Wk:2 Sociological Theory

Question 1

What are the 3 major sociological paradigms?

Answer 1

• Functionalism
• Conflict Theory
• Symbolic Interactionism

Question 2

Functionalism

Answer 2

defines society as a system of interrelated parts; primarily a macro orientation because it focuses on larger social structures rather than individuals
Machine made of many cogs
Everything (for e.g., religion, education, and class) in
society has a function and this helps keep society
‘stable’.
* Social institutions (e.g., the family and the economy) are
critical to the functionality of society.
* Society is much like an organism in that it has
equilibrium – this is what we consider ‘normal’.

Question 3

Conflict Theory

Answer 3

views society as an unequal system that brings about conflict and change; focuses on macro issues and supports the idea that the struggle for scarce
resources holds a society together; concerned with inequality as it relates to wealth
and power

Question 4

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 4

focuses on how individual people interact with other people in their everyday lives; studies how the use of ‘symbols’ influence how people
communicate; follows a micro approach because it is concerned with the individual’s
role in creating society.

Question 5

Key Functionalist theorist?

Answer 5

Emile Durkheim
Durkheim is a key functionalist theorist through his
critique of an individualistic understanding of social
life.
The functionalist focuses upon social structure,
language, culture, tradition and worldview.
Individual behaviour takes place within the framework of social facts. They are patterns of behavior, beliefs,or institutions that exists independently of individualchoices and is shaped by society’s needs to maintain stability and function properly. These social facts influence and regulate individuals’ actions and contribute to the overall cohesion and functioning of society.

Question 6

What are examples of social facts?

Answer 6

Gender norms, Western
education, moral behaviour, traditional behaviour, career expectations.
We embody patterned expectations about conduct,
values, beliefs, dress, language, appearance and so on.
Just like how a room and doors limits your movement so do social facts

Question 7

What is a social consensus?

Answer 7

Can be observed – a ‘collective conscience’ consisting of common beliefs and sentiments.

Question 8

What is Mechanical solidarity?

Answer 8

Durkheim refers to the historical development from
mechanical solidarity, based on people’s basic similarity of beliefs and values. It enables cooperation through commonality of values and beliefs.

Question 9

What is organic solidarity?

Answer 9

Is characterised as a form of social life held
together by people’s need for each other’s services, support and activities. We do not necessarily see or know each other but we are highly interdependent

Question 10

What is Anomie?

Answer 10

A cultural condition described by Durkheim in which morals and customary constraints on behaviour were weak.
Anomie reduces social cohesion alongside the control of morality – what is right and wrong.
The effects of anomie can be counteracted by a developed justice system and attempts to compensate for inequalities and injustices. For example, through a robust legal system with
penalties and compensation (including vengeance?).

Question 11

What are Intended consequences:?

Answer 11

These are the planned and expected outcomes of
social actions or institutions. They are
consciously designed to fulfill specific
functions and purposes in society

Question 12

What are unintended consequences?

Answer 12

These are the unforeseen and often unexpected
outcomes that arise from social actions
or institutions. They may not have been
intentionally designed or anticipated,
but they can still have significant impacts
on society, positive or negative.

Question 13

What is a critique of functionalism?

Answer 13

Supports the status quo and fails to recognise
how inequalities such as social class, ethnicity and
gender cause an imbalance in our society

Question 14

Key theorist of Conflict Theory?

Answer 14

Karl Marx
* German theorist, social activist & writer – (1818-
1883)
* Critic of the capitalist system
* Focused upon the material conditions of
production
* Demonstrated the division and conflict between
the bourgeoisie and the proletariat
* Defined false and class consciousness

Question 15

What is Dominant ideology?

Answer 15

The prevailing ideas and values of an
epoch, often seen as the ideas of the dominant social, political and economic groups

Question 16

What is Western Marxism?

Answer 16

Western Marxism was borne from trying to understand why in Western Europe there was support for capitalism even though people were exploited and oppressed.
The realm of culture and ideas and to institutions was considered crucial to understanding this. For example, the Church, the mass media and the education system in understanding why and how capitalist societies are maintained or change.

Question 17

What is Critical theory?

Answer 17

A way of looking at society that
questions power imbalances and unfairness. It’s
related to the ideas of Karl Marx, who talked
about how capitalism creates social divisions.
Critical theory has expanded beyond Marx’s ideas
and now focuses on various forms of inequality
and how we can make society more just and
equal

Question 18

What is ‘The dialectic of enlightenment’

Answer 18

taken from a philosophical piece of the same name, warns that too much focus on profit and technology can make people feel disconnected or
alienated from themselves, others, and the
world around them. It urges critical thinking to
avoid oppressive systems and seek genuine
connection and fulfillment

Question 19

Role of the bourgeoisie in a capitalist system?

Answer 19

In a capitalist system, the bourgeoisie own most of the wealth because they control the businesses. As they control the wealth, they seek to increase profit while paying workers lower wages.

Question 20

Role of the proletariat in a capitalist system?

Answer 20

The proletariat are members of the poor working class who do the hard work while the bourgeoisie benefit. The proletariat are caught in a cycle they cannot escape due to their low wages.
What we have is unbalanced dependence where the proletariat have little control over the work they do and little resources to make larger impacts.

Question 21

What is false consciousness?

Answer 21

According to Marx we have a lack of
understanding of our position in society
which is called false consciousness. For the
proletariat, it is the misguided fantasy that
hard work will pay off and lead to great
economic success

Question 22

What is class consciousness?

Answer 22

Marx believed we needed class consciousness
- an understanding of our position in the
system. When used in relation to the working
class this includes an understanding of how
they are exploited by the elite.

Question 23

What is ideological hegemony?

Answer 23

The dominance of the ruling class is based on
ideological hegemony which occurs when we
endorse structures of power and ideas that
are harmful to us as the people without
power. For example, 50 of Australian
millionaires pay no income tax whatsoever
yet we consent to a system that allows this.
“Religion is the opiate of the masses” – Karl
Marx
This isn’t all about money….

Question 24

What 3 types of capital does Bordieu say you have?

Answer 24

• Economic capital: $$$$ and assets (e.g., your income, car and house)
• Cultural capital: Behaviours, ideas, knowledge, language preference and skills (e.g., your education, vocabulary and fashion sense)
• Social capital: Who you know (e.g., you might know someone who works at an organisation and your parents may have worked somewhere prestigious)

Question 25

Why does conflict never end?

Answer 25

To challenge the status quo through
taking control and power leads to a
new status quo.
* The oppressed become the oppressor
* The former oppressor is now the
oppressed.
* Society, in the end, is still defined by
that struggle for scarce resources and
focally – inequality.

Question 26

Critique of conflict theory?

Answer 26

Too radical and synonymous with idea that
powerful people oppress the weak.
Could it be that competition breeds excellence,
innovation, creativity, affordability and/or
success?

Question 27

Key theorist of Symbolic
Interactionism?

Answer 27

George Herbert Mead
* Social interaction is dependent on
symbols.
* We construct the meaning of objects
and that determines our human activity.
* Everything we engaged with is a symbol
and we engage with people through
symbols.
* A red light is a symbol, swear words are
symbols, roles are symbolic, and your
clothing is a symbol made of symbols.

Question 28

What is the generalised other?

Answer 28

Children learn how to interact with others to
achieve their goals. They become aware of
how others perceive them and develop a sense
of how society views them, which is called the
‘generalised other.’ Our actions are influenced
by considering what others think, even if it
happens subconsciously through
acknowledgement of the ‘generalized’ other.

Question 29

Another Key theorist of Symbolic
Interactionism?

Answer 29

Key Theorist: Herbert Blumer
* Our actions as constructed through a process of interpretation
* He thought that we have formulas for human action but we improvise on these formulas as we maneuver social rules and expectation.
* Blumer identified 3 based premises of the symbolic interactionist perspective:
1. People’s actions are based on the meanings they give to things.
2. These meanings come from interactions with others and society.
3. People interpret and change these meanings when dealing with the
things they encounter.

Question 30

What is a critique of Symbolic interactionism?

Answer 30

Ahistorical and ignores the coercive effects of
social structure by focusing too much on power
of individual to co-create their world