chapter 2 Flashcards
thinking sociologically, thinking globally (14 cards)
functionalism
a framework for a building theory that envisages society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Spencer, Parsons)
social structure
relatively stable patterns of social behaviour
social function
consequences for the operation of society
manifest functions
recognised and intended consequences of any social pattern (Merton)
latent functions
largely unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern (Merton)
social disfunctions
undesirable consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society (Merton)
conflict perspective
framework for building theory that envisages society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change (Marx)
action perspective
a micro-theory that focuses on how actors assemble social meaning (Weber)
macro-level orientation
a focus on broad
social structures that characterize society as a whole
ideal type
an abstract statement of the essential, though often exaggerated, characteristics of any social phenomenon
essentialism
the belief in essences that are similar
global perspective
the study of the larger world and society in it
globalisation
the increasing amount of connectedness of societies
glocalisation
the process by which local
communities respond differently to global changes
