Introduction to Sociological Theory Flashcards
What do Functionalists think?
Everyone in society is in agreement about basic norms and values. It is a structural and consensus theory, they believe that systems and institutions serve a useful function in maintaining the healthy cohesion of society. A healthy society is where there is a strong collective consensus.
What is the Organic Analogy?
A functionalist concept. Society is reliant on all interconnecting parts and institutions to work effectively.
Family - prepares you for education, primary socialisation
Education - prepares you for work
Work - gives you a purpose in society
Media - creates norms and values whilst influencing the other agents.
What did Parsons (Functionalist) say?
Parsons argued that society was based on value consensus, everyone shares common norms and values through the agents of socialisation. The family is a key agent in reinforcing norms and values. Means that society can run smoothly.
What did Durkheim (Functionalist) say?
Believed in the importance of social solidarity, which is instilled through the hidden curriculum e.g. hierarchy.
Why do people face inequality, according to Functionalists?
Make them want to work harder - functional because they aspire to be like the working class.
What is The New Right?
Political and Social movement. Often regarded as neo-functionalists. They think that stratification serves important functions: inequality promotes economic growth and competition.
What did Saunders (New Right) find?
Believes that Britain is close to being meritocratic. He argues that the apparent inequality in a capitalist society may be due to the unequal distribution of ability and effort. Children from middle class parents may deserve to be more successful because they have a greater inherited ability to work harder.
What did Murray (New Right) say?
Claims that the underclass are lazy, workshy, immoral, criminal and dependant on benefits. It suggests it is their own fault because they have a culture based on idleness, failure and criminality.
What did Jordan (New Right) find?
Jordan disagrees with Murray and argues that the underclass have the same values and attitudes as everyone else, and that they would love to work if they had the chance. They feel a sense of shame because they cannot provide for their families. Unemployment often brings a sense of shame, guild, low self esteem, insecurity and poor mental health.
What is Marxism?
Marx studied capitalist societies and believed there were only 2 social classes: a ruling class and a working class.
Believed that the means of production shaped the rest of society.
Saw society divided into two major parts:
Infrastructure - economic base
Superstructure - societies agents of socialisation
THE INFRASTRUCTURE SHAPES THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
What is capitalism? (the infrastructure)
Capitalism is a system based around private ownership and the maximisation of profit through the exploitation of workers.
Conflict:
- The proletariat need the bourgeoisie because without them they would have no jobs
- The bourgeoisie need the proletariat to do the work and make them money.
What is the false class consciousness?
Because the Proletariat are alienated and believe in the ruling class ideology this keeps them unaware of their unequal position. This means that the Proletariat are in a state of false class consciousness where they have no real idea of their true position in society.
Marx argued that once the Proletariat know about their exploited position they would rebel and revolt against the Bourgeoisie for equality and create a fair communist society.
Marx believed that a revolution would occur and all societies would become communist.
What did Westergaard (Neo-Marxist) say about Marxism?
Class differences became stronger in the UK in the late 20th century. The top 10% of the population have seen massive increases in their incomes whilst those in the lowest incomes have seen virtually no rise.
What did John Scott say about social closure?
Toffs and Snobs
Social closure: families ensure social closure because they encourage marriage partners from other rich families and emmersion of children into a ‘high culture’.
Old Boy Network
Intermarriage.
What is the role of the media according to Neo Marxists?
Create a need for consumers goods.
Work harder to profit the Bourgeoisie.
Arguments for Marxism being relevant?
Richest 1% owns 21% of wealth
Gap between rich and poor has widened.
In the global economy, the developing world has become the Proletariat.
Power is still in the hands of the small few e.g. Oxbridge
The w.c. are more likely to experience inequalities in health and have fewer life chances.
Arguments about Marxism not being relevant?
Under capitalism the standard of living has improved.
Revolution has not occurred as Marx predicted.
Minimum wage limits exploitation.
Doesn’t account for the growing middle class.
Self employed e.g. plumbers earn lots.
What is Pluralism?
Pluralists state that there is no one group who owns all the power. They argue that in democratic, free market societies, power is spread out among diverse competing interest groups.
What do Pluralists think about the media?
Pluralists argue that the media companies compete for customers meaning they provide the kind of content those customers want and need to make profit. If a company doesn’t provide news, customers will stop buying it. This illustrates the idea that the consumers, not the owners of the media companies, control media content. Pluralists therefore state that the media content does not reflect the bias views of the media owner, but that of the diverse opinions of the general public.
Pluralists state that audiences are active rather than passive and are therefore not easily manipulates, as Marxists suggest.
What did Max Weber (Weberism) argue?
The differences of status and power were important and were not always linked to economics of class inequalities as Marx suggested. Max argued that the concept of class, status and party all help explain the differences between social groups.
What is class according to Weberism?
Marketability. Defined in terms of position in the economic marketplace. Positions can vary according to source of income, occupational skills and educational qualifications.
What is status according to Weberism?
How society views you. The degree of prestige/honour attached to a social group in society e.g.occupation. Different status groups compete with each other for greater share of self esteem. Members of status groups tend to share common values.
What is party according to Weberism?
Political power you possess. The exercise of power pressure groups e.g. political parties
Parties use power to enhance economic wealth.
What is fragmentation according to Weberism?
Traditional class strucuture has split and class groups are now fragmented.
