It sees society as a product of human interaction
Agency
Humans create their own meanings
Looking glass self
The sense of self is based on others perceptions of you
Labeling theory
The idea that everyone is given labels based off features of themselves
Social constructions
The things made by humans in our society
Postmodernism
The theory that not one theory alone can explain society as it has so many different parts
Globalization
A state of interconnectedness that provides access to far more cultures than previously possible
Consumerism
The idea that satisfaction comes more from buying things than making things
Risk society
A society that is too obsessed with the future
Individualism
The idea that everyone is responsible for themselves
Fragmented
Our society is split into many parts and is a fragmented society
Relative (truth)
The idea that truth is relative and is what you make it
The new right
The political arm of functionalism and was a political ideology popular through the 80s with the advent of Thatcher and Regan
Political view
A view someone has on how society should be run
Trickle down economics
The idea that those at the top if they have more money will give bonuses to those down below
Competition
People that provide the same products and services but increase efficiency as capitalism forces them to inovate
Culture of dependency
If welfare is too readily available people will live off it
The underclass
What the daily mail would call benefit scroungers
