Key Terms in Critical Theory Flashcards
What is Ideology
Integrated set of values, ideals, and understandings about a particular part of social reality that justifys certain commitment, and actions. (ISIS justifys its killing by going back to their ideology)
What are the four functions of ideology?
-The representation of sectional interests as universal (portrayal of a groups interests and ideas as everyones interests and ideas)
-The denial or transmutation of contradictions
(If i am management and you believe something different, my job is to deny it)
-The naturalization of the present through reification..tangible (This is the way it always has been, so its the way its supposed to be)
-Ideology as a means of control (Taking the first three and combining them)
What are the Four Things that Critical Theory focuses on?
Power- Who has it, how they get it, why they have it, what they do with it
Knowledge-Whose knowledge counts
Oppression- Management vs. Worker
Control- How the first three things are used to control attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors
What is manufactured consent?
The oppressed willingly and unknowingly adopt and endorse power of dominant class. We don’t on our own know this is happening. Critical theorists seek to uncover this. Family metaphor
What is another term for manufactured consent?
Hegemony. The key is unknowing support. Social and tech structures serve their own oppression. Columbus example
What is the site of domination?
Traditional organizational structures favor the interests of management, and subordinate the interests of workers. (Working 12 hours a day, missing family time). Practices that appear to be in the interest of workers may actually sere as a form of domination by managers(Time and a half, lunch beak)
What is domination often deeply embedded in?
- metaphor (family) could be working against you
- Values (dedication) (Most make choices better for management
- Organizational structure (hierarcy set of ladder rungs you can’t climb)
- Physical structure (office space boss isn’t in cubicle)
- Compensation plans (quotas, independent contractor
What does interest of management over the environment mean?
Don’t worry about polluting or deforestation or of family businesses, don’t need to think about internal and external
What is concertive control?
Team-based conrol where employees 1. highly identify with the team and have 2. created their own norms and policies that the team enforces
Does concertive control always occur if there is a team?
no must have these two characteristics. This is one of the most insidious forms of control, because they actually control themselves.
What is practical applications?
creation of a more “humane” workplace
Feminist forms of organizing (form of critical theory)
-Organizational Spirituality
