What is ‘Structuralism’?
An approach which is concerned with the overall structure of society and how social institutions constrain and control individual behaviour
Summarize the functionalism (Theory and Methods)
Functionalism is a structuralist approach which regards society a harmonious social system, that social order and cohesion maintains fundamental value consensus.
- Organic analogy
- GAIL model
What is the GAIL model
Parson argues a healthy state must resolve instrumental problems and expressive problems by satisfying four functional prerequisites:
(Instrumental problems)
Goal attainment
- Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them. This is the function of the political sub system like parliament
Adaptation
- The social system meets its members’ material needs through the economic sub-system, like shops, factories ,etc
Integration
- Parts of the system need to be integrated together to have shared goals, with people having a sense of belonging in society. This is the role of the sub-system of religion, education and media.
Latency
- Minimising social tensions which might prevent individuals and society from properly working together efficiently. this done through the sub system of kinship and family
What does Merton add on to functionalism.
Criticized Parsons for assuming all social institutions performed beneficial functions for society, rather some parts of society are dysfunctional.
- Merton suggested there were manifest functions of and institution, with intended consequences
- and Latent functions with unintended consequences
Name 4 weaknesses of the functionalist approach
- Action theorists see functionalism as too deterministic and believe individuals are not just passive products of the system
- Postmodernists claim metanarratives can no longer explain everything form a single perspective
- Overemphasizes the beneficial parts of society and ignores the bad parts of society such as the dark side of the family
- Value consensus itself does not provide stability, it depends on the values inside the system
- Ignores the inequality in society which Marxists talk about
- Has a malestream view and doesn’t consider the unequal distribution of power women do not receive
What is the ‘new right’?
An approach closely associated with functionalism, it believes in individual freedom, reduction of state spending, promotion of the free market and competition, etc
What is ‘Surplus value’?
Employees produce more than what is needed for employees to pay them their wages, this extra produced by workers is referred to as surplus value
What is ‘False Class Conscience’?
The lack of awareness among people of what their true interests are, and that the current system benefits all, and it is fair and just
Name 3 weaknesses of Marxism
- Overemphasizes the conflict within society, and functionalists would argue society is stable
- overemphasizes social class as the main source of inequality but ignores race, religion, etc
- There are way more classes than the two they present
- Sees individuals as passive products of the social system,. which socialises everyone to conform
- Postmodernist argues that it is inadiquate to use a metanarritive to explain all of society
What is ‘Interpretivism’?
People have consciences, with beliefs and values, and these influence the way people act; people are not constrained or controlled by outside forces
What is ‘Interactionalism’?
Concerned with understanding human behaviour in face to face situations and how individuals come to be defined by how they interact with other
What is ‘Symbolic Interactionalism’?
who brought it
Mead sees society as built up by interactions between people which take place on the basis of meanings held by individuals
- People act in terms of symbols, and they act towards people in accordance to these meanings
- These meanings develop out of interaction with others
- Individuals can only develop a conception of themselves by understanding how others see them
What is the ‘Looking-glass self’?
and who brought it
Cooley suggested you see yourself through the eyes of others, imagining their judgements, opinions and reactions to yourself.
- Based on these imagined perceptions, you start to form an idea of who you are, if people think you’re funny, you’ll see yourself as funny
What is the ‘Labelling Theory’?
Labels given to individuals by others can influence their behaviour and self-identity, leading to a self fulfilling prophecy
What is ‘Ethnomethodology’?
Believes social order is an illusion, rather individuals actively construct and maintain the appearance of social order in society through their everyday interactions.
- It explores how people collectively create and enforce the rules that govern their behaviour
Name 2 weaknesses of social action theory
- Ignores structures in society like power, social classes, gender inequalities
- Does not explain the motives behind peoples actions
- Ignores the fact that not everyone has the equal chance to get their labels to stick
- Postmodernists would say its just another meta narrative that tries to explain social life
What is ‘Verstehen’? and who brought it
Brought by Weber, it focuses on the idea of understanding human behaviour by putting yourself in the position of those being studied
What is ‘Structuration’?
People are constrained and shaped by social institutions, but at the same time, they can take action to change them
Name 2 general features of all feminist approaches
- Inequalities in power and status between men and women
- Recognise the importance of patriarchy
- Gender roles are socially constructed
Name the main weakness of liberal feminists
Focus on fixing the effect of patriarchy and inequality (through laws) ,rather than focusing on the root cause.
Name the 2 weaknesses of radical feminists
- Fails to understand not all women share the same inequality
- Fails to recognise the gradual improvement that is being made with laws and such
- Sees men as the enemy, but not all men are engaged in the domination of women
- Marxist feminists would argue it is capitalism that is at the root of women subordination, not men
Name 1 weakness of Marxist feminists
- Don’t recognise that patriarchy ahs existed in all societies, not just capitalist
- It is men who benefit from women subordination, not just capitalism
What is ‘modernity’?
and name 3 features
An approach that began roughly in the 1700s:
- Societies are based on independent nation states
- Social class is the main form of social division and social identity
- Life is fairly predictable
- Industrialisation and the manufacturer of standardized goods for a mass market
- One way mass media is a reflection of social reality
What is ‘Postmodernism’?
and name 3 features
An approach which stresses society is rapidly changing so much that society is fragmented into many different groups, interests, lifestyles and essentially society cannot be defined
- Much wider consumer choice
- media consumption and lifestyle is the main source of identity
- Culture is diverse and people pick ‘n’ mix cultures
- Globalisation has meant united nations like EU
- Objective truth in undiscoverable
