Introduction Flashcards
Classical Theory vs Contemporary Theory
Classical: Ideas developed IN the writings of theorists
Contemporary: Ideas developed AFTER the writings of classical theorists
–> builds on classical theory
Main Examples of Contemporary Theory (6)
- Symbolic Interactionism
- Structural Functionalism
- Conflict Theory
- Neo-Marxism
- Contemporary Feminist Theory
- Theories of “Race” & Colonialism
Marx influence on Contemp. Theory
- Looked at Industrial Rev/ Capitalism in context of historical shifts in society
- Theorized a shift from slavery to feudalism, feudalism to capitalism, capitalism to socialism, and socialism to communism
- Particularly concerned about exploitation and alienation
- ideas paved the way for Neo-Marxian Theory
Durkheim influence on Contemp. Theory
- Looked at Industrial Rev/ Capitalism in context of historical shifts in society
- Theorized a shift from mechanical solidarity in early societies (eg. hunting/ gathering) to organic solidarity in modern societies (eg. industrial/ capitalist)
- Under mechanical solidarity, people largely self sufficient and a simple division of labour
- Under organic solidarity, people become dependent on each other as they fulfill specialized roles
- Organic solidarity paved way for structural functionalist theory
Weber influence on contemp. theory
- Unlike Marx and Durkheim, did not theorize historical shifts in society
- Theorized how industrial capitalist has a strong focus on rationalization and bureaucratization
- Private organizations/ corporations operate based on rational principles based on science
- Ideas paved the way for Neo Weberian Theory
Women Sociologist influence on contemp. theory
- Initial analysis of the inequality experienced by women
- Impacted contemporary sociological theory as their work provided the basis for contemporary feminist theory as well as later waves of feminism
Du Bois influence on contemp. theory
- Most concerned with inequality experienced by Black people (esp. USA)
- Work paved the way for theories of race and colonialism
Aspects of contemporary theory
- Levels of analysis (theory at the Macro/Micro level)
- Political orientations (Conservative/Critical perspectives)
Theory at the Macro Level
focuses on social structures; examining the structure of societies (eg. political, economic, ideological aspects of society) (eg. role of institutions/ classes)
- Focus of most classical sociological theory
- Eg. Marx analysis of capitalist society; Durkheim focus of DOL; Weber analysis of rationalization/ bureaucratization
Theory at the Micro Level
focuses on social interactions; interactions between inds and interactions within small groups
- Very little attention throughout classical sociological theory
Conservative Perspectives
- Focus on analyzing social order and advocating social stability
- Focus on need to maintain social inequality
- Eg. structural functionalism, neo-functionalism, systems theory
Critical Perspectives
- Focus on analyzing social conflict and generating social change
- Focus on need to reduce/ eliminate social inequality
- Eg. neo-marxism, contemporary feminist theory, theories of “race” and colonialism
Emergence of Micro Level Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
- best known micro level theory
- began to emerge in 1920s with Chicago school
Phenomenological Sociology
focuses on the consciousness of inds and how they construct the social world
builds on “lifeworld”
Lifeworld
Alfred Schutz
- the world of everyday life as well as its socially shared and taken for granted routines, customs, habits, and knowledge
The Social Construction of Reality
- Berger and Luckmann building off Schutz
- Tried to identify the process through which ideas/ practices become shared by people and then eventually institutionalized
Ethnomethodology
focuses on the procedures that individuals use to make sense of the social world
- builds off Garfinkel (studies in ethnomethodology)
- Interested in how people make sense of when these aspects are violated or breached during social interactions
- Tested with “Breaching experiments:” eg. socially shared and taken for granted ideas that parents have about how their adult children will behave
conservative perspectives dominance and decline
- Structural Functionalism
- Critique of Structural Functionalism through Conflict theory
- Neo-Functionalism & Systems Theory
Structural Functionalism and Conservative perspectives (dominance and decline)
- Became the dominant theoretical perspective in sociology in the 1950s
- Conservative due to its emphasis on social order and the need to maintain society as it is
-Began to face criticisms late 1950s-1960s
Critique of Structural Functionalism through Conflict Theory and Conservative perspectives (dominance and decline)
- Many critics were influenced by Marx: argued Structural Functionalism was problematic bc it focused on social order and ignored social conflict
- Late 1950s: Conflict Theory was developed specifically as an alternative to Structural Functionalism; unsuccessful due to failure to fully follow Marx’s ideas
- Brushed aside for Neo-Marxism (1960s)
Neo-Functionalism & Systems Theory and Conservative perspectives (dominance and decline)
- 1980s-1990s: Conservative perspectives reemerged
- Both perspectives were influenced by Structural Functionalism, but they were also unsuccessful
Growth of Critical perspectives
- Critical of existing society
- Try to theorize the conditions of existing society
- Theorize how to change those conditions
- 1960s-present
- 3 Theories: Neo-Marxism, Contemporary Feminist Theory, Theories of Race and Colonialism
Neo-Marxism Growth
- Began after death of marx (1880s)
- Real growth in Neo-Marxism occurred during 1960s due to social conflict dealing with concerns about social inequality and various social movements that pushed for social change
- Due to developments, sociologists began to turn to Neo-Marxism to understand the developments of the decade
Contemporary Feminist Theory Growth
- Early women sociologists were associated with the first wave of feminism (1830s-1920s: therefore classical)
- Second wave of feminism (1960s-1990s) revival connected to social conflict and pushing for social change
- Third wave of feminism (1990s-2000s)
- Fourth wave of feminism (2010s to present)
