Lecture 17

Question 1

What are the two things that theory does?

Answer 1

Prediction and explanation.

Question 2

Is theory just a guess?

Answer 2

No, it is acquired through repeated testing and confirmation.

Question 3

Name a social science that adopts natural sciences protocol:

Answer 3

Psychologists, economics.

Question 4

Are sociological theories scientific theories?

Answer 4

No.

Question 5

Is sociology after explanations?

Answer 5

No, sociologists don’t explain social phenomenon. Most of what you find is about the interpretation of social phenomenon.

Question 6

Non-Explanatory Discourse

Answer 6

The kind of theorizing that is done in sociology. After conceptualizations of a more philosophical nature.

Question 7

Discourse

Answer 7

Written and spoken communication.

Question 8

Critical Theory

Answer 8

People who adopt this perspective are after critique of the social. Driven to seek human emancipation from oppression.

Question 9

Who is driven to seek human emancipation from oppression?

Answer 9

Critical theorists.

Question 10

Normative Theory

Answer 10

Moral viewpoint/ideal. Sociologists are guided by this moral ideal. Have some idea of how the world should be and isn’t, and are interested in understanding that or giving humanity a “push” in that better direction.

Question 11

Who is driven to study or “push” towards moral ideals?

Answer 11

Normative theorists.

Question 12

Sociological theories are based around the…

Answer 12

Work of intellectual heroes. When talking about theories, we look for intellectual heroes. Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Foucault, etc. Not really a sound basis for explaining social phenomenon. How can we apply living in a particular socioeconomic context and transplant their ideas to a different 21st Century context? Treat their writings with reverence.

Question 13

Why does sociology need theories? (2 main reasons).

Answer 13

• Need conceptual framework, gives individuals common language to work with.
• Way of advertising membership to subculture. Gives members identity. Recognition, familiarity. Don’t want to keep reinventing the wheel. Don’t want someone to come in and invent something that is already invented.

Question 14

How is sociology fragmented?

Answer 14

There is no common narrative that binds all sociologists together. As a consequence of this, there are multiple theories in the sociology of deviance. Multiple theories trying to explain same phenomenon.

Question 15

Give an example of how the usefulness of a sociological theory can vary:

Answer 15

Theory might really explain gang violence well, but may not be able to use it to explain terrorism.

Question 16

Which theories dominate in sociology?

Answer 16

Interpretive, Critical.

Question 17

Three categories of theories in sociology:

Answer 17

Positivist, Interpretive, Critical.

Question 18

Positivist Theory

Answer 18

Belief that the social sciences can be scientific like the natural sciences.

Question 19

Those who are more subjective and aren’t as concerned about being scientific capture ___ and ___ theories.

Answer 19

Critical, Interpretive.

Question 20

Functionalist Theory

Answer 20

How society functions. Says that the social structure of society creates deviance. Based on the assumption that each of society’s structures will fulfil a particular function that is necessary for the maintenance of social order.

Question 21

How is deviance treated under the functionalist theory?

Answer 21

Social pathology. Deviance is sickness, society is larger organism.

Question 22

Who is associated with functionalist theories?

Answer 22

• August Comte.
• Emile Durkheim.
• Talcott Parsons.
• Robert Merton.
• Herbert Spencer.

Question 23

Functionalist theories are ___-level theories.

Answer 23

Macro.

Question 24

Macro-Level Theory

Answer 24

Focuses on societal processes.

Question 25

How did Comte apply functionalist theory?

Answer 25

Society is a large, complex machine. Many parts of this machine keep it operational.

Question 26

How idd Spencer apply functionalist theory?

Answer 26

Following Darwin’s work, Spencer applied this approach but used an organic analogy. Took a more biological approach. If an organ is removed, the organism dies. Deviance as a sickness. Crime, mental disorders, drug abuse, and suicide needed to be “remedied.”

Question 27

What 2 major developments came from Spencer’s work in changing the functionalist theory to a more biological approach?

Answer 27

• Medical Model of Deviance. Those who engage in deviant acts are sick. Suffering from mental illness.
• Emphasis on social structure and how deviance can break down society. How it can be dysfunctional. Emphasized how that dysfunction can lead to breakdown in institutions.

Question 28

Medical Model of Deviance

Answer 28

Those who engage in deviant acts are sick. Suffering from mental illness.

Question 29

Durkheim

Answer 29

Social solidarity.

Question 30

Comte

Answer 30

Social integration.

Question 31

Spencer

Answer 31

Biological analogy.

Question 32

True or false? Strain theory is an offshoot of structural functionalism.

Answer 32

True.

Question 33

Strain Theory

Answer 33

Deviance as a result of tension or strain experienced by people because of their position in the societal structure.

Question 34

Durkheim’s work on suicide:

Answer 34

Up until that point, it was an individual act. You were a weak person, you were giving up, or there was some sort of disease. Durkheim thought there was something more complex. Started studying suicide rates instead of individual suicides. Took the focus off the individual. Suicides were not randomly distributed among countries. Predictable patterns and trends to suicide rates.

Question 35

Social Integration

Answer 35

Extent to which people feel they are a meaningful part of society.

Question 36

Durkheim’s work on suicide demonstrates:

Answer 36

Strain Theory.

Question 37

Social Regulation

Answer 37

Extent to which society regulates individual behaviour.

Question 38

Which factors were the most common factors in explaining patterns of suicide rates in Durkheim’s study?

Answer 38

Social integration and social regulation.

Question 39

4 categories of suicide according to Durkheim:

Answer 39

• Altrustic (too much social integration). Seppuku (sacrificing themselves for the greater good).
• Egostic (too little social integration). Feel cut off from society.
• Fatalistic (too much social regulation). Under authoritarian rule.
• Anomic (too little social regulation). Normlessness.

Question 40

Anomie

Answer 40

Refers to state of social strain, normative confusion, or rapid change in norms or social structure that causes people to feel they are no longer constrained by social norms.

Question 41

What is Merton’s deviance typology based on?

Answer 41

Durkheim’s anomie.

Question 42

Merton’s Deviance Typology

Answer 42

Pursuing socially accepted goals through culturally approved means.

Question 43

Those who adhere to the institutionalized means of reaching cultural goals are ___.

Answer 43

Conformists.

Question 44

Those who internalize goals, but who have none of the culturally approved means are available, are in an anomic situation. Can’t get what you want through institutionalized means.

Answer 44

Innovation.

Question 45

Innovation

Answer 45

Those who internalize goals, but who have none of the culturally approved means are available, are in an anomic situation. Can’t get what you want through institutionalized means.

Question 46

Example of conforming:

Answer 46

Jimmy’s goal is to get a new video game console. His parents tell him he needs to get a job, a car, etc. Jimmy stays in school, gets a part time job at Taco Time. Saves money, manages to buy PS4 in a few months.

Question 47

Example of innovating:

Answer 47

Innovating around rules of society. Jimmy is the breadwinner of the family. He can’t make enough for his family, let alone for a PS4. He sees guys with everything he wants. These guys use a burner phone to report luxury cars. Report cars for 500-600 dollars a week. The guys have discovered an innovative way to cheat the system. Jimmy is tempted by this. If Jimmy decides to do the same, he is innovating.

Question 48

Example of retreatism:

Answer 48

Decides not to go through the motions. Not going to conform, not going to join the car theft ring. Jimmy runs away from home, abandons his life and starts using drugs and alcohol. Long-term “solution” could be suicide. Could be considered ultimate retreat from social strain.

Question 49

Rebellion

Answer 49

Rebellion would be rejecting social goals, refusing to play the game. Joining a violent street gang, pursuing unacceptable goals through unacceptable means. Given up on getting the car, getting the house, staying in school. Given up on methods of doing that. If you go too far from innovation, you end up with rebellion.