Sociological Theories

Question 1

A macrosociological framework based on the ideas of Emile Durkheim
States that society is a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain a state of equilibrium

Answer 1

functionalism

Question 2

“intended purposes or consequences.” These are straightforward (e.g. business providing a service)

Answer 2

manifest functions

Question 3

“unintended purposes or consequences” (e.g. school exposing students to a new sport)

Answer 3

latent functions

Question 4

According to Durkheim, defined as ways of thinking that are timeless and above any single person. Necessary structure of society
Example: The law, or ethics

Answer 4

social facts

Question 5

Functionalism is based on a balance between social facts and institutions

Answer 5

Durkheim’s balance

Question 6

Durkheim’s main question

Answer 6

Asked: what holds a society together?
Only small societies can be held together by similarities; large societies are held together by mutual interdependence of institutions due to specialization into roles

Question 7

Limitations of functionalism

Answer 7

Focuses on society as a whole and ignores individuals
Highly focused on equilibrium so cannot explain social change or conflict

Question 8

Description:
Society is a system of interconnected parts that together maintain dynamic equilibrium (homeostasis)

Perspective:
Macro

Theorist:
Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons

Answer 8

Functionalism

Question 9

Description:
Society struggles for limited resources, and inequality results based on social class

Perspective:
Macro

Theorist:
Karl Marx, Max Weber

Answer 9

Conflict theory

Question 10

Description:
Social actors define what is real. Knowledge of world is based on interactions

Perspective:
Macro or micro

Theorist:
N/A

Answer 10

Social constructionism

Question 11

Description:
Individual behaviors and interactions maximize personal gain and minimize personal cost

Perspective:
Micro

Theorist:
N/A

Answer 11

Rational choice/social exchange

Question 12

Description:
Gender inequality in society

Perspective:
Macro

Theorist:
N/A

Answer 12

feminist

Question 13

Originates from conflict theory by focusing on stratification and inequalities in society
States women face discrimination, objectification, oppression, and stereotyping

Answer 13

Feminist theory

Question 14

4 types of feminist theory

Answer 14

Gender differences
Gender inequality
Gender oppression
Structural oppression

Question 15

Proposes that reality is shaped through interactions with others and collective social agreement – essentially that everything is a construct of society

Answer 15

social constructionism

Question 16

Defined within social constructionism as a concept that society agrees to treat a certain way
Example: The value of money is a social construct

Answer 16

social construct

Question 17

Strong versus weak social constructionism

Answer 17

Strong social constructionism argues that hard facts do not exist and that everything is a social construct – even something like the existence of atoms

Weak social constructionism states that social constructs are built on brute facts and institutional facts

Question 18

Brute vs insitutional facts

Answer 18

In weak social constructionism, brute facts are hard facts, like the existence of atoms
Institutional facts are those created by social conventions, like the value of money

Question 19

Social construction model of emotion states that biologic circuitry for emotion is nonexistent and emotions are based on context and experiences

Answer 19

model of emotion

Question 20

Limitations of social constructionism

Answer 20

Main limitation is that it cannot explain phenomena that do not depend on human thought/action such as natural phenomena

Question 21

Proposed by Karl Marx, describes society as being in a state of conflict due to limited resources
Unequal groups will come into conflict until a resolution of an equal society is reached

Answer 21

conflict theory

Question 22

Stages of society according to Karl Marx

Answer 22

According to Marx, society moves from feudalism to capitalism to socialism

Question 23

Class consciousness proposed by Marx

Answer 23

the lower class would feel solidarity with others in the same social class

Question 24

Thesis and antithesis of conflict theory proposed by Karl Marx

Answer 24

Marx proposed that the thesis, or status quo, would conflict with the antithesis, those who are unhappy with the status quo
This results in a struggle that ends with the synthesis – a compromise of a state

Question 25

Classic example of thesis and antithesis of conflict theory proposed by Karl Marxis 19th century Europe

Answer 25

Conflict existed between the upper class bourgeoisie and the working class proletariat

The thesis was that the proletariat worked in poor conditions in the factory – the rising up of the proletariat represents the antithesis

Question 26

Max Weber’s perspective on conflict theory

Answer 26

Weber argued that societal factors such as class, power, and prestige decrease the intensity of people’s response to inequality, therefore collapse of capitalism is not inevitable

Question 27

Proposes that society is built as a collection of small interactions between individual people
Takes a microsociologic perspective that focuses on the individual

Answer 27

Symbolic interactionism

Original idea was by George Herbert Mead and the term was further developed and coined by Herbert Blumer

Question 28

Assumes that everything people do is fundamentally rational, such that a person acts as if they were weighing the pros and cons of each action

Answer 28

Rational Choice Theory

Question 28

3 components of rational choice theory

Answer 28

Completeness (every action can be ranked)

Transitivity (Since A > B > C, A > C)

Independence of irrelevant alternatives (choice X will not affect initial ranking)

Question 29

Application of rational choice theory to social interactions
Commonly applied to family relationships, partner selection, parenting, etc.

Answer 29

Exchange theory