Structuralist Theories Flashcards by Isobel Harrison

what are the three structuralist theories?

-functionalism
-marxism
-feminism

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what are the core beliefs of functionalism?

-institutions shape us by passing down norms and values
-consensus theory- everyone is in agreement
-organic analogy
-macro-scale, top-down approach

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give detail on the functionalist idea of organic analogy?

-compares society to the human body
-institutions represent organs, they each perform a vital function (indispensability)
-if one or more institution starts to malfunction, then society becomes dysfunctional
-society has basic needs in order to survive, just like the body

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what is agent of socialisation according to functionalists?

-primary socialisation= family
-secondary socialisation= education
-passing down of norms and values to prepare children to be fully functioning adults in society

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what is stabilisation of adult personalities and tension management according to functionalists?

-family helps man to relax and release frustrations, ‘warm bath.’
-eg- woman provides sex
-helps man to release frustrations and manage stress

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what did functionalists say about the agent of social control?

-conformity is produced through individuals internalising norms and values through socialisation (Parsons)
-social order
-institutions used= family, education, cjs

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what is the functional fit theory according to Parsons?

functions must adapt to fit the needs of society at the time.

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what is structural differentiation according to functionalists?

each institution will develop and adapt in its own way to meet a different need of society.

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what is the analysis of social change for functionlism?

change must be slow and gradual in order to prevent people from failing into a state of anomie, and to avoid any harm to the stability of society.

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what are the two internal criticisms for functionalism according to Merton?

-functional alternatives
-dysfunctionalism

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what is functional alternatives and what does this critique?

=other institutions can perform functions just as well and are not all inter-related
-this compares to indispensability (functions are specific)

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what is dysfunctionalism and what does it critique?

=some aspects of society can be dysfunctional and harmful for some groups
-this comapres to universal functionalism (all functional)

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what are some external critiques?

-marxism= ignores negatives, and social class inequalities
-feminism= ignores gender inequalities
-action= society does not shape us, we shape society

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what are the three ways in which functionalists say how society stays healthy?

-socialisation
-social control
-SOAP/tension management

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what are the four functional prerequisites according to functionalists?

1- goal attainment
2- adaption
3- integration
4- latency

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what is goal attainment according to functionalists?

political subsystems set goals for us to achieve and provide the means of achieving these goals so that society does not stagnate

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what is adaption according to functionalists?

economic subsystems change to fit the needs of society, without money we cannot survive

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what is integration according to functionalists?

subsystems, such as the media, education and religion, brings us all together and feel a part of society through transmitting shared n and vs and creating a value consensus

what is latency according to functionalists?

subsystems, such as family, help us operate on a day-to-day basis and deal with stresses and strain of society, they protect us like a shelter

what type of theory is marxism?

conflict theory

what is the infrastructure and superstructure according to marxists?

-superstructure= institutions, maintains and legitimises the base
-infrastructure= economic base and capitalism, shapes the superstructure

what is control of the mind and body according to marxists?

mind= ideological control, ISA, pass on capitalist norms and values, majority accept the inequalities because institutions justify them as normal and fair
body= ‘armed bodies of men’, if transmission of RC ideology, some institutions are allowed to use legitimate physical force to control bodies of the proletariat, RSA, ‘hard power’, means of violence

according to Marx, a revolution is inevitable, but what three things must happen first?

1- concentration of ownership
2- class polarisation
3- human misery

what is concentration of ownership, according to marxism?

the rich will become super rich, owning more and more means of production

what is class polarisation according to marxism?

disparity between two classes will become too great (super rich and super poor)

what is human misery according to marxism?

the proletariat will become so desperate that they will realise the exploitation they face and gain full class consciousness, a revolution must be rapid and sudden to overthrow capitalism

what is an internal criticism of marxism?

GRAMSCI(neo-marxist)= we have free will and are aware of the exploitation that we face. -transmission of dominant ideology is more powerful than the economic base, the proletariat need to challenge these ideologies by producing and transmitting new ones and create a power bloc

what did Althusser say about society and the three levels?

society is much more complex and consists of three levels. 1-economic level 2-political level 3-ideological level =these levels have relative autonomy from economic level, the other two levels affect the economy

what are some external criticisms of marxism

-feminism= ignores gender inequalities -postmodernists= inequalities have reduced, there is now help/support for people, such as the welfare state

who came up with indispensability and universal functionalism?

Parsons

what is indispensability?

each institution has a specific function that alternatives can't perform

what is universal functionalism?

all aspects of society are functional for society and individuals.

what is the problem with Marxism?

-only has two social classes , but what about other classes? -the mc are growing 59% of society.

what is the main belief of feminism?

-criticise mainstream sociology for being malestream, seeing society from male perspective -patriarchal structure

what are the beliefs of liberal feminists?

-social construction of gender -gender role socialisation -manipulation and canalisation -crisis in masculinity

what are the beliefs of marxist feminists?

-capitalism creates patriarchy -unpaid domestic labour (triple shift) -reserve army of labour -baby makers -women are takers of shit

what are the beliefs of radical feminists?

-deep rooted patriarchy, men are the enemy -domestic abuse is inevitable in a heterosexual relationship -policies created by men for men -institutions are 'boys club.'

what are the solutions of liberal feminists?

-reformism -change in social attitudes -slow and gradual

what are the solutions of marxist feminists?

-revolution to abolish capitalism

what are the solutions of radical feminists?

-only revolutionary change will work -political lesbianism -conscious raising -separatism

what are the evaluation of liberal feminists?

-likely to influence policy -changes haven't gone far enough due to deeprooted patriarchy

what are the evaluation of marxist feminists?

--evidence to support pay gap still exists -will not influence policy -outdated

what are the evaluation of radical feminists?

-women and abuse -men and lesbians also victims -too radical and extreme for government to listen