sociology foundations Flashcards
structural functionalism
- the way different parts of a society are organized to maintain societal stability
- oldest theory
- macrotheory (large theory)
- more likely to look at big factors / theories like our laws, police training, institutions
- stability is important - everyone gets along, most do what they are supposed to do and follows the rules
what is an easy way to remember structural functionalism?
think of the cans stacked! neat, structured, in order
who was emile durkhiem, what did he study, and during what time period?
- french, jewish man who, during industrialization and urbanization, moved to austrialia and was impressed by the cohesiveness
- became interested in the study of suicide, and wondered how if suicide is at an individual level, why is it that it is so consistent within society?
what are the for things durkheim noted about those who committed suicide?
- men were more likely - men share less
- single people more likely - more alone
- higher rates among protesents as opposed to catholics - protesents do not have priests or intermediates that connect them to god; everything is a direct relationship between themselves and god
- higher during peace time as opposed to war - we feel connected to each other during war
what was the commonality that durkheim found of those who died from suicide?
all have a lack of social cohesion (lack of social integration and of collective moral regulation)
what is an anomie?
social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values
what are critical theories? who are they most associated with?
conflict theory
feminist sociology
race / gender studies
macrotheory (large theory)
KARL MARX
what is conflict theory?
- views society as an area of continual struggle between groups competing for resources and power
- asserts that some groups have privileged access to resources and power
conflict theory - upton sinclair: the jungle; what was it?
worked at a meat packing factory with people immigrating to chicago
selects the healthy, strong young men to work, rest are told to leave
unsanitary and improper training - someone cuts off his thumb
next day for hiring, guy missing the thumb is not chosen to work
what conclusions were made by sinclair?
witnessed exploitation of proletariat (worker) by capitalist (bourgeoisie, upper class owners) during industrial revolution
he saw the system was rigged, thought things were unfair
he predicted that this system would collapse: proletariat would eventually overthrow the capitalists to establish a communist society
what is communism?
- classless society where the public owns the means of production and workers paid based on ability and need
- everyone was taken care of, no one went hungry
what did karl marx believe?
capitalism was alienating
capitalism alienated people from each other and from the products of their labor
what is alienation?
estrangement of people from their true human potential
__________ is opposite to _____ ___________
alienation; social cohesion
what is neoliberalism?
current political philosophy; emphasizes privatization, deregulation, reduction of welfare state through reduction in programs and lowering of taxes
in the 1900’s, how much government intervention was there?
NONE
no labor union laws, no government help, no workers comp, social welfare, medical care
what was keynesian economics (1940-1970)
“welfare state”; “almost golden age”
- was seen as “capitalism at its best”, where government intervention occurred
- government began implementing workers comp, unions, social welfare, employment, medical care
- less exploitation and alienation since there was government regulation around people and their rights
why did we pull away from keynesian economics?
ran into excess
what happened with neoliberalism?
largest increases between the highest and lowest brackets
who was in charge of contemporary critical sociology?
michel foucault
what was contemporary critical sociology?
- focus is on power and social control
- power is always operating on us
- we are free; we live in an advanced democracy
- find ways for self-discipline through sanctions
- incentivize them to do the right thing, but giving them the freedom to choose between right and wrong
what is surveillance (contemporary)?
the direct or indirect observation of conduct toward producing a desired outcome
what is self-surveillance (contemporary)?
monitoring our own behaviors in order to prevent being considered deviant
(this is the goal of contemporary society)
what is a panopticon?
we are worried about getting in trouble, so we stay in line
- a disciplinary concept brought to life in the form of a central observation tower placed within a circle of prison cells. From the tower, a guard can see every cell and inmate but the inmates can’t see into the tower. Prisoners will never know whether or not they are being watched
