Sociological Theories (C1)

Question 1

Functionalism (Structural Functionalism)

Answer 1

macro
homeostasis, dynamic equilibrium - compares society to a living organism
society is a complex system
individual parts work together to maintain solidarity, order, balance, and social stability
Durkheim:
a dynamic equilibrium results in social structures working synergistically toward a societal solidarity, resulting in a common consciousness that exerts a strong coercive influence on ind actors
- common consciousness: maintain balance and order
- anomie: chaos
^ opposites
dysfunctions caused by anomie
manifest and latent functions:
- manifest: intended/obvious
- latent: unintended/less recognizable, byproducts
differences proportional to needs

Question 2

Conflict Theory

Answer 2

macro
competition for limited resources, inds and groups compete for social, political, and material power
imbalances create a class struggle b/w those who control production and those who provide labour
differences proportional to power
Karl Marx:
- capitalism: encourages private ownershio, exploitation for profit, worker’s revolutions
- socialism (replaces capitalism): put needs of society first
class consciousness: subordinate social class, aware of themselves, exploited by the wealthy
false consciousness: lack of such awareness, see themselves as inds instead of exploited group
Max Weber:
- more than 1 source of conflict, not just income/class
- increase rationalization –> societies trend toward increased efficiency and away from traditional religious standards of spirituality/morality
- bureaucracies
*WEBer of conflict
- ideas and beliefs

Question 3

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 3

micro
meanings derived from social interactions
symbols - maintained through social interaction
ppl act towards things based on meaning
George Herbert Mead:
- self develops in 3 stages:
1) preparatory (0-2) - imitation
2) play (2-6)
3) game (7+): “generalized other” - viewpoint of the social group at large
me vs I:
- me: social self, when you fall into a group, how the “generalized other” views us
- I: who you really are, arises in response to the ‘me’, one’s personal identity and individuality

ex Q: the fact that a patient is more willing to discuss his symptoms with his doctor b/c she uses language that is not stigmatizing, dresses more casually, amd keeps more relaxed psotures coincides best with: symb interactionism

Question 4

Looking glass self

Answer 4

self is shaped by others
ppl use judgements they receive from others to measure their own worth, values, and behaviour

Charles Cooley

Question 5

Social Constructionism

Answer 5

“reality” not inherent, but socially constructed
ex: diff. b/w desk vs table - both just flat surface physically
social construct: appears natural or obvious, ex: childhood

Major social constructs in society:
gender, religion, countries, laws/ethics/morals, education, money/currency, success, gov., race/ethnicity, social credit/SES, colours, stereotypes, beauty, language, time

ex Q: the contention that racial differences are not meaningful in any biological way most accords with which sociological theory? –> social constructionism

Question 6

What is not socially constructed? (I.e., universally true)

Answer 6

“hard” social constructionism: everything is a social construct, is or isnt a social construct
“soft” social constructionism: value to these social constructs in our objective reality, dealing with demographics, social constructs we actually implement

Question 7

Socialization

Answer 7

the dynamic, ongoing processs by which an ind internalizes the values, beliefs, and norms of their society and learns to function as a member of that society
helps to explain how social constructs are maintained, reaffirmed and passed along to future generations

Question 8

Rational Choice Theory (RCI)

Answer 8

inds make decisions by comparing costs and benefits
goal = max benefits and reduce costs
borrowed from economic theory
micro

Question 9

Exchange Theory

Answer 9

inds respond to rewards and punishments
goal = max rewards and reduce punishments
borrowed from beh psych
micro

exchange-rational theory

Question 10

Feminist Theory

Answer 10

emerged from movements in 19th and 20th centuries advocating for equal political, economic, amd social rights of women in society
3 waves:
1) first-wave feminism: focused on women’s suffrage - right to vote, own property, equal rights within marriage, work for wages
2) second-wave feminism: focused on women’s social liberties - gender equality, equal pay, sexual destigmatization, reproductive rights
3) third-wave: focused on intersectionality - study of how diff social identities such as gender, race, class, etc. interact

Question 11

Glass escalator

Answer 11

the way men are often fast tracked to advanced positions when entering primarily “pink collar” professions