lecture 1 Flashcards
(39 cards)
sociology
the study of society and the individual in relation to society
macro vs micro
Macro-Top down view begins with society as a whole then down to the individual. the premise is that individual position within social structures determine behavior
Micro-bottom up view begins with the 1 on 1 interactions. the premise is that human behavior is the result of individual interpretations
what are the 3 classical theories and are they micro or macro?
- functionalism -macro (-) feedback
- conflict theory- macro (+) feedback
- symbolic interactionalism- micro
Social constructionism Macro or micro?
Both macro and micro
rational choice/exchange theory macro or micro?
micro
feminist theory macro/micro
macro and micro
who is the father of functionalism
Emile Durkheim
what does structural functionalism state?
individual parts work together to maintain solidarity, order, and balance. homeostasis-like parts of a society work together to maintain dynamic equilibrium which creates common consciousness. societies have thrived for generations because they have self regulating/correcting mechanisms
what causes dysfunction in structural functionalism and define it
anomie: a mismatch between wider social standards and standards of individual within that wider society
What are manifest and latent functions
manifest functions are intended or obvious functions of an organizations. latent functions are unintended or less recognizable of an organization
what is the flaw of functionalism
societies do not work as well for some people as they do for others
what does conflict theory state?
parts of society work against each other in competition for limited resources (social, political, and material power). imbalances between the haves and havenots creates a class struggle
who is mr conflict theory
karl marx
what occurs once people get class consciousness
capitalism is replaced by socialism where production is collectivity owned in order to benefit all members of society equally
class consciousness
a social condition in which members of lower class are aware of themselves as a group that is exploited by wealthy
false consciousness
lack of awareness; members of lower class see themselves as individuals and not as a exploited group
common consciousness
the set of shared beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes which operate as a unifying force within society.
flaws of marx’s theory
predicted that the instability if capitalism wouldve been changed by now
Who is Max Weber
he is a conflict theorist and symbolic interactionist and he stated that there could be more than one source of conflict not just income but wealth, power, prestige, and ideas
rationalism
societies trend toward increasing efficiency and away from religion, spirituality and morality
what does rationalism promote and define that
promotes bureaucracies and those are agencies of non elected officials that administer the laws of society
what is symbolic interactionalism state?
people act based on meaning (meanings come from social interactions and adapted through interaction)
symbols
culturally derived social objects that have shared meanings created from and maintained through social interaction
Mr social interactionism
George Herbert Mead