Theories Flashcards
What does Mead’s concept of symbolic interactionism suggest?
This concept by Mead suggests that society is built up by interactions that are based on the meanings held by individuals:
-Thus helping individuals to make sense of the world
What does Blumer (a follower of Mead) suggest about the concept of symbolic interactionism?
It has 3 features:
1.) People act in terms of “symbols”, where they attach meanings to objects, words, expressions or gestures.
2.) During interactions with another individual, meanings can develop and change
3.) People can picture their image through how others perceive them (therefore leading to behaviours adapting)
What does Cooley discuss which further describes the process of negotiated interaction?
The looking-glass concept, which is the idea that our image of our own selves is reflected back to us in the views of others (like a mirror)
-I,e “I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am; I am what I think you think I am”
(Your perception of external perceptions of you may affect how you act and your identity)
How are facial expressions another example of symbolic interactionism?
They have meanings attached to them:
-e.g smiling has a “warm and friendly” vibe (therefore encouraging people to reciprocate in smiling when being smiled at)
How are words an example of symbolic interactionism?
They have definitions and therefore meanings:
-e.g “little honey” has a different connotation and meaning to “cheating bastard/hag”
How can the labelling theory affect the way those behave?
It can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies:
E.g negative labelling and connotations enforced by the police onto the black teens may amplify deviance within the black youth
What is the dramaturgical theory?
The idea that society is a stage and people are actors, where they’re constantly putting on a performance in order to manage the impressions they give to others
How does Erving Goffman’s thinking tie perfectly to the dramaturgical theory?
Because he believes people use “impression management” (trying to assert identities of themselves to other people):
- As a result, people may manipulate others in the way they think in order to give the best impression of themselves
What are quotes that the dramaturgical theory advocates?
-“Life is a theatre”
-“Life is a process of self presentation”
-“Life is a series of masks”
-“People act roles”
-“People want to only put themselves in the best light”
What does Erving Goffman ultimately believe?
With people constantly managing the impressions they give to others, there is no true self
(as there are different versions of yourself)
What is structuralism?
The idea that people’s behaviours and the norms/values are dictated by institutions within society (e.g schools and government using ISAs for example)
-If people act outside of the norms, they may be socially excluded (e.g labelled as “deviant”, or even persecuted!)
How does the social action theory/ interactionism oppose structural theory?
-Interpretivism take a bottom-up approach (looking at the individuals and their interactions/relationships with one another); whereas structural theory takes a top-bottom approach (looking at higher ups and institutions that constitute the way people interact and behave)
-Interpretivists feel that people are active in the way they choose to behave and live (because of their free will), whereas positivists/ structural theory claims people are passive under the influence of institutions
-Social action theory (unlike structuralism) looks at the possibility of humans attaching meanings to things
What is one critique of symbolic interactionism?
It fails to explain people’s motivations in where they get their meanings and goals from
What does interpretivists think on the matter of sociology being a science?
They believe it shouldn’t be regarded as a science, as science has no room for opinions or meanings that may influence research.
-Interpretivists believe in ‘verstehen’ (a mutual understanding) and empiricism (knowledge gained through experience)
What is Karl Popper’s concept of deductive logic?
Drawing up a theory and then trying to falsify the hypothesis by searching for an exception in order to prove or disprove the original claim of the theory
-E.g “all swans are white” (search for a black swan then)
