Intro To Sociology

Question 1

Structuralism

Answer 1

They are concerned with the overall structure of society and how behaviour of human beings is seen as the result of external social forces. The main purpose of sociology is too study the overall structure of society and not the individual.

Question 2

Structuralism approach

Answer 2

Macro - society as a whole

Question 3

Social action or interprevist theory

Answer 3

Concerned with the behaviour of individuals and society and social structures are seen as the creation of individuals. There is an emphasis on free will

Question 4

Social action or interprevist theory approach

Answer 4

Micro - emphasis on individual/small group

Question 5

Consensus perspectives

Answer 5

Argue society is characterised by harmony and agreement, society is in agreement over society’s norms and values and suggest the role of institutions is to socialise individuals into a value consensus to enable society to function correctly.

Question 6

Conflict perspectives

Answer 6

Argue society is better seen as being made up of competing groups, one dominant group and one subject group

Question 7

Modernist perspectives

Answer 7

Social research can reveal truth about which types of societies are best and work to construct a better society through social policy and radical means

Question 8

Post modernist perspectives

Answer 8

Postmodernists reject the idea of truth and the idea social progress is possible

Question 9

Func overview

Answer 9

Compare society to a human body and all the different parts are like organs and essential to overall health.

They all have their own role and function and if these parts of society fail there would be a negative consequence on all of us and therefore people should do as they’re told for the good of society

Question 10

Marx overview

Answer 10

Society is divided into two classes:
Bourgeoisie (ruling class)
Proletariat (workers)

They are in conflict as the ruling class only stay in power by exploiting the workers

Question 11

Fem overview

Answer 11

Believe society is divided into sex

Men have power (patriarchy)

Feminists want me and women to have equal rights

Question 12

Internationalist overview

Answer 12

Believe you need to understand the meanings individuals give to their own actions in order to understand why they do what they do

Question 13

Postmodernist overview

Answer 13

Now we live in an unstable, fragmented, media saturated society because it changes so rapidly and this society has no truth in single theory or science

Question 14

New right overview

Answer 14

Conservative political perspectives influenced by both labour and conservative policies

They believe the state cannot meet people’s needs and people are best left to meeting their needs in a free market

Question 15

Durkheim - functionalist ideas

Answer 15

• writing in the middle of modernity and experiencing the industrialisation and urbanisation of France.
• believed that the social changes ushered in by modernity threatened social order and his sociology is a response to this
• wants to ensure modern societies were harmonious and orderly

Question 16

What did Durkheim believe

Answer 16

The importance of organic solidarity and what societies must do to achieve organic solidarity

Believed individuals have biological tendencies to be naturally selfish and look out for themselves, regulating the natural selfish desires

Too much freedom is bad for society

Society has to restrain these tendencies by creating a sense of social solidarity

Modern societies run the risk of excessive individualism and face a ‘crisis of moral regulation’

Question 17

Social solidarity

Answer 17

Where there is a sense of feeling part of something greater. A shared feeling of working together to achieve the collectively agreed goals of society

Question 18

Durkheim beliefs continued

Answer 18

Society is more important than any individual and therefore it’s everyone’s job to ensure it functions and survives, without it we would cease to develop and eventually die out

Question 19

Talcott Parsons - functionalist ideas

Answer 19

Argued the institutions in society were like organs in the body, each perform specific functions that were necessary to the maintenance of the whole.

Question 20

What are functional prerequisites and examples

Answer 20

Societies had certain functional prerequisites and are needed in society in order to survive

E.G. production of food, care for the young, socialisation of new generations into society

Question 21

4 functions identified by parsons

Answer 21

AGIL
adaptation
goal attainment
integration
latency

Question 22

Adaptation (AGIL) - Parsons

Answer 22

Adapt to the environment and the production of goods and services

Question 23

Goal attainment (AGIL) - Parsons

Answer 23

Decide what goals society as a whole should aim to achieve

Question 24

Integration (AGIL) - Parsons

Answer 24

Achieve social cohesion

Question 25

Latency (pattern maintainence) (AGIL) - Parsons

Answer 25

Socialise the young into shared values

Question 26

What did parson argue

Answer 26

Societies needs must come before the needs of the individual and this is what it’s so key to stress the importance of the family and education passing on particular norms and values that bind people together in value consensus

Question 27

Gramsci (1891-1937) ideas

Answer 27

Ruling class were so powerful they controlled ideology within society in 2 ways:

Coercion - used the army, police and courts to accept rule
Consent - used ideas and values to persuade

Question 28

Louis Althusser ideas

Answer 28

State performs political and ideological functions that ensure reproduction of capitalism and divides into 2 state apparatus:

Repressive: institutions within society and suppress and control working class through force

Ideological: suppress and control working class through manipulation and conditioning the way they think

Question 29

Ways the ruling class can manipulate

Answer 29

Family
Education
Media
Religion
Justice system

Question 30

What 6 things did Karl Marx argue

Answer 30

6 key things:
1) capitalist society is divided into 2 classes
2) economic power control other social institutions
3) bourgeoisie control proletariat
4) ideological control over others
5) false class consciousness is created to make proletariat submissive
6) revolution and communism are the eventual consequence of capitalist society

Question 31

Labour power

Answer 31

People’s capacity to work, people sell their labour power to the employer, the employee only buys the labour power not the whole person

Question 32

Bourgeoisie

Answer 32

Own and control wealth of the country

Question 33

Proletariat

Answer 33

Gain a living by selling their labour power to the bourgeoise for a price

Question 34

Class conflict

Answer 34

The interests of the capitalist class are in conflict with the interests of the working class

Question 35

Dominant ideology

Answer 35

Set of ideas and beliefs of the most powerful groups in society which influences the rest of society

Question 36

False class consciousness

Answer 36

The working class don’t realise they’re being exploited and living ‘brainwashed’ state where they live a reasonable life

Question 37

Repressive state apparatus

Answer 37

Institutions within society that suppress and control the W/C through physical force

Question 38

Ideological state apparatus

Answer 38

Institutions within society that suppress and control the W/C through manipulating and conditioning the way they think