Theories In Sociology Flashcards
What is the meaning of institutions?
Organisations or establishments founded for a specific purpose
What is the meaning of conflict?
The idea that society is based around different groups whose interests clash
What is the meaning of Consensus?
The idea that society is in harmony and everybody shares the same values and beliefs which helps to maintain social order
What is meant by macro approaches?
It provides the complete theory of society
They look at and analyse society as a whole
They believe that social behaviour is shaped by the structure of society
What is meant by micro approaches?
They focus on small groups and individuals and the interactions between them
They look at how society is made up from interactions with each other
Is functionalism a macro or micro theory?
Macro
What is functionalisms core ideas? And who are the key thinkers?
This theory believes that society is a complex system and all different parts work in harmony to maintain social order.
They believe in the consensus theory that society functions by having shared interests and beliefs
Key thinkers: emile Durkheim, Robert Merton, talcott parsons
What are some criticisms of functionalism?
-Functionalism overlooks inequalities, conflicts and the benefits of social change
-overlooks cultural differences
-views social change as disruptive rather than beneficial
-overlooks how individuals shape society
What is Marxism’s core ideas? and who are some key thinkers?
Everything is based on money
Marxism focuses on the relationships between social classes and economic systems.
Marxism’s believes in class conflict and that society is divided into two main classes. The bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
Marxism argues that the proletariat are exploited by the bourgeoisie as they make money from the workers
Marxism argues that there is false conscience as he believes that the working class are unaware of this exploitation because of the ideologies promoted by the ruling class.
Marxism predicts that the conflict will eventually cause the working class to overthrow the ruling class and the capitalism system
KEY THINKERS
Karl mark, friedrich Engels
What are some criticisms of Marxism ?
Oversimplifying the class system
Prediction failures
Doesn’t explain other divisions and conflicts in society which are not due to class
What is Interactionism’s core ideas?who are some key thinkers?
Interactionism focuses on how individuals shape and are shaped by society through interactions
They believe in social construction of reality which means’s people’s reality is created by interactions
Interactionism highlights the importance of symbols (e.g. language gestures, objects) in shaping human behaviour and social reality.
And this theory also highlights agency which means we can do whatever we want.
KEY THINKERS
Anthony giddens, Erving goffman
What are some criticisms of Interactionism
It ignores power structures - Interactionism takes a micro perspective and highlights agency this theory doesn’t acknowledge the constraints of social structure
What is feminisms core ideas and what is their goals? And who are some key thinkers?
They believe women are exploited and oppressed by men in society by men in society
They believe that society is patriarchal meaning men are in charge
The goal they want is equality of the sexes
KEY THINKERS
Mary Wollstonecraft, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Ann Oakley
What are some criticisms of feminism
It neglects issues in society that are not linked to gender
