key features of each of the following theories:  conflict  evolutionary  functionalist  interactionist.

Question 1

what is conflict theory based on?

Answer 1

Karl Marx and Frederick Engels

Question 2

CT: what is it?

Answer 2

suggests social change and developments is derived from conflict that is a natural occurence in any given society. It is thought that a precipitating event/catalyst is needed before a change occurs

Question 3

CT: what is at the centre of this theory?

Answer 3

at the heart of all social conflict is class.

Question 4

CT: What was Marx’s theory for social change based on class?

Answer 4

the exploitation of the working class who were supporting the upper class was a fine example of the conflict evident in many societies. 
In his view, this conflict would keep reoccurring until the vulnerable in society (working class) revolted and pushed for changes against capitalist ways.

Question 5

CT: what has changed since Marx’s theory?

Answer 5

social theorists have broadened the notion of conflict to go further beyond class structure so that class can now be observed around personal morality, religious beliefs or issues pertaining to social welfare.

Question 6

CT: at basic level, what does the theory suggest about social change?

Answer 6

will occur when indiv. and social groups reach a breaking point due to a given conflict that must be overcome for social progress to occur.

Question 7

CT: overall, what does this theory see as being central to change in society?

Answer 7

conflict. Originally Marx saw this conflict as being between economic classes which would lead to revolution and eventually resolution.

Question 8

CT: what have modern conflict theorists focused on instead

Answer 8

focused less on class conflict and more on competing interests of society (e.g. religion, race, politics). These conflicts are seen to be resolved through either precedence of the interests of the dominant group or through compromise on both sides.

Question 9

ET: who are the main theorist of social theory of evolution?

Answer 9

Charles Darwin, Herbert Spencer

Question 10

ET: what does this theory suggest?

Answer 10

society develops in a very steady manner over a considerable period of time.

Question 11

ET: what assumption is made?

Answer 11

socieities in their earliest form were more simplistic and that they have become more complex and specialised (post-industrial) over time.

Question 12

ET: how was this view supported?

Answer 12

by examples where there is progression from an agricultural based society to a more modern, industrialised society.

Question 13

ET: when was this theory particularly popular?

Answer 13

around time of Charles Darwin and completed his understanding between various groups based on biological evolution.

Question 14

ET: What was the other assumption?

Answer 14

not only does every society develop over time and passes thru same process of change but that every society aspires to reach the same destination.

Question 15

ET: what is the destination?

Answer 15

to reach the standards and characteristics of western civlisation.
although huge assumption, common in Darwin’s time.

Question 16

ET: what did this theory fit nicely with?

Answer 16

the colonial era of Britain and other colonising countries which were heavily involved in bringing their ‘superior advanced’ form of society to more ‘primitive’ societies (ethnocentrism was rife during this period)

Question 17

ET: what is a weakness of this theory?

Answer 17

only looks at slow, gradual change and doesn’t explain quick change, e.g. war, natural disasters that may change society.

Question 18

ET: what does every society pass through?

Answer 18

develops over time and passes thru same linear process of change through phases such as:

• hunting and gathering societies
• agricultural societies
• industrial societies
• post industrial societies

Question 19

SFT: who were the main theorists of structural functionalist?

Answer 19

Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons

Question 20

SFT: what does this theory assume?

Answer 20

as societies develop, they become more complex and interdependent (i.e. diff parts/institutions in society rely on each other to function properly)

Question 21

SFT: what is the other assumption of this theory other than societies becoming more complex over time?

Answer 21

societies function more effectively when there is clear social order and when indiv. parts of society are working in harmony together. This in turns bring SOCIAL STABILITY

Question 22

SFT: what does this theory argue?

Answer 22

that a complex society accepts that there are differing institutions that complement the society and for the society to develop, these insti. need to be integrated (e.g. education, business, govt organisation/structures)

Question 23

SFT: what kind of role does each insti. have?

Answer 23

different roles but allows society to prosper

Question 24

SFT: what is the focus of this theory?

Answer 24

the way in which social structures meet social needs

Question 25

SFT: what analogy does it use to explain the social insti. in society?

Answer 25

uses organs of human body.
society is like a human body made up of interdependent structure/organs (such as family, edu, gov, media) and when one insti. fails in its role, the other insti. work harder to compensate for it.

Question 26

SFT: what do the members of society accept in this theory?

Answer 26

accept their roles within it (often unconsciously) and act accordingly.

Question 27

SFT: what does the members of society acceptance do?

Answer 27

limit their personal power and decision making ability

Question 28

SFT: as a theory, what does this explain about C&C?

Answer 28

it suggests that all change is gradual and progressive (i.e. things are always getting better.

Question 29

SFT: What does this emphasise on?

Answer 29

social order and stability rather than social change

Question 30

SFT: what does social order require?

Answer 30

members of society to work towards achieving order and stability, and functionalist theory suggests that this is the most desirable state for the ppl.

Question 31

SFT: what are the assumptions made in this theory?

Answer 31

• all members of society accept their roles
• all members accept the moral values of society
• social order is achieved thru complex process of socialisation, education and sanctions (punishments for wrongdoings)

Question 32

SFT: what does this theory believe in?

Answer 32

change comes through consensus, but social change is a hindrance to the development of any society and is viewed as undesirable.

Question 33

SFT: When change does it occur, they believe it is as a result of?

Answer 33

• population changes
• developments in tech
• inequalities among classes and status groups

Question 34

SFT: what are the flaws of this theory?

Answer 34

Critics of this theory say is doesnt account for the fact that in their view, conflict is a naturally occurring feature in any society and can precipitate change.

Question 35

SI: what is the symbolic interactionism theory based on?

Answer 35

George Mead

Question 36

SI: What does this theory see individuals as?

Answer 36

being the products of their personal interactions with elements of society thruout their lives. This then affects their perceptions of elements of society and how they interpret them.

Question 37

SI: what is the main assumption of this theory?

Answer 37

individuals are the product of their own social experiences and therefore will interpret society in a unique way.

Question 38

SI: what do ppl construct?

Answer 38

their own reality. They are socialised to accept certain meaning for society through socialisation and social interactions.
Ppl agree on those meanings which creates a common social reality.

Question 39

SI: what is their favourite research method for this theory?

Answer 39

partipant observation

Question 40

SI: what does this theory assert?

Answer 40

the individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world.
they believe society is thought to be socially constructed through human interpretation.

Question 41

SI: what do interactionists call this interpretation?

Answer 41

‘definition of the situation’
e.g. why would young ppl smoke even when all objective medical evidence point to the dangers of doing so?
studies find that teens are well informed about risk of smoking but think it is cool and are safe from harm, and that it projects a positive image to their peers.
hence, the symbolic meaning of smoking overrides the actual facts regarding smoking and risks.

Question 42

SI: What kind of aspects of out society can be understood through interactionists?

Answer 42

aspects of our social experiences and identities, like race and gender.

Question 43

SI: example based on gender and race?

Answer 43

we use socially constructed meanings of race and gender to help us decide who to interact with, how to do so, and to help us determine (sometime inaccurately) the meaning of a person’s word/action.

Question 44

SI: criticism for this theory?

Answer 44

• ignores the effects of social forces and institutions on indic interactions, such as mass media playing a role in shaping perceptions of smoking
• overemphasis on individual and not social structure.
• doesn’t attempt to explain macro level social change, nor changes to norms and culture.

Question 45

CT: criticism?

Answer 45

• portray negative view of society
• neglects social stability
• doesnt address change sin tech or familial structures
• doesnt acknowledge that social change possibly without violence

Question 46

ET: criticism?

Answer 46

• assumes all societies follow same path
• believes post industrial society superior to primitive
• adopts ethnocentric view of world
• equates change with progress and adaptions of western societies.

Question 47

SFT: criticism:

Answer 47

• no explanation on rapid change
• doesn’t acknowledge major role of indivs and actions in social change
• doesn’t deal with economic or tech changes
• ignore conflict and negative functions such as divorce