Sociological Theories Flashcards
Name some Structural Theories
Functionalism (consensus/order)
Marxism (conflict on class)
Feminism (conflict on gender)
What type of methods would be used for structural theories?
Quantitative date High in reliability Closed questionnaires Structured interviews Non-participant observations Official statistics
Name some Social Action Theories
Weberian
Interaction Theory
Symbolic Interaction
What type of methods would be used for Social Action Theories?
Qualitative data High in validity Open questionnaires Unstructured interviews Participant observations
What is a theory?
Framework of ideas used by sociologists to organise their data to understand society in a systematic way
What is a macro perspective?
Focus on understanding society as a whole and the relationships between parts of it
What is a micro perspective?
Focus on looking in detail at individuals and small groups and how they interact with society
What is consensus?
Society is based on shared/agreed values
What is a conflict theory?
That society is based on inequality
What is a structural theory?
They see society as a structure that influences individuals
What is a Social Action theory?
They understand meanings individual give to their actions
What is feudalism?
Dominant social system in medical Europe, nobles held lands for the Crown, made peasants work to stay on their land
What was the industrial revolution?
Moment in history that stopped feudalism and allowed capitalism to take over
What is modernity?
The moment in history when traditional ways of thinking are questioned, rise of technology/mass production of goods
What is post modernity?
Present time, moving into many directions of thinking. One direction is no longer relevant
What is a positivist?
They use methods of natural sciences to create a method
What is an interpretivist?
They use Meanings/interpretations of individuals and groups that develop
What is verstehen?
Empathetic understanding of human behaviour
Infrastructure
Economic base
Superstructure
Institutions/agents of society
Means of production
Land
Machinery
Factories
Bourgeoisie
Ruling class
Proletariat
Working class
Alienation
Marginalised
Isolated
Powerless
Objectification
Don’t feel connected to the work they do
False class consciousness
Prevents people from seeing the reality that the ruling class exploit the working class
Consensus theory
Theories hat see society based on shared values
Division of Labour
Different skills, characterised by social skills
Legitimacy of stratification
Appear fair or justified rewards based on level of occupation
Value consensus
All agree on the same values of society
Ascription
Roles allocated based on inherited characteristics like gender and ethnicity
Meritocracy
Society where occupational skills are equal to rewards
Why is competition necessary?
Makes people work harder and so earn the higher rewards
