theory and methods Flashcards
need : what is intergration in the gail model
expressive role cordinating all parts of the system to achieve goals with people having a sense of belonging to society beliefs and goals promotes social harmony and socia; solidarity with social control to prevent deviance
it is met through cultural / community
what is latency in the gail model
minimixing social tensions and interpersonal conflict which might prevent individuals and society working efficiently maintaining commitment ro culture and pattern of values
it is met by family and kinship
what is merton critique of functionalism
indispensability - parson assumes everything in society , thefam , reli is functionally indispensable in its existing form
merton argues that tthis is untested assumption and he points to the possibiltiy of func alt e.g parsons assumes primary soc is best performed by nf - but lpf can do as well
what is merton critique of functionalism
functional unity - parson assumed that all parts of soc are tigtly intergrated together into a single whole or unity and that each part is func to the restchange in one part will have an effect on other parts
not neccsairly ture complex modern society
what is merton critique of functionalism
parson assumes that everything in soc performs a pos func in society as a whole tet some things may feunc for some groups and dysfunc for others
overall we cant simply assume that society is always smooth running well intergrated sytems
Structural theories
Explain why functionalism is a structuralist theory.
.
Functionalism is a structural theory because it’s concerned with the needs of the social system as a whole and how these shape main features of society.
Durkheim states that functionalists are concerned with rapid social change and moving from traditional to modern society. A weak collective conscience can lead to anomie and normal ness and peopie must be socialised into collective conscience in order to maintain value consensus.
Parsons states that functionalism is a systematic theory of society in the 20th certier.
Organic analogy is the main idea about how society is a living being made up of interrelated component parted
Give an Internal Critique of Functionalism (Merton)
*
One of Merton Internal criticism of functionalism is indispensability. Parsons assumes that everything in society, the family, religion and so on is functionally indispensable in its existing form. Merton argues that this is just an untested assumption and he points to the possibility of functionalist alternatives. Eg. Parsons assumes that primary socialisation is best performed by the nuclear family, but it may be that one parent families or communes do it well or better.
*Another internal critique from Merton about functionalism is functional unity. Parsons assumes that all parts of society are tightly integrated together into a single whole or unity’ and that each part is functional for the rest. Change in one part will have a knock on effect on all other parts. However, neither of these assumptions are necessarily true. Complex modern societies have many parts, some of which may be only distantly related to one another. Instead of functional unity, some parts may have functional autonomy (independence from others).
- Another is Universal functionalism; Parsons assumes that everything in society performs a positive function for society as a whole. Yet some things may be functional for some groups and dysfunctional for others. Dysfunction introduces neglected notes into functionalism, by suggesting that there may be conflicts of interests and that some groups may have the power to keep arrangements in place that benefit them at the expense of others.
3) Give an External Critique (logical, empirical evaluation or theoretical).
3) Give an External Critique (logical, empirical evaluation or theoretical).
An external critique is the logical evaluation where:
Critics argue that functionalism is teleological. Teleology is the idea that things exist because of their effect or function. For example, the functionalist claim that the family exists because children need to be socialised is teleological
- it explains the existence of the family in terms of its effect.
The empirical evaluation where critics argue that a real explanation of something is one that identifies its cause - and logically a caste must come before its effect. By contrast, functionalism explains the existence of one thing (the family) in terms of something else that can only be its effect (socialisation), since socialisation can only come after we have families.
Summarise and explain Merton’s ideas of MANIFEST and LATENT functions:
Summarise and explain Merton’s ideas of MANIFEST and LATENT functions:
Manifest and latent functions
Merton contributes a useful distinction between manifest and latent functions.
Hopi Indians who in times of drought, perform a rain dance with the aim of magically producing rain - manifest or intended function.
Scientifically, this is unlikely to achieve the goal.
However, ritual may have an unintended or latent function - promoting a sense of solidarity in times of hardship, when individuals may be tempted to look after themselves at the expense of others. Merton’s distinction is therefore useful in helping to reveal the hidden connections between social phenomena, which actors themselves may not be aware of.
how can we evaluate func
shows the importnace of the social science in shaping society and human behaviour
unscientific theories cannot be falsified
fails to explain conflict and change/ fragmentation in society organic anology us wrong - marx/pm fem
just a meta narrative no longer valid in pm society
what is marx 3 central features ?
material conditions of production - how people organise the production of goods
What is marx view on the structure of society’s
1) ECONOMIC BASE (Infrastructure). This contains the:
- MEANS of PRDUCTION- The land, factories, raw materials, technology and labour needed to produce goods.
-RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION- the relationship between those who own the means of production and those who work for them.
2) THE SUPERSTRUCTURE: This includes the social institutions such as the family, education, beliefs and values (ideology) which are shaped by and reinforce) the economic system.
What is Marx key issues in society ?
Private ownership and social class:
According to Marx in every society there is private ownership of the MEANS of PRODUCTION. Society is divided into the owners and the non-owners of the means of production. E.g:
Ancient Rome- slave owners and slaves.
Exploitation
Marx argued that the workers (non-owners) produce more than is needed to for their employers to pay them their wages. This extra is ‘SURPLUS VALUE’ and provides the PROFITS for the owners of production.
This means the owners keep the extra money generated by the labour of the workers and, as a result, the workers do not get their fair share- they are exploited..
Key issues in society
Capitalists and workers
Marx argued there were two social classes in Capitalist society: A small group of wealthy and powerful owners of production (Bourgeoisie/Capitalists) and a much larger group of poorer non-owners (Proletariat). The capitalist exploit the fact that the workers have to sell their labour to make money by paying them low wages and keeping the profits themselves. This causes CLASS CONFLICT between the two groups. This conflict affects all areas of life
4) Ruling Class
Marx argued the owning class is also the RULING CLASS. Since they owned the means of production they could decide when and where factories could open. Governments cannot afford to ignore the power of the ruling class: if the bourgeoisie were to decide to not open their factories or not invest in them it could lead to unemployment and social problems.
5) Dominant Ideology/Ruling class ideology
The dominant ideas in capitalist society are those of the ruling class. Marx calls their dominant ideology (beliefs and values) RULING CLASS IDEOLOGY. The major institutions of the superstructure reflect, support and reinforce the Ruling Class Ideology and their interest.
Key issues in soc what did Marx believe will happen
- Revolution and Communism.
Marx believed that one day workers would wake up to their exploitation. As the rich became richer and the poor became poorer this contrast between the poor workers and the rich bourgeoisie would lead the proletariat to develop CLASS-CONSCIOUSNESS- an awareness of their real interests and their exploitation. This would then create two opposing groups- capitalists and workers. The working class would join together to act against the bourgeoisie. They would do this through Strikes, demonstrations and other forms of protest.
As a result of this action there would be a revolution to overthrow the bourgeoisie. The means of production would then be put into the hands of the state and run in the interests of everyone and not just the bourgeoisie. A new type of society- COMMUNISIM- would emerge which would be without exploitation, without class and without conflict.
What is an evaluation of Marxism
Marx predictions have not come true. The poor have not become poorer and in the west everyone has a much higher standard of living. Communist regimes of Russia and Surrounding Eastern Europe have failed and there is growing private ownership and inequality in China
• Recognises the importance of the economy is shaping social institutions
Marxism overemphasises the extent of conflict in society. Functionalists argue society is more stable as there is value consensus. This is supported by the fact that hasn’t been a communist revolution in the west.
Too deterministic- sees individuals as passive products of the social system and ignores that people do have individual choices. I - interachennir
• Explains social inequalities in wealth and income and how conflicts are rooted on class inequalities. U
•Recognises the importance of the social structure and links this to the ideas and behaviour of individuals.
• Just a metanarrative which tries to explain everything from a single perspective. This does not hold sway on a postmodern society where social life is chaotic and social structures are fragmented.
• Postmodernist would claim it is the media rather than the economy which shapes society and dominates the consciousness and actions of individuals “
• Marxism is a very influential theory which has shaped the work of other theorists, such as Weber and Marxist- Feminists
Neo Marxism
What did gramci vuew was on Marx
Gramsci (1891-1937) thought Marx was mistaken in placing too much importance on the economy. Gramsci believed ideology has autonomy from the economy; He saw ideology as having RELATIVE AUTONOMY -when the superstructure of society has some independence from the economy, rather than being directly determined by it.
Gramsci developed the concept of
HEGEMONY- the dominance in society of the ruling class’s ideas over others and the acceptance and consent to them by the rest of society. Gramsci’s Idea of.
Hegemony placed more emphasis on the role of ideas (ideology) rather than the economy in maintain the power of the ruling class and shaping behaviour.
According the Gramsci, one of the main reasons why the proletariat never rebelled against the bourgeoisie because their minds were controlled by the domain ideology,
In his concept of hegemony Gramsci is leaning towards a social action approach to society, focusing more on people’s ideas and meanings, and less on the structuralist approach and economic determinism of classical Marxism.
What is althusser view on marx? Structuralist Marxism
Althusser (1969, 1971) differed to Marx in that he believed the structure of capitalist society consists of not just the base and superstructure but three levels:
1) The economic Level- The economy and the production of material
2) The political level- government and political organisation involved in the control of society. This includes the REPRESSIVE STATE APPARATUS (RSA)- parts of the state control and keep people in line using physical means (e.g. police, army, prisons).
3) The ideological level- the ideas, beliefs and values. This consists of the IDEOLOGIAL STATE APPARATUSES (ISAl the institutions which spread the dominant ideology and justify the power of the ruling class. E.g., Mass media, education and religion.
Whilst Althusser believed the economy remained of overall importance and all three levels justify and preserve the power of the ruling class, the political (level 2) and Ideological (level 3) levels of society can affect society independently from the economy. Each level has RELATIVE AUTONOMY and some independence from the economic base.
(e.g. Like Marx he agrees that the economy is important but believes it does not determine everything in society all of the time).
What is evaluation of neo Marxism
•Overcomes the problem of economic determinism U
• Can be argued Marx also recognised the importance of ideas and meanings- e.g he talked about class consciousness y
• Overcomes some of the weaknesses of classical Marxism J
• Neo-Marxists underplay the importance of how the economy shapes society.
