Sociological Theory

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

Everything in society has a purpose and they all have to work together to progress.

Organic analogy (society is like the human body, everything has to work together in order to survive).

Question 2

Functionalism Criticisms

Answer 2

Fails at to explain conflicts and also quite deterministic.

Question 3

Marxism

Answer 3

Structuralist, conflict theory.

We live in a capitalist society and there are conflicts between the upper and working class. The bourgeoise exploit the proletariat by paying low wages for hard work and keeping any surplus value.

Question 4

Marxism Criticisms

Answer 4

Marx said that the proletariat would realise they’re being exploited and then rebel but this never happened.

It also focuses on a two class system but in modern society, we have the ride of a middle class.

Question 5

Post Modernism

Answer 5

Structuralist, social action theory where they explain social change.

There has been a shift from factory work to services and technology and the pace of social change is happening faster than ever.

Question 6

Post Modernism Criticisms

Answer 6

It overstated the social changes that have recently taken place.

Question 7

Interactionalism

Answer 7

Society looms over people, only socialising them innocently (functionalism) or forcing them into submission (Marxists & feminists).

Focuses on meanings and motives.

Question 8

Interactionalism Criticisms

Answer 8

Fails to give a bigger picture of society and they’ve gone to far with the extent our actions are controlled by society.

Question 9

Feminism

Answer 9

We live in a patriarchal society where there are social divisions between men and women. This system benefits males.

Question 10

Feminism Criticisms

Answer 10

There is a tendency to treat all women the same and ignore he factors of age, religion, ethnicity etc.