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sociological theory Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what are sociological theories and what is it used for

A
  • Explanations for various social patterns within society (Korgen and Atkinson, 2023) - analyzes society, individuals, and social structures
  • used to explain patterns of behavior - a way to apply logic to a pattern of facts, to structure the way we think about our subject matter, and to help us generate ideas for research to enrich that understanding (Cohen 2024)
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2
Q

what do social scientists use social theory to understand

A
  • How has society changed, evolved, or developed?
  • What are the key questions that social theorists need to ask themselves about the social world?
  • What is the relationship of individuals to social structures (i.e., the economy)?
  • Are there different perspectives about the social world?
  • How does social change occur?
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3
Q

why did Social Theory develop

A

because of many changes in the social world including:
- THE ENLIGHTENMENT
- CIVIL SOCIETY
- THE DEVELOPMENT OF REASON
- THE RISE OF SCIENCE

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4
Q

explain the ‘enlightenment’ reason for the development of social theory

A
  • Freedom of expression and the development of independent thinking
  • Religion is no longer used to explain all occurrences in the social world
  • A focus on intellectual development
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5
Q

explain the ‘civil society’ reason for the development of social theory

A
  • Common interests; collective thinking
  • Open spaces of debate free from government control
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6
Q

explain the ‘development of reason’ reason for the development of social theory

A
  • An emphasis on questioning
  • The rapid pace of the modern world enabled a critical mass of literate citizens to think about the economic, political, and cultural conditions that shaped society (the development of theory)
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7
Q

explain the ‘rise of science’ reason for the development of social theory

A
  • Society could be the subject of scientific examination in the same manner that the natural world was studied
  • Society could be subjected to the same methods and rigorous research that was utilized in physics, biology, and chemistry
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8
Q

what has led to the development of social theory

A

The industrial revolution (late 1700s)
- Societies shifted from agrarian based to industrial based societies

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9
Q

what did the shift of societies from agrarian based to industrial based lead to (industrial revolution)

A
  • Economic development
  • Shifting roles for individuals
  • More contact between people
  • Urbanization
  • Shifting ideas about religion, science, technology, and individuals
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10
Q

what else does Theory also concern itself with

A

centrally important social issues - For example:
- Parenting, Socialization, the Family
- Technology
- Education
- Wealth and Poverty
- Race, Gender, Sexuality
- Crime and Deviance

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11
Q

what are the 3 main theoretical perspectives

A
  1. structural functionalism (theoretical perspective)
  2. conflict perspectives (conflict theory)
  3. symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)
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12
Q

what is structural functionalism (theoretical perspective)

A
  • TP = A framework that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
  • MACRO – LEVEL
  • consensus theory - Concerned with broad patterns that shape society
  • SF = Individuals work together for the larger society’s interests due to social solidarity
  • Institutions teach individuals to help society function smoothly
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13
Q

explain social solidarity in social functionalism

A
  • SS = The cohesion of social groups
  • DURKHEIM theories that:
    -Social integration is rooted in a shared moral code (think shared norms) - This moral code forms the basis of societies
    -The Division of Labor and the Economic System
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14
Q

mechanical vs organic solidarity

A

MS = Sameness e.g. feel connected due to attending the same uni – same experiences
OS = Interdependence

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15
Q

explain social institutions in social functionalism

A

SI = Sets of statuses and roles focused around one central aspect of society - have functions:
- Manifest functions = Obvious, stated reasons that a social institution exists (Institutions can have more than one manifest function) e.g. schools to educate kids
- Latent functions = Good or useful things that a social institution does but are not the institution’s reason for existing e.g. kids in school gives parents the chance to go to work

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16
Q

structural functionalism (theoretical perspective) view on social change

A
  • Functionalists not sure that social change is necessarily positive -> if society is functioning then why should we advocate for social change?
  • If change is needed, it should occur slowly to not upset the equilibrium
17
Q

structural functionalism (theoretical perspective) limitations

A
  • Gradual social change can allow continued discriminations
  • Overlooks times of the society where rapid social change is necessary
18
Q

what is conflict perspectives (conflict theory)

A
  • A framework that sees society as made up of groups competing for power
  • MACRO – LEVEL
  • Concerned with broad patterns that shape society
  • CP = Recognize the many ways in which social rewards are unequally distributed - advocate for social change
  • Conflict perspectives suggest society is comprised of the haves (those individuals and social institutions) that gain access to societies social rewards and the have – nots (those unable to get their fair share because of their category membership)
  • Conflict theorists do not see institutions as working together or functioning smoothly
19
Q

conflict perspectives (conflict theory) classical theorist link

A

Karl Marx
- The economic system and capitalism
- A great number of workers own little and produce commodities for the profit of a small number of capitalists
- FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS = Marx’s perspective that workers (the proletariat) did not understand or recognize their own exploitation - works to keep workers working because of the belief that they too can be a member of the bourgeoisie

20
Q

terms / meanings associated with Karl Marx’s link to conflict perspectives (conflict theory)

A
  • capitalism = An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit
  • BOURGEOISIE = The owners of the means of production (the technology and materials needed to produce products, such as factories)
  • PROLETARIAT = The poor workers (in the factories, etc.)
  • LUMPENPROLETARIAT = The perpetually unemployed
  • Alienation = A concept that is used to describe the isolating, dehumanizing, and disenchanting effects of working within a capitalist system of production
21
Q

Contemporary theories that draw on conflict perspectives

A
  • FEMINIST CONFLICT THEORISTS: Examine gender as a key site of inequality and unequal experience
  • HEALTH CONFLICT SCHOLARS: Use conflict perspectives to focus on the social determinants of health
  • DISABILITY CONFLICT SCHOLARS: Use the conflict perspective to analyze how modern Western societies create the built environment in ways that work for the able-bodied but not for people living with disabilities
22
Q

limitations to conflict perspectives (conflict theory)

A
  • hyper perspectives – focused on improving life outcomes for those who do not have access to resources or opportunities
  • can overlook societal harmony and equilibrium and tend to not recognize how disruptive and harmful change can be to the haves and the have nots
23
Q

what is symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)

A
  • A framework that focuses on the interactions between people and how meaning is constructed and shared by groups of people
  • MICRO – LEVEL
  • SI = Viewing society as a social construction, continually constructed and reconstructed by individuals through their use of shared symbols e.g. symbol of pink and blue changing historically - influences how individuals decorate childrens rooms etc
24
Q

symbolic interactionism (consensus theory) classical theorist link number one

A

CHARLES COOLEY - THE LOOKING GLASS SELF
- Individuals imagine how they appear relevant to others (in their primary years)
- Individuals then react to feedback from others in their primary groups
- The individual then integrates the first two into a coherent and unique sense of self
- Interaction with primary groups shapes the individual’s sense of self - others in effect become the “mirror” by which each person sees oneself

25
Q

symbolic interactionism (consensus theory) classical theorist link number two

A

ERVING GOFFMAN - THE SOCIAL WORLD
- Goffman theorizes about how the setting of an interaction plays out - they are a performance of expected behaviors, based on the obligations or characters that make up the interaction(s)
- Goffman also theorizes about social life and social interaction using a DRAMATURGICAL LENS (dramaturgy) - Social life and interactions are a series of performances dependent on time, place, and setting (like a play)

26
Q

what are the key components of a DRAMATURGICAL LENS (dramaturgy)

A
  • The front: Made up of the setting and the personal front
  • The setting: The physical space where the performance is conducted
  • The personal front: Items of “expressive equipment” that the audience identifies with the performer
  • The backstage: The region of the performance that is normally unobserved
27
Q

limitation of symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)

A

Micro – focus on interactions and meaning may miss large scale structural social problems

28
Q

what is the path forward for the Theoretical perspectives

A
  • SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM - Combination of symbolic interaction with conflict theory
  • Stratification of societies must be made more just used to understand how our interactions lead to societal issues

sociology (18 decks)

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