Sociological Paradigms Flashcards
Paradigms
Philosophical and theoretical frameworks in a discipline –> theories, generalizations, and experiments
Paradigms vs Epistemology
Paradigms are:
- more specific
- explains phenomena
- framework of research
Four Sociological Paradigms
- Structural-Functional
- Social Conflict
- Symbolic Interactionism
- Postmodernism
Structural- Functional Paradigm is mainly about
the divisions and operations of society
Image of Society according to Structural-Functional Perspective
- society is a system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable
- each part has a function that contributes to the order
- borrowed the idea from the biological body
- when there is dysfunction, we must come back to the status quo
Image of Society according to Social Conflict Paradigm
- social inequality
- some parts of the social hierarchy benefits more than others
Where are the resources according to the Social Conflict Paradigm?
concentrated at the top of the social hierarchy (oligarchs and cronies)
Divisions of Society according to Social Conflict Paradigm
Gender
Age
Income
Race
Color
Education
Divisions of Society according to Structural-Functional Paradigm
- Health
- Education
- Family
- Economy
- Politics or Government
- Religion
How do some people protect their political privileges?
Protect people affiliations
How do other categories challenge the status quo?
- armed struggle
- rallying
- protests
- political discourses
Image of Society according to Symbolic Interactionism
- ongoing process of social interaction in specific settings on symbolic communication
- individual perceptions of reality are variable and changing
Image of Society according to Postmodernism
- fleeting –> fast changing
- anti-foundational, anti-metanarrative, and metahistory –> no generalization, no superior nation/culture/race
- individual emancipation/liberty
- multiplicity and polysemy –> many representations and meanings
