sociological theory Flashcards
what are sociological theories and what is it used for
- 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)
what do social scientists use social theory to understand
- 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?
why did Social Theory develop
because of many changes in the social world including:
- THE ENLIGHTENMENT
- CIVIL SOCIETY
- THE DEVELOPMENT OF REASON
- THE RISE OF SCIENCE
explain the ‘enlightenment’ reason for the development of social theory
- 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
explain the ‘civil society’ reason for the development of social theory
- Common interests; collective thinking
- Open spaces of debate free from government control
explain the ‘development of reason’ reason for the development of social theory
- 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)
explain the ‘rise of science’ reason for the development of social theory
- 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
what has led to the development of social theory
The industrial revolution (late 1700s)
- Societies shifted from agrarian based to industrial based societies
what did the shift of societies from agrarian based to industrial based lead to (industrial revolution)
- Economic development
- Shifting roles for individuals
- More contact between people
- Urbanization
- Shifting ideas about religion, science, technology, and individuals
what else does Theory also concern itself with
centrally important social issues - For example:
- Parenting, Socialization, the Family
- Technology
- Education
- Wealth and Poverty
- Race, Gender, Sexuality
- Crime and Deviance
what are the 3 main theoretical perspectives
- structural functionalism (theoretical perspective)
- conflict perspectives (conflict theory)
- symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)
what is structural functionalism (theoretical perspective)
- 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
explain social solidarity in social functionalism
- 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
mechanical vs organic solidarity
MS = Sameness e.g. feel connected due to attending the same uni – same experiences
OS = Interdependence
explain social institutions in social functionalism
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
structural functionalism (theoretical perspective) view on social change
- 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
structural functionalism (theoretical perspective) limitations
- Gradual social change can allow continued discriminations
- Overlooks times of the society where rapid social change is necessary
what is conflict perspectives (conflict theory)
- 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
conflict perspectives (conflict theory) classical theorist link
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
terms / meanings associated with Karl Marx’s link to conflict perspectives (conflict theory)
- 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
Contemporary theories that draw on conflict perspectives
- 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
limitations to conflict perspectives (conflict theory)
- 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
what is symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)
- 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
symbolic interactionism (consensus theory) classical theorist link number one
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
symbolic interactionism (consensus theory) classical theorist link number two
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)
what are the key components of a DRAMATURGICAL LENS (dramaturgy)
- 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
limitation of symbolic interactionism (consensus theory)
Micro – focus on interactions and meaning may miss large scale structural social problems
what is the path forward for the Theoretical perspectives
- 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
