Structure v action

Question 1

List the three Structural Approaches to Sociology

Passive

Answer 1

Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism – Radical and Marxist

Question 2

List the two Action Approaches to Sociology

Active

Answer 2

Symbolic Interactionism
Postmodernism

Question 3

List the four Structure and Action Approaches to Sociology

Answer 3

Neo-Marxism
Structuration Theory (Giddens)
Social Action Theory (Weber)
Liberal Feminism

Question 4

Structure Approaches to Sociology are also known as what?

Answer 4

A deterministic view of socialisation

Question 5

Action Approaches to Sociology are also known as what?

Answer 5

A voluntaristic view of socialisation

Question 6

List the three views of Structural Approaches to Sociology

Answer 6

1. Individuals are passive in their socialisation
2. Their identities are determined by socialisation, based on sources like social class (Marxists), gender (feminists), age and ethnicity.
3. They feel impelled to conform to their identities, and the norms and values that accompany them, through positive and negative sanctions

Question 7

Evaluate the Structural view of Sociology

Answer 7

The structural view of socialisation is deterministic; and fails to acknowledge the active role individuals play in their socialisation. Garfinkel (1984) argues that individuals are not simply puppets on a string, or ‘cultural dopes’ passively consuming and accepting the values handed down through socialisation with little input from the individuals.

Question 8

List the three views of Action Approaches to Sociology

Answer 8

1. Individuals are active in their socialisation
2. Identities are forged through interaction between individuals and their culture and society
3. Norms and values are seen as flexible guidelines to the creation of identities: individuals interpret them, then can choose to alter them, ignore them or even reject them altogether

Question 9

Evaluate the Action view of Sociology

Answer 9

Overlooks the influence of social structures such as social institutions (e.g. the family) and social statuses (e.g. class).

Fails to acknowledge wider power relations: some groups in society have more power than others, and this power is used to ensure conformity through socialisation.

Question 10

List the five views of Structuration Theory to Sociology

Answer 10

1. Social structures limit individual behaviour and identity.
2. But those structures make it possible for people to act and form identities in the first place.
3. This is because culture and structure provide a sense of stability and predictability.
4. Through sharing basic social norms and values and a common language.
5. However, within the limits of social structures, people are able to make choices in how they form and alter their identities and through their repeated choices, they reinforce social structures and sometimes transform them.