Week 1
Society consists of interdependent parts that each have a specific function. Society is seen as similar to a biological organism. Key theorists include Comte, Durkheim, and Spencer.
What is the functionalist approach?
mental constructs where specific assumed key elements of a phenomenon are combined in a systematic and rational manner while less important elements are omitted.
What are Weber's ideal types?
conceptual tool that can assist us in understanding the relationship between the macro and micro levels
What is Coleman's boat?
Webs of interdependencies
What are figurations?
Problem refers to determining which people or network members are relevant to include in your study
What is boundary specification?
People interact with each other or things based on the meanings and interpretations of symbols. Social interaction shapes people's thoughts, and the meanings of symbols are internalized through socialization. Key theorists include Mead, Blumer, Dewey, Thomas, and Hochschild.
What is the (Symbolic) Interactionist Approach?
Calculability, Efficiency, Predictability, Replacement of humans by non-human technology, Control over insecurities, Irrational consequence: The McDonaldization of Society.
What are the key characteristics of the ideal type of Rationalization are (according to Ritzer)?
For all actions taken by persons, the more often a particular action of a person is rewarded, the more likely the person is to perform that action.
(Homans, 1974:16)
What is the Success Proposition?
(Social Exchange Theory acc. to Homans)
the relational aspect of social life combined with the dimension of time
What are processes (Elias)?
Two or more people share general knowledge or reciprocal typification about habitualised action
What is Institutionalisation?
The goal of sociological analysis is to uncover injustices and understand social inequalities in terms of power relations. It is seen as the moral duty of sociologists to act upon these injustices.
(Abend 2008)
What is the critical approach?
refers to a situation where an individual follows orders with their consent or agreement. This is distinct from power, which involves forcing someone to comply with an order against their will.
What is Weber's authority?
The underlying assumption is that humans are rational beings who weigh the costs and benefits of various actions in a given situation to act in the most beneficial way possible. This enables the identification of general principles in human action.
Properties, such as culture, mind, identity, and class, are not the starting point of analyses but arise from social relations between individuals. They exist between individuals and in relations
What is emergence?
The first bias concerns the social characteristics of the researcher, including factors such as class, ethnicity, and gender.
What is Bourdieu on Reflexivity and Biases - Social Factors?
People compete for resources, leading to power differentials and conflicts. Key theorists include Marx and Weber.
What is conflict approach?
"[_______] is a science concerning itself with the interpretative understanding of social action and thereby with a causal explanation of its course and consequences.” (Weber 1922 p. 4)
What is Weber's definition of Sociology?
Two parts:
_____ are observed consequences that enable a system to adapt or adjust.
_____ are observed consequences that hinder a system's adaptation or adjustment.
What are functions and dysfunctions (Merton)?
Understanding the whole is necessary to explain the parts of the social world.
What is Holism?
Phenomenon of a friend of a friend becoming your friend
What is transitivity?
Social units adapt to their environment to survive. As societies grow more complex, competition for survival increases, and social units seek new ways to survive. Key theorists include Durkheim and Spencer.
What is ecological approach?
According to Weber, science is a means of comprehending social phenomena, but not the appropriate means for inducing social change. Social change entails opinions on what should be, rather than what is. Weber believed that social change is driven by values and encompasses judgments about what is right and wrong, which is a distinct area of consideration. Science, on the other hand, is focused on factual analysis and interpretation and cannot venture into the realm of morality.
What is Weber's ideas on social science and social policy?
All sociological claims ultimately rely on individuals' thoughts, feelings, and actions. Social change can only occur when individuals change their behavior.
What is methodological individualism?
“rejecting the primacy of attributional categories and other substantives in favor of dynamic, “observable processes-in-relations” (Emirbayer, 1996, p. 298)
What is Anti-categorical imperative?
Refer to the theoretical argument made by Berger and Luckmann about how two people meet and start the beginnings of a new institution by learning each other's routines and roles. The routines that are beneficial for both parties become crystallized, acquiring an objective quality.
What are externalization and objectification?