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Sociology 112 > Sociological Theories > Flashcards

Sociological Theories Flashcards

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1
Q

Sociology can best be defined as:

a) the difference between personal troubles and social issues
b) The systematic study of human groups and their interactions
c) The systematic study of society
d) Seeing the familiar in the strange

A

b) The systematic study of human groups and their interactions

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2
Q

Who coined the term the sociological imagination?

a) Auguste Comte
b) Peter Berger
c) Emile Durkheim
d) C.W. Mills

A

d) C.W. Mills

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3
Q

An attribute (advantage or disadvantage) assigned at birth (ex. sex) is called:

a) Ascribed status
b) Achieved status
c) Socio-economic status
d) Sociological status

A

a) Ascribed status

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4
Q

The incidence of low income for female lone-parent families is ____x higher than the incidence for two-parent families with children

a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five

A

c) Four

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5
Q

Men on average earn…

a) 15% more than women
b) 35% more than women
c) Men and women earn the same now
d) 15% less than women

A

a) 15% more than women

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6
Q

The term sociology was first described in

a) 1753
b) 1838
c) 1908
d) 1920

A

b) 1838

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7
Q

A theoretical approach that considers all understanding to be based on science is called

a) Negativism
b) Renaissancce
c) Enlightenment
d) Positivism

A

d) Positivism

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8
Q

Which of the following was NOT a revolution that inspired sociology?

a) Industrial
b) Scientific
c) Political
d) Military

A

d) Military

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9
Q

The study of individuals or small group dynamics within a larger society is called

a) Microsociology
b) Macrosociology
c) Formal sociology
d) Molecular sociology

A

a) Micrososiology

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10
Q

Within the context of sociology, Canadianization refers to

a) The selling of raw materials from Canada to Europe
b) The training of Canadian sociologists in Canada
c) The infiltration of Canadia sociologists in American Universities
d) The assimilation of immigrant sociologists to Canada

A

b) The training of Canadian sociologists in Canada

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11
Q

What is the purpose of Sociological Theories? (3)

A
  • Helps us navigate through the social world
  • Helps us figure out/ understand what we are seeing
  • Each theory is like putting on a different lense to view it from a different point/element
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12
Q

Defne Sociology

Who is the father of sociology?

A

The systematic and scientific study of society and human interactions

Auguste Comte

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13
Q

Define Sociological Imagination

A

The ability to understand the dynamic relationship between individual lives and the larger society

  • Understanding other perspectives
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14
Q

What are some examples of central tensions?

A

Macro vs Micro
(Society vs individuals)

Order vs. Conflict

Structure vs. Agency
(Social structure - telling you what to wear vs. choosing what to wear yourself)

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15
Q

Explain the difference between personal troubles and social issues

Give an example

A

Personal troubles- personal challenges that require individual solutions
- ex. only you fail an exam

Social issues - Challenges caused by larger social factors that require collective solutions
- ex. everyone fails the exam

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16
Q

Key elements of Functionalism (2)

A
  1. The social world is a dynamic system of interrelated and interdependent parts
  2. Social structures (Universities) exist to help people fulfill their wants and desires as defined by social values
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17
Q

According to Functionalism, Society is made up of…

A

Structures that work together for the common good of the majority

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18
Q

T or F: General social features that exist on their own are dependent of individual manifestations (ex. laws, beliefs, morals)

A

False;

General social features that exist on their own are INDEPENDENT of individual manifestations

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19
Q

Why is post-secondary education functional?

A

One way to be successful is have a good job, one way to get a good job is to get a good education.

Therefore Universities are functional in the sense that they make this possible

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20
Q

Are Universities Functional or Structural?

A

They are both!

Structural (they have buildings, employees, etc.)

Functional (it works in society)

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21
Q

What are the 3 elements that Functionalism emphasizes?

A

1) The general interdepence of the system’s parts
2) The existence of a “normal” state of equilibrium
3) The way that all parts of the system reorganize to bring things back to normal

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22
Q

How do education and families rely on one another?

A

Institutions rely on families to teach the value of education, and society values (ex. not to steal)

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23
Q

What is functional about racism? Poverty?

A

It allows there to be a superior race

Need people to do the shitty jobs, not everyone can be a doctor

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24
Q

Why is society compared to a body?
(organic analogy)

A
  • Society also has interconnected parts that work together
  • Focus on stability and consensus
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25
How can we achieve functionalism?
By returning to our state of homeostasis (for the majority) BUT what may be functional for some (majority), may be disfunctional for others.
26
Functionalism: All parts of a society have.. (2)
1) A function (or purpose) 2) Certain needs Every structure serves a function to fulfill certain needs
27
Manifest functions vs. Latent functions
Manifest functions: intended consequences of an action Latent functions: unintended consequences of an action ex. of university -living away from home
28
Advantages of Functionalism (2)
1) attemps to provide a universal social theory 2) Brings a sense of order to a potentially disorderly world
29
Criticisms of Functionalism(4)
1) Reification of society and social institutions 2) Circular Resoning (hard to disprove because it is functional (it exists)) 3) Cannot explain rapid social change (only slow changes) 4) Implicit support for the political and economic status quo (says we dont need to change because its already functional!!)
30
The Conflict Theory is based on the assumption...
That society is grounded upon inequality and competition over scarce resources and power (unequal distribution)
31
Key elements of the conflict theory (2)
1) Power is the core of all social relationships and is scarce and unequally divided among the members of society 2) Social values and the dominant ideology are vehicles by which the powerful promote their own interests at the expense of the weak
32
What is a clear alternative to functionalism?
The conflict theory
33
According to the Conflict Theory, society is characterized by how....
Power defines and influences virtually all human interactions
34
Conflict theory: Social problems stem from? Society is a collection of varied groups that constantly struggle with each other to\_\_\_\_\_\_
Inequality between groups Dominate society and its institutions
35
Conflict theory: Why is having lawyers and McDonald's workers inequality?
Inequality because there should be enough good paying jobs to go around for everyone
36
Conflict theory: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and _______ are constant elements of society
Resentment and hostility
37
Advantages of conflict theory?
- Challenges the status quo - Helps us understand macro level social issues, and micro level personal interactions - Intellectuals should act on what they believe
38
How can we explain the relationship between owners and workers? \*Relations of production\*
Owners - exploit the workers to become better off, and don't care about the well being of the workers - want to obtain the most labour while paying the least Workers - want to make the most money while putting in the least amount of effort
39
Criticism of Conflict Theory (4)
- Sides with people who lack power - Focuses too much on tension and the negative in society - Marxist vision: sees economic factors as the most important conflict - Fails to investigate individual motivations and reactions to tensions and conflicts in peoples lives
40
Who views society as objectively real and at times exerting a strong, coercive influence over human behaviour.
Functionalists and Conflict Theorists
41
Symbolic interactionists emphasize that society is nothing more than ...
the creations of interacting people, and that they can be change
42
What is Symbolic Interactionism?
- The focus on the way individuals consciously act - How different social actors (us) interpret the behavious of other - Focus on the meanings people give to behaviours and how they interpret it
43
What is the quality of mind?
The ability to look beyond personal circumstance and into social context
44
What is the social imagination?
The ability to understand the dynamic relationship between individual lives and the larger society
45
Which 3 revolutionary events inspired the rise of sociology?
1) Scientific Revolution 2) The political Revolution 3) The Industrial Revolution
46
What method did Auguste Comte come up with?
The scientific method of understanding the world. Positivism approach; that considers all understanding to be based on science.
47
Advantages of Symbolic interactionism
- New and different way of looking at the social world - Contributed the research methods
48
What is the sympathetic introspection? Who came up with this method?
The concept of putting yourself into other person's shoes and seeing the world as they do By Cooley \*SI theory\*
49
What is the concept of looking-glass self? Who came up with this?
That we develop our self image through the cues we receive from others Cooley \*SI theory\*
50
Critiques of SI (4)
1) Scope is limited 2) fails to theorize the nature of power 3) Knowledge about the social world is relative 4) doesn't properly explain questions of social order (functionalism) and social change (conflict theory)
51
Si fails to acknowledge how difficult it is to...
Si fails to acknowledge how difficult it is to change long-established social arrangements
52
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ view the world as a dynamic system of interrelated and interdependent parts a) Functionalists b) Conflict theorists c) Symbolic interactionists d) Post-structuralists
a) Functionalists
53
Durkheim referred to general social features that exist on their own and are independent of individual manifestations as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ a) Social facts b) Manifest functions c) Latent functions d) Social networks
a) Social facts
54
In Marx's description of social classes, he referred to the workers as the a) Bourgeoisie b) Lumpen proletariat c) Petite bourgeoisie d) Proletariat
d) Proletariat
55
The belief in and support of the system that oppresses you is called a) False consciousness b) Class consciousness c) Social consciousness d) Class conflict
a) False consciousness
56
Who coined the term the term the looking-glass self a) Mead b) Marx c) Cooley d) Durkheim
c) Cooley
57
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ refers to ideological control and consent, a process that is constantly negotiated and renegotiated
Hegemony
58
What is the Feminist Theory?
- Women centered - Looks at gendered inequality - Public and private spheres of life are gendered - Domination of women
59
1) Women's ______ and _______ in any given situation differs from men in the same situation 2) Women experience __________ than men in any given situation that they share with men 3) Women are ______ by men
1) Women's location and experience in any given situation differs from men in the same situation 2) Women experience less privelege than men in any given situation that they share with men 3) Women are oppressed (weighed down) by men
60
What are the three waves of feminism? Explain each
1) Liberal - equality of opportunity (right to vote) - legislation 2) Marxist - inequality is the consequence of capitalism (women rely on men to support the family) 3) Radical - Women are facing inequality due to patriarchy (biological differences between men and women)
61
What are the goals of feminism?
1) Demonstrate the importance of women's lives 2) To reveal that historically women have been subordinate to men 3) To bring about gender equity
62
Criticisms of Feminism:
Most are internal critiques (other feminists) _Liberal_ - fight the system _Marxist_ - focus too much on capitalism - would have to overthrow capitalism (not possible) _Radical_ - not all men & women relationships are bad _Socialist_ - doesn't focus enough on capitalism nor on patriarchy
63
Which concepts interested Foucault?
Power, knowledge and discourse
64
According to Marx, power comes in which form?
Power comes in the form of oppression
65
To know something is to exercise \_\_\_\_\_
power
66
# Define discourse
A system of meaning that governs how we think, act, and speak about a particular thing or issue
67
Michel Foucault is most likely to be associated with which of the following perspectives? a) Functionalism b) Post-structuralism c) Feminism d) Western Marxism
b) Post-structuralism
68
Which is false about feminism? a) There are many different feminist perspectives b) Feminists are concerned with gender oppression c) Men and women should be social and political equals d) All feminist perspectives have been united by standpoint theory
d) All feminist perspectives have been united by standpoint theory
69
A system that governs how we think, act, and speak about a particular thing or issue is called a) Discipline b) Discourse c) Standpoint d) Outlook
b) Discourse
70
Which feminist theory sees women's position of inequality as a consequence of capitalism? a) Liberal b) Marxist c) Radical d) Socialist
b) Marxist
71
What woman is considered by some to be the founder of sociology? a) Bell Hooks b) Dorothy smith c) Mary Wollenscraft d) Harriet Martineau
d) Harriet Martineau
72
What do each part of the feminist theory people is the cause of inequality? 1) Liberal 2) Marxist 3) Radical 4) Socialist
1) Liberal - consequence of unequal opportunity structure 2) Marxist - consequence of capitalism 3) Radical - consequence of patriarchy (male power) 4) Socialist - consequence of capitalism and patriarchy
73
What is Post Modernism?
All reality is constructed, everything is a multitude of images and truth
74
What is hyperreality?
the perception of the world that is constructed by the media
75
Which theory believes that there is no grand truth, there are multiple truths available.. and the one you believe to be true is?
Post modernism
76
What are advantages of post modernism? (2)
- Allows us to question scientific ideals and concepts - It's generated to deal with our society specifically now (today)
77
Criticisms of post modernism
- fails to live up to modern scientific standards - Just ideas - not truth - Too vague and abstract - lacks a vision of what society ought to do - contradictory
78
\*\*View 20 test yourself questions in ch 1\*\*
page 30

Sociology 112 (10 decks)

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