Week 3
Feminist Theory
- A major branch of sociology
- Shifts focus from male viewpoint to women’s experiences
- Advocates for equal rights, primarily focusing on female rights
- Recognizes that women's experiences in social situations are both different and unequal to men's
Hermeneutical Phenomenology
Believes in accepting multiple interpretations of phenomena
Focuses on subjective experiences of individuals and groups
Hermeneutics:
Theory and methodology of interpretation (biblical, wisdom literature, philosophical texts)
Involves understanding and communication
Phenomenology:
Philosophical study of experience and consciousness
Human-Environment System
- Scientific framework seeking to understand interactions between human systems and environmental systems
- Changes in one affect the other
- Numerous interactions characterize the human system, guided by institutions and structures
- Environmental systems face pressure from human activities
- Co-evolution of human and environmental systems is necessary for coexistence
Psychoanalysis
- Method for treating mental disorders, emphasizing unconscious mental processes
- Often referred to as "depth psychology"
- Commonly used for treating depression and anxiety disorders
- Based on early 1890s studies by Freud and Breuer, observing improvements when patients' unconscious thoughts were made conscious during hypnosis
Rational Choice Theory
- Economic theory predicting individual preferences and choices
- Posits that behavior reflects the aggregate choices of individuals based on preferences and constraints
- Outcomes aimed at maximizing benefits and satisfaction
- Applications include:
- Economics and Business: Explains purchasing behaviors
- Politics: Explains voting behavior and political decision-making
- Sociology: Describes social phenomena; underlines actions driving social change
Institutionalism
- Approach studying formal and informal institutions and their societal impacts
- Institutions defined by established laws, customs, practices affecting society through power and influence
- Essential for understanding social order and community interactions