The Sociological Approach

What does social policy mean?

A set of plans and actions put into place by government to address social problems.

What is a social issue?

A topic of debate about things that affect people’s lives, such as care of older people.

What is social stratification?

The way society is structured into layers, with the most privileged aat the top and the least at the bottom.

What is social structure?

The ‘parts’ or institutions that make up society.

Define culture

The shared way of life (norms, general principles, expectations) of a society

Define values

General principles or goals - what is good and what we should aim for

Define norms

Specific rules that govern behaviour in particular situations

Define socialisation

The process of learning ones culture (plus its norms and values) that are necessary for us to be accepted as part of society.

Who coined the term sociology and when did it emerge?

Auguste Comte

1838

What do the consensus perspective believe social order depends on?

They believe social order depends on cooperation between individuals and groups. For example, Functionalists.

What do conflict perspectives believed society is based on?

Society is based on a conflict of interest (disagreements) between social groups.

Which sociological perspective coined the ‘organic analogy’? What is this?

Functionalists

They believe society is similar to a biological organism. For example:

System: they're self regulating and interrelated.

System-needs: they need things to survive, eg. Nutrition

Functions: each part of society, like schools, have a specific role and act like organs.

What are functional prerequisites? Which sociologist coined this term?

Parsons (Functionalist)

The essential needs or requirements that a society must fulfill to maintain its stability and continuity, and without these it will collapse.

AGIL

Adaptation – in order to survive any society needs the basics of food and shelter. Having these gives any society control over its environment. A society needs a functioning economy to provide this.

Goal attainment – all societies need to provide some sort of collective goals for it members to aspire to. Governments set goals such as New Labour setting a target of 50% of school leavers would attend university.

Integration – all societies need a legal system in order to mediate any conflict and therefore protect the social system from breaking down.

Latency – this prerequisite is provided by institutions like education and the family. These institutions exist to reaffirm the essential values needed for society to function. For Parsons the key institution in passing on such basic values is religion.

A key idea in Durkheim’s functionalism is social solidarity. What is this?

He believed social order was maintained because individuals in society share common values and beliefs, creating a sense of belonging and cooperation. This consensus is crucial for maintaining social stability.

How do radical feminists view the family compared to liberal feminists?

Radical feminists view the family as a fundamental institution of patriarchy where men exercise power and control over women.Liberal feminists believe gradual reforms can achieve gender equality whereas radical feminists argue for revolutionary changes such as separatism.

What is seperatism?

A Radical Feminist idea that women should create their own communities independent of men or at least radically restructure family life. It is based on the belief that true liberation can only be achieved by breaking away from traditional heterosexual family structures that perpetuate control and dependency.

How does Marx define social class?

By their relationship to means of production (things like factories or mills.) The bourgeoisie (ruling class) own the means of production and employ the proletariat (working class).

What does Marx mean by surplus value?

The profit the bourgeoisie get for exploiting the proletariat - the gap between the real value of work and what workers are payed for it, making the proletariat wage slaves.

How does Marx say the bourgeoisie got to own the means of production?

Because they had capital (money). Tradespeople and buisnesseople were able to accumulate money and invest it into industry during the industrial revolution. Once they owned the means of production the formed the dominant class in capitalism.

Marx identified two main reasons the proletariat put up with being exploited. What are these?

State Power: Marx argued the state (gov.) worked in the nterests of the bourgeoisie and would use its power - including the police and the army - to control and subdued the proletariat and prevent revolution.

Ideology: Much of the time ideology was not needed to control the proletariat. Ideology could be used by the bourgeoisie to create the illusion that the inequality was inevitable or fair. Either it was god’s will or a result of meritocracy. Either way, the working class are convinced capitalism is fair or inevitable.

What sociologist used the term ‘verstehen’? What does it mean?

Max Weber

A German term meaning ‘understanding’. Its used to describe the importance of understanding the meanings and reasons behind people’s actions.

How did Marx primarily view power?

As a function of economic dominance

How did Weber view power?

He identified three distinct types of authority: traditional, charismatic and legal rational.

Traditional authority is based on long-standing customs and practices. Charismatic authority arises from the personal qualities and leadership of an individual. Legal rational authority is rooted in established laws and procedures.