sociology theory x methods Flashcards
what are the 3 similarities between society and biological organism - organic analogy
system - both organisms and societies are both made up of interrelated and interdependent parts that fit together e.g. societies parts - institutions & individual roles
systems needs - if these needs are not met organism dies which is also true to society e.g. members must be socialised for society to function
functions- e.g. the economy helps to maintain social system by meeting needs for food and shelter.
social order
society running smoothly - achieved through a shared culture, parsons argues social order only possible if people agree on norms and values in society - this agreement = value consensus
Functionalism
the systems needs - GAIL
goal attainment - society needs goals + allocates resources to achieve them e.g. govn
adaptation - system meets material needs thru economic subsystem e.g. cost of living: society adapted to help
integration - parts of the system need to be connected to be able to pursue shared goals e.g. a consensus surrounding the need to work to meet members’ material needs + to achieve this, certain behaviours/ attitudes are necessary e.g. punctuality
latency
-pattern maintenance: prepares members for their roles in future society
-tension management: members can express tension thru different ways e.g. warm bath theory
social action theory
micro theory, verstehen: empathy, trying to understand someones experiences as if they were your own.
based on interpretations + meanings individuals assign to things
Goffman - dramaturgical model
front stage self: act we put on for other people
backstage self: private place where we can truly be ourselves
impression management: conscious/sub process used to control x change how they are perceived. e.g. tailoring behaviour, communication, appearance in interactions to project certain image or fit into societal norms
Mead - symbolic interactionists
taking on the role of the other- putting yourself in someone elses shoes and seeing ourselves as they see us
how we do this:
-thru process of social interaction 1st during childhood through imitative play and then we start to see ourselves as wider community see us
Blumer - added to mead
- actions based on meanings we give to situations,
- meanings based on interactions we have experienced - not fixed but negotiable
- meanings are result of interpretive procedures we use such as taking role of other.
evaluations of functionalism:
-merton: functionalist x strain theorist, internal critique of functionalism
- says parts of society can be replaced e.g. lone parent families
- parts of the system are functional for some & dysfunctional for others e.g. dark side of the family
- problems with achieving our goals legitimately e.g. making money by selling drugs
marx
capitalism divided society into p Vs b
-bourgeoisie able to maintain control as it controls the economic base (society’s infrastructure) e.g. money, good, social relations- regarding production of goods, commodities- raw materials, means of production
+ control the ideological superstructure e.g. education, media, politics & religion to legitimize their power and allow exploitation of proletariat
gramsci
-humanistic x neo marxist
-ruling class maintain dominance thru hegemony (political & moral beliefs passed down thru institutions to justify class dominance)
subject class aware of this happening - dual consciousness & need to create counter hegemony to overthrow ruling class - we have free will and need to use this
-thru education new gen will challenge hegemonic beliefs and lead to a revolution - will gain class consciousness
althusser- scientific
neo marxist x scientific marxism
ISA- controls way we think and creates false class consciousness
RSA- use of force to control us e.g. military, police etc
weber
4 types of action
instrumental ration action: goal orientated whilst prioritizing efficiency e.g. firing lazy employees to save money
value rational action: commitment based actions e.g. beliefs
traditional action: based on rituals, cultural norms and habits
affectual action: actions based on emotions rather than rationality
features of social action
1. social construction is made by individuals alone
2. voluntarism- people have free will to make choices + shape their own identities
3. micro approach: focus on small groups/ individuals
4. drive: beliefs/meanings/feelings individuals give drive behaviour
5. interpretivist methosd: uncovering meaning behind actions + behaviours defined by individuals
becker
- labels define the individual
internalised labels - people see themselves the way others do - leads to SFP
-labels can be rejected - self defeating prophecy, Halo effect
giddens
duality of structure= we need both structural and action theories e.g. we need both education and media as well as micro theories to understand the world
postmodernity
late 1970s after collapse of communism
