Social Structures Flashcards
Functionalism
Focuses on structures and institutions based on their functions
Manifest function of an institution
What it is supposed to do
Latent functions of an institution
Unintended function
Latent dysfunctions
Reinforces patterns of social inequality
Conflict theory
Focuses on competition between structures or groups for resources
Can all conflicts be described as conflict theory?
No. a conflict with a sibling may not count UNLESS you are fighting for resources
Symbolic interactionism
must require an interaction and need to understand symbols have meaning
Social constructionism
The meaning of social structures/concepts emerges from how we think and communicate about them
Give an example of symbolic interactionism
Greeting someone with a hand shake
Give an example of social constructionism
Thanksgiving as a mutually shared holiday
Rational choice theory
choose actions to maximize the likelihood of accomplishing certain goals
Social exchange theory
Views social interactions as interchanges with costs and rewards
Feminist theory
The goal of understanding and remedying gender injustices
Segregation
Putting different things in different places
Stratification
Arranging things in layer like socioeconomic status
