Social Theory - Exam 1

Social Theorist vs Everyone

1. social thinkers (ST) theorize in more discipline and explicit manner

2. ST typically base their theorizing on previous works

3. ST do not think about specific relationships, but rater broad social issues

3 General Types of Theory

1. Positivist (determinism & empiricism)  

2. Interpretive (realities & context specific) 

3. Critical (ideological purpose - e.g., emancipation of exploited)

What is the sociological canon?

A set of theorists, theories, and texts historically seen as most important in sociology.

What are Durkheim’s two types of societies?

Mechanical (primitive, solidarity through similarity) and Organic (modern, division of labor).

Define social facts. (Durkheim)

external to and coercive of the individual

What does sui generis mean? (Durkheim)

Society exists of “its own kind”, independent of individuals. (Latin)

What is collective consciousness, and what are its two features? (Durkheim)

the totality of ideas, beliefs, feelings, etc., common to the average members of a society.

2 features = Cognitive (knowledge) + Emotional (morality, sentiments).

What is anomie? (Durkheim)

A state of normlessness, instability, hopelessness due to lack of regulation.

Name Durkheim’s four types of suicide. (Durkheim)

Egoistic (low integration), Altruistic (too integrated), Anomic (low regulation), Fatalistic (too regulated).

What is collective effervescence? (Durkheim)

high levels of emotional energy

Emotional energy from shared rituals and group focus

e.g. concerts 

What is species being? (Marx)

Human awareness of self and world through material production.

What makes humans unique compared to animals, according to Marx?

Humans transform nature through creative production.

Define dialectical materialism. (Marx)

Historical change that argues every economic system has contradictions that lead to its destruction → conflict drives social change.

What are the 3 interconnected issues of production? (Marx)

1. means of production (physical)

2. relations of production (us the ppl)

3. the product

What is alienation? (Marx)

Workers’ separation from product, process, and human nature under capitalism.

Define false consciousness. (Marx)

an attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect their objective position 

distorted beliefs that obscure true class position

What is class consciousness? (Marx)

Awareness of class relations → leads to praxis (revolutionary action).

What does Weber’s concept of Verstehen mean? (Weber)

Understanding the subjective meanings behind actions.

What are ideal types? (Weber)

Analytical constructs used for comparison (historical or classificatory).

What is rationalization? (Weber)

Shift toward efficiency, bureaucracy, and calculation → disenchantment of the world.

What is legitimation? (Weber)

Process by which power gains moral grounding and institutionalized.

What are social forms? (Simmel)

Patterned modes of interaction through which people obtain goals

What is sociability? (Simmel)

a social form that is 100% social, without a trace of means-ends, meant to establish and experience social ties with others

What is the tragedy of culture? (Simmel)

expansion of objective culture creates complexity beyond our ability to keep up and understand- which lead to greater control by that world→ leads to alienation and blasé attitude.

Difference between objective and subjective culture? (Simmel)

Objective = externalized cultural elements; Subjective = individuals’ ability to use and experience culture.

What are the four stages of the act? (Herbert Mead)

Impulse, perception, manipulation, consumption.

What are significant symbol? (Herbert Mead)

Symbols that elicit the same response in both sender and receiver.

What are the three stages of self-development? (Herbert-Mead)

Preparatory (imitation), Play (role-taking), Game (generalized other).

What are the two parts of the self? (Herbert-Mead)

“I” = spontaneous, unsocialized; “Me” = socialized, shaped by others.

What is “the veil”? (Du Bois)

Imagery used to describe separation between Blacks and White

What is double consciousness? (Du Bois)

The divided identity of African Americans → navigating both their own perspective and the gaze of others.

How did Du Bois view racism?

As structural, reproduced through institutions, not just individual prejudice.

What is cultural oppression? (Du Bois)

• exclusion from history 

• representation 

Dominance of one culture while excluding/devaluing others.

What is the focus of structural functionalism?

Society as interdependent units maintained by shared beliefs/values.

According to functionalism, why does stratification exist?

It ensures the most important roles are filled by the most qualified (functionally necessary).

What are the four parts of Parsons’ AGIL model?

• A = Adaptation

• G = Goal attainment

• I = integration 

• L = Latency/pattern maintenance 

How did Protestantism contribute to capitalism? (Weber)

Work ethic and predestination created a cultural milieu that encouraged capitalism.

subjective culture

the ability to use and feel culture

objective culture

the elements that become separated from individuals/ group control and become reified as external objects

blasé attitude 

an attitude of absolute boredom and lack of concern

1. impulse 

(1/4 distinct stages)

actor reacts to external stimulus and feels need to do something  

2. perception 

(2/4 distinct stages)

after initial impulse, humans perceive their environment, including recognition of symbolic elements

3. manipulation 

(3/4 distinct stages)

after we take in our environment, we manipulate the different elements  

4. consumption 

(4/4 distinct stages)

after manipulation, we’re in a position to act on the initial impulse

interaction

refers to the ongoing negotiation and connecting of individual actions

What 3 factors do Weber seek to explain relationship?

1. cultural values and beliefs

2. social structure

3. psychological orientation

what are the two main ideal types? (weber)

1. Historical - ones developed using past examples of phenomenon of interest to deduce logical characteristics

2. Classificatory - ones developed from logical speculation

Disenchantment 

process of emptying the world of its magical forces 

3 ideal types of rationalization (Weber)

1. practical rationality - most expedient on day-to-day basis

2. theoretical rationality - effort to master reality through abstract thinking

3. substantive rationality - most expedient based on larger values

What are the two ideas central to Marx?

1. species-being

2. the material dialectic (or dialectical materialist)

Under Capitalism, What 2 factors create a unique class system?

1. economic work

2. class bipolarization

business cycle

key dialectical process helping to polarize the classes

What does business cycle lead to

1. capitalist class shrinks

2. working class grows

3. bi-polarization of conflict, a necessary step in process of social change

2 main parts of class consciences 

1. subjective awareness that experiences of deprivation are caused by structed class relations rather than individual efforts 

2. the group identity that emerges from such awareness 

types of suicide

• egoistic (lack of integration),

• altruistic (to integrated into society),anomic (people don't know what's expected)

• fatalistic (to much expectation and regulation).

Anomie 

When groups become to big and instable due to lack of normative regulation you get ____.
feeling of hopelessness and lack of belonging.

collective effervesence building blocks

• co-presence 

• common emotional mood 

• common focus of attention 

mirror metaphor

connection between producer and product

two parts of self

I & ME

Preparatory Stage

imitation stage- not worried about others thoughts

play stage

key process of role taking, begins to see rules of society and no longer focused on one individual

Game Stage/ generalized other

people making bigger connections, not focused on one individual, focused on society's rules.

psychopaths dont adhere to these

The set of shared signs, symbols, and social objects are called

language- a type of reservoir for human experiences

High Ranking Positions

less pleasant but more important, requiring the highest ability

Low Ranking Positions

viewed as less important due to presumed low skill level (more pleasant?)
- society is less concerned with performance

Criticisms of S-F Strat

-views support status quo
- must strat really exist?
-importance system is hard to support
- scarcity of qualified
- rewards not only important

Structural Functionalism and Stratification

a hierarchal structure of positions that functions to lead people with needed skills and abilities to fill high ranking positions necessary to society's functioning and survival.

A=

adaptation; any system must deal with external dangers and contingencies

e.g. global warming, natural disasters

G=

goal attainment; Any systems seek growth (now sustainability) not just survive. They must also set achieve primary goals.

I=

Integration; a system must monitor the interrelationship of its component parts.

L=

latency and pattern recognition;
micro motivations (stories of successful people)
Macro institutional work (shared norms and values)

social fact

is used to show the objectivity of society

social object

meaning and corresponding actions of symbols are produced in social interactions