36 Questions
What is the main purpose of a theoretical framework in sociology?
To integrate findings into a broader explanation of social phenomena
What are the three main theoretical approaches used by sociologists?
Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and Functional Analysis
Which level of analysis focuses on societal trends on a large scale?
Macro level
What would symbolic interactionists focus on when studying homeless individuals?
The verbal and nonverbal communication of homeless individuals
What is the main difference between the three theoretical approaches?
The level of analysis used
Which theoretical approach focuses on the social interaction between individuals?
Symbolic Interactionism
What is the purpose of a theory in sociology?
To explain the connections between 'facts'
Which level of analysis would functionalists use to study homelessness?
Macro level
What is the key concept emphasized by conflict theorists?
Groups vying for limited resources
Who is credited with creating conflict theory?
Karl Marx
What is the main concern of feminist conflict theorists?
The disparities between men and women in history
According to Marx, what is the key to understanding human history?
Class antagonism
What is the term used to describe the small group of capitalists who control the means of production?
Bourgeoisie
What is the primary way that capitalists maintain their power, according to Marx?
Through the use of state power
What is the term used to describe the working class, according to Marx?
Proletariat
What is the main point of Marx's critique of capitalism?
That it is based on exploitation
What is the main focus of conflict theory today?
The struggle between different groups in society
Who noted that people in close relationships are more likely to experience conflict?
Lewis Coser
What is the fundamental tenet of symbolic interactionism?
That symbols, or objects to which we attribute meaning, are crucial to understanding our environment and interactions
Who are the two prominent sociologists associated with the development of symbolic interactionism?
Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead
What would be the outcome of a society without symbols?
Human relationships would not be much different from those of animals
What is the primary focus of the theoretical perspective known as feminism?
The impact of gender on social inequality
What is the main emphasis of postmodernism as a theoretical perspective?
The role of language and discourse in shaping social structures
Why is it necessary to combine different theoretical perspectives in studying human behavior?
To provide a more complete and nuanced understanding of social life
What is the outcome of applying different theoretical perspectives to the study of divorce?
Different perspectives offering unique insights into the phenomenon of divorce
What is the benefit of a society without symbols, according to Henslin?
The absence of war
What might functionalists focus on when examining the issue of unemployment?
The decline of unskilled labour and the outsourcing of jobs
What is the fundamental idea behind functional analysis?
Society is composed of interconnected parts that work together
Who is credited with developing the concept of 'functions' in functionalism?
Robert Merton
What is the term for the negative effects of people's behavior in a social system?
Dysfunctions
What is the purpose of understanding the functions of a social system, according to functionalists?
To understand how society maintains equilibrium
What is the term for the unintended consequences of a policy or action, which can aid in system adjustment?
Latent functions
What is the primary difference between conflict theorists and functionalists?
Their emphasis on the conflict between socioeconomic classes
What is the term for the planned outcomes of a policy or action, which benefit a particular component of a system?
Manifest functions
How do functionalists view the relationship between the components of society?
As interconnected and interdependent parts
What is the term for the unintended consequences of a policy or action, which can harm a social system?
Latent dysfunctions
Study Notes
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
- Sociology involves integrating experiences into a framework of roughly comparable concepts to make sense of existence.
- A theory is a broad assertion about how certain elements of the world fit together and function.
- The three main theories used by sociologists are conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and functional analysis.
Levels of Analysis: Micro, Macro, Meso
- The depth of analysis used by theoretical approaches differs:
- Functionalists and conflict theorists focus on the macro level, looking at societal trends on a big scale.
- Symbolic internationalists focus on the micro level, examining social interaction between individuals.
Structural Functionalism
- The fundamental tenet of functional analysis is that society functions as a cohesive whole composed of interconnected pieces.
- Society is seen as a living thing, with each component working together to maintain equilibrium.
- Functionalists contend that to comprehend society, we must consider both its structure and function.
Robert Merton and Functionalism
- Robert Merton rejected the biological analogy but upheld the core of functionalism.
- Merton coined the term "functions" to describe how people's actions have positive outcomes (manifest functions) and negative outcomes (dysfunctions).
- Functions can be latent or manifest, and latent dysfunctions can be unplanned negative outcomes.
Conflict Theory
- Conflict theory emphasizes that society is made up of groups vying for limited resources.
- Karl Marx saw class antagonism as the key to understanding human history.
- In industrialized nations, the bourgeoisie (capitalists) exploit the proletariat (workers), leading to conflict.
- Many sociologists use conflict theory to study how conflicting interests permeate every level of society.
Symbolic Interactionism
- The fundamental tenet of symbolic interactionism is that understanding how we see the environment and interact with each other depends on symbols (objects to which we attribute meaning).
- Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead created this viewpoint.
- Symbols are essential for defining relationships and society as a whole.
Contemporary Theoretical Approaches
- Feminism emphasizes the significance of gender in determining social connections and systems.
- Post colonialism emphasizes the significance of colonialism and its lasting effects on social structures and relationships.
- Postmodernism emphasizes the role of language and discourse in forming social structures and relationships.
- Combining different theoretical viewpoints provides a more complete picture of social life.
Explore different theoretical perspectives in sociology, including levels of analysis, structural functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism, and contemporary approaches like feminism and postmodernism.
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