16 Questions
What major socio-historical changes led to the development of classical theoretical perspectives in sociology?
Industrialization and urbanization
What is the primary focus of symbolic interactionism?
Microlevel human behavior and interactions
According to the passage, what is the risk of adopting a particular theoretical approach?
It may become 'blinkers' and limit our understanding
What is the core focus of the feminist paradigm in sociology?
The experiences and perspectives of women
What is the main difference between macrolevel and microlevel approaches in sociology?
The level of analysis, with macrolevel focusing on broad social structures and microlevel focusing on individual interactions
Who is associated with the social conflict perspective?
Karl Marx
What is the primary significance of theoretical paradigms in sociology?
They offer lenses for clarifying our understanding of social phenomena
What is the significance of the 1950s to 1970s 'liberation' movements in the development of the feminist paradigm?
They generated the feminist paradigm as a response to social change
What is the primary goal of the postmodernist approach in understanding social systems?
To generate multiple interpretations of a shifting social world
What is the main 'value' embedded in the structural-functionalism approach?
Integration of the components of society and cohesion
According to Max Weber, what is essential for sociologists to conduct when undertaking research?
To bracket one's personal values
What is the primary focus of the feminist approach in understanding social systems?
To perceive social organization from the standpoint of women
What is the main critique of postmodernists towards grand theories?
They are biased and lack value-freedom
What is the primary goal of the social conflict approach in understanding social systems?
To recognize conflict and power inequities for explaining social change
What is the main 'value' embedded in the symbolic interactionism approach?
Being conscious of the creativity of humans
What is the primary goal of deconstruction in the postmodernist approach?
To lay bare the underlying assumptions and ideological motivations of texts
Study Notes
Sociological Theory
- The major classical theoretical perspectives (structural functional theory, symbolic interactionism/interpretive theory, social conflict theory) developed during a period of industrialization, urbanization, and increasing individualism.
- Sociological theories were developed as a response to social change, with feminist theory being a call for change.
Theoretical Approaches
- Theoretical paradigms or approaches are meant to be useful, and are used to explain our observations of human life.
- Theoretical accounts are lenses that clarify our vision, or highlighters that focus our attention.
- A cautionary note: be careful not to let a particular theoretical approach become 'blinkers', tunneling our vision so that we lose sight of other ways of seeing/interpreting phenomena.
Core Focus of Theoretical Paradigms
- The structural-functional approach (e.g. Emile Durkheim) and the social conflict perspective (e.g. Karl Marx) are macrolevel approaches, focusing on broad social structures that characterize society as a whole.
- Symbolic interactionists (e.g. Max Weber) take a microlevel approach, interpreting human behavior.
- The feminist paradigm may take a macrolevel or microlevel approach, focusing on women and the sex/gender system.
- The postmodernist approach acts as 'devil's advocate' by deconstructing texts and laying bare their underlying assumptions, hierarchies of knowledge, and ideological motivations.
Values Embedded in Theoretical Approaches
- Structural-functionalism: the value of integration of the components of society, cohesion, shared values, and consensus.
- Social conflict: the value of recognizing conflict/power inequities for explaining society and social change.
- Symbolic interactionism: the value of being conscious of the creativity of humans, and negotiating our lives and creating social reality.
- Feminist: the value of perceiving social organization from the standpoint of women, and the machinery of the sex/gender system.
- Postmodernist: the value of understanding the multi-faceted nature of our social worlds, valuing local/native/individual knowledge, and questioning grand narratives.
Explore the development of classical sociological theories, including structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and social conflict theory, during a period of industrialization and urbanization.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
