Social theory

Question 1

conflict theory

Answer 1

society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources - holds that social order is maintained by domination + power rather than consensus + conformity.

• involves destabilising social structures in order to bring about change - revolution
• dominant groups maintain cont. as believe it maintains social order - c.ts think this causes underlying tension amongst individuals, who cause social change through changes to legislation, strikes, protests etc.

Question 2

functionalist theory

Answer 2

interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society. Society is more than the sum of its parts; rather, each part of society is functional for the stability of the whole society.

• more gradual process of change brought about by a formally structured society. - adaption
• more a promoter of continuity as encourages gradual change - doesn’t heavily disturb order of society
• humanity - product of social order + every individual has a specific form/function - if everyone performs their duties, society is perfectly balanced without major conflict

Question 3

evolutionary theory

Answer 3

• application of theory - caused conflict - ‘social darwinism’
• e. theory: society progresses in a linear manner in one direction + in an upward direction
• was altered to allow for multilinear progression + removes the belief of upward direction
• doesn’t allow for continuity as society is forever evolving

Question 4

Tönnies theory of social change

Answer 4

two types of social groupings:
Gemeinschaft: community - groupings based on feelings of togetherness + on mutual bonds
Gesellschaft: society - groups that are sustained by it being instrumental for their members’ individual aims + goals.

Suggesting a transformation from Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft, Tönnies argues that societies of the earlier form are organized around family, village, + town. The economy is largely agricultural and political life is local. Gesellschaft societies, on the other hand, are organized at the larger levels of metropolis + nation-state, while the economic system is based on trade + modern industry.