theory and methods Flashcards
what are the consensus theories?
traditional functionalism, new right, Neo-functionalism
what are the conflict theories?
feminism, traditional marxism, Neo-marxism
what are the social action theories?
interactionism. labelling theory,
what are the features of structural theories?
behaviour is the result of social force. purpose of sociology = understand structure, how institutions relate to one another and how they make up society.
what are the features of social action theories?
behaviour is the result go individual action and interaction, purpose of sociology = understand meanings and motives, how individuals and social groups relate to one another, how they socially construct society.
what is functionalism?
consensus, structure, modern. value consensus. society controls individuals via social forces, e.g. socialisation.
what is Durkheim theories?
unless people learn to share common values and commit to co-operation, society would fall into chaos and disorder. value consensus/collective conscience is key.
agencies of socialisations role = integrating individuals within society via shared gaol and values.
what is Parsons organic analogy?
society is like a biological organism. self-regulating systems made up of interrelated and interconnected parts working together to satisfy the needs of the whole. basic needs must be met to survive. all its elects must be working efficiently for the good for Society.
what is Parsons structural differentiation?
as society evolves a new needs arises for both society and individuals, institutions become more specialised and functions they once performed are lost to new institutions.
what does Merton and Parsons say about indispensability?
parsons assumed everything in society is functional in its existing form. merton argues that this is an untested assumption, and functional alternative do exist in society.
what does merton and parsons say about functional unity?
parsons assumed that all parties of society are interrelated and connected. merton believes societies is far more complicated, and some parts are only loosely related. most elements can still with on their own.
what does merton and parsons say about universal functionalism?
parsons assumed that everything in society performs a positive function. merton argued that in highly complex society systems, a lot can go wring. there are unforeseen consequences when functions are performed. dysfunctional - the situation where some parts of social structure don’t work as intended, and there can be negative consequences with harmful effects for nicety/individuals.
what is the new right?
political/consensus. nanny state.
they say that the traditional nuclear family its the ideal, and the only proper way to socialise children.
what are Murray’s main points?
underclass - a group that at the bottom of the stratification system which is characterised by crime, family instability and unemployment. a result of over-generous welfare policies.
dependency culture - the welfare sates makes people lazy, they rely on welfare benefits and this takes away the incentive to work.
traditional values - a return to these is needed across all social institutions if society is to improve.
what are traditional marxists?
conflict, structure, capitalist ideologies. the working class duo the work for the ruling class for only a small cut of what they earn through the exploitation of their workers. ruling class/ bourgeoisie hold power over the economy as a result, since they have most of the money.
what does marxism say about private ownership and social classes?
Labour is the sole source of wealth. primitive societies = work to survive, but as society production rose, the price ownership of means of production rose with it.
what do marxists say about exploitation?
as new means of production emerge, so did new forms of exploitation. one example is working producing more than what’s needed for wages. the ‘extra’ is surplus value, and produces profit for employers while workers don’t get the flu value of their work.
what do marxists say about capitalists and workers.
proletariat - no means of production for their own. have to sell labour power to bourgeoisie.
bourgeoisie - exploit working class by making profits via exploitation.
what do maxis say about class conflict?
workers want higher wages, but bosses want higher profits. their interests oppose each other and are mutually exclusive, leading to conflict between the classes, which affect all areas of life.
what do marxist say about the ruling class?
owning class = pulling class. owning means a production, control of factory locations, open/closed status and hired/fired workforce numbers.
democratically elected governments can’t ignore ruling class power as no money invested by the ruling class results in social problems.
what are marxists dominant ideologies?
ruling ideas In society controlled by the owning class. reflected via institutions in superstructure, brainwashes workers in lack of awareness and acceptance of exploitation - false class consciousness.
what is a false class conscious?
Althusser - the inability to consider your own state causes the revolution to effectively be impossible.
what do marxist say about revolution and communism?
wealth and power becomes more concentrated in hands of the powerful. the emphasised contrast between wealthy and poor leads to a class consciousness. the population becomes polarised as the working class work together to attack the ruling class through protest.
eventually revolution and overthrow of bourgeoisie; communist society is created with no exploitation, class or class conflict.
who is Gramsci and what does he say?
rejected importance of economy: politics and ideology are independent of economy. ideology has relative autonomy (some free will) from economic base. stability of capitalism society due to hegemony (the working class know of their exploitation but accept it regardless).
what does Althusser say?
there are three levels to society:
economic
political (include repressive state apparatus RSA)
ideological (includes ideological state apparatus ISA).
what is the ideological state apparatus?
Althusser says that the ISA maintains the role of the bourgeoise by controlling peoples ideas, values and beliefs, e.g. religion, media and education
what is the repressive caste apparatus?
Althusser says that the RSA maintains the role of the bourgeois by force, such as police and army.
who is Ansley, and what did they say?
women are the ‘takers of shit’, absorbing anger from their husbands frustration with the system.
