Week 3: Sociology Flashcards
What is sociology?
The scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social interaction and culture (Aka looks at groups of people/individuals and how they form behaviour in society)
What is positivism?
The system of positive philosophy in which logic and mathematics, combined with sensory experience could be better assist in understanding human relationships and action
Who discovered positivism?
Auguste Comte
What did Herbert Spencer discover?
similarities between society and the human body/survival of the fittest
What did Emile Durkheim study?
How society was changing in the face of industrialisation
What is functionalism?
The theory that the system is made up of functions and if one function stops working, the system has to reset and adjust
What are social facts?
Things that exist independently that shapes our choices and actions e.g. money
What were the factors that Durkheim believed increase the risk of suicide?
Individualism, excessive hope, excessive freedom, raise if atheism, weakening rile of ‘the nation’ and ‘family’
What is the level of integration in society?
The feeling of belonging to a group bound together by norms and values
What is the level of regulation in society?
The control that society has over its members
What are the 4 types of suicide?
Altruistic, egoistic, fatalistic and anomic
What is altruistic suicide?
Too much integration
What is egoistic suicide?
Not enough social interaction
What is fatalistic suicide?
Too much regulation
What is anomic suicide?
Not having enough regulation
What is Marxism?
Describes a broad set of theories articulated by and then inspired by the writings of a Karl Marx
What did Karl Marx believe in?
- Seeks fairer distribution of wealth
- believes in the dissolution of central governments
- how society develop through conflict
What is the conflict theory?
That individuals are competing in society, does not neglect social change and exaggerates tension and division in society
What is the social action theory?
It proposes that all human actions or social actions are informed by the individuals unique experiences and contexts
What are the 4 types of social action?
- traditional social action
- affective social action
- value rational social action
- instrument-rational social action
What is traditional social action influenced by?
Traditions
What is affective social action influenced by?
By one’s specific affections and emotional state, you do not think about the consequences
What is value rational social action influenced by?
By conscious belief in the inherent value of a type of behaviour e.g. religion
What is instrument-rational social action determined by?
Actions that are carried out to achieve a certain goal, you do something because it leads to a result
