sociology theory x methods

Question 1

what are the 3 similarities between society and biological organism - organic analogy

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

social order

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Functionalism
the systems needs - GAIL

Answer 3

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

Question 4

social action theory

Answer 4

micro theory, verstehen: empathy, trying to understand someones experiences as if they were your own.
based on interpretations + meanings individuals assign to things

Question 4

Goffman - dramaturgical model

Answer 4

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

Question 4

Mead - symbolic interactionists

Answer 4

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

Question 4

Blumer - added to mead

Answer 4

1. actions based on meanings we give to situations,
2. meanings based on interactions we have experienced - not fixed but negotiable
3. meanings are result of interpretive procedures we use such as taking role of other.

Question 4

evaluations of functionalism:

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

marx

Answer 5

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

Question 6

gramsci

Answer 6

-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

Question 7

althusser- scientific

Answer 7

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

Question 8

weber

Answer 8

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

Question 9

becker

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

giddens

Answer 10

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

Question 11

postmodernity

Answer 11

late 1970s after collapse of communism

Question 12

foucalt

Answer 12

metanarrative -someones version of reality
enlightenment period