Sociological Theory Flashcards
Functionalist concepts
Consensus theory Organic analogy Value consensus Social solidarity Meritocracy Social mobility Stratification Division of labour Functional importance
Functionalism 3 key ideas
Society is like a human body- the organic analogy
- institutions like body parts that work together to maintain social order
Everyone in society has the same norms and values- value consensus
Everything in society has a function
- social solidarity (togetherness)
Functionalism AO3 evaluation
Politics- riots, protests Natural disasters Crime War Injustice Inequality Ignores conflict Rose tinted view of society Ignore norms and values change over time Class, gender, race etc can impact quality of life (not meritocratic
Functionalism explaining inequality
Inevitable and justified
All roles need to be filled
Role allocation
Higher status roles you need to work harder for- meritocratic
Why functionalism is good
Encourages meritocracy and hard work
Clear structure of society (social order
Marxism concepts
Infrastructure Superstructure Capitalism Bourgeoisie Proletariat Exploitation Alienation False class consciousness Ruling class ideology Neo Marxism
Infrastructure and super structure
Infrastructure is the economic base, which influences and shapes the rest of sociology (ie the superstructure: institutions)
Infrastructure controls messages and values (dominant ideology)
Superstructure learns those values which keep base in power
Alienation and why is it important
No job satisfaction, disengaged and monotonous Keeps proletariat uncritical so B remain in power (false class consciousness)
Marxism term for profit
Surplus value
Marxism AO3 evaluate
Reductionist, more than 2 classes and doesn’t take into account ethnicity, gender etc
Post modern approach- people now look for creative workers, not unimaginative unquestioning work force anymore
Strengths Marxism
Acknowledges inequality Richest 1% own 21% of wealth Raising awareness of exploitation Offers a solution Public schools and old boys network shows privilege of B
Marxism view of inequality
Highly critical and find it unfair
Blame capitalism as gives B too much power
Pluralism summary
No one group in too much power. Power in democratic free market societies is diverse in competing groups. Media works in supply and demand form in order to make profit so the people are in control of the ideology. Consumer control through free choice
Weberian concepts
Class Status Party Fragmentation Dual labour market Embourgeoisement
Interactionism concepts
Labelling Self fulfilling prophecy Moral panic Deviancy amplification Folk devil
