AS SOCIOLOGY THEMES – EXAM GUIDE
1. Perspectives on behavior
2. Perspectives on social change
1.
Functionalism Interactionism Conflict theory
[NURTURE] [NURTURE] • The ruling class norms
• Structural forces shape our • They reject this idea are enforced so that
behavior, major influence of structures creating individuals would
on our thought process and limiting behave a certain way.
• Structures of our society behaviour-social Through this Marxists
are institutional action focuses on argue about the “False
arrangements required for people’s abilities to Consciousness” of the
the smooth functioning of make choices about working class as they
society (ORGANIC how to act. are manipulated by the
ANALOGY) • Social interaction does ruling class to behave
• These institutions create not simply involve according to their
established patterns of obeying rules without ideals.
behavior that together question because • Sociological agencies
create law and order in a meaning can change are as Louis Althusser
society depending on social calls it ‘Ideological
• Action of individuals interaction. If an State Apparatus’.
should be explained in individual were • In terms of education as
forms of influences of the completely controlled an institution, Marxists
overall structures of by structures there Bowles and Gintis state
society; ‘Social forces are would be no that Schools prepare
instrumental in learning dysfunction in society pupils for adult work
behavior’ (DURKHEIM) however since it is not rules by socializing
• Behaviour is governed by the case individuals them to function well,
informal and formal rules are able to exercise a & without complaint,
created by institutions that degree of freedom in the hierarchical
define expected behaviour over their life. Wrong structure of modern
• Every time people play (1961) criticises corporation.’
roles they experience the functionalist claim
effect of social structures that human beings are
• AGENCIES: simply a product of
o Peers: Sociologist their socialisation and
Hughes call them behaviour could be
‘models we use for understood merely as
appraising & a response to external
shaping our stimulation- he calls
attitudes, feelings this ‘over socialised
& action.’ Values conception of man’
taught within a • Garfinkel proves this
o friendship vary by showing how
with age and people construct
circumstances with reality through his
an emphasis on age ethnomethodological
, appropriate ‘Breaching
behaviour. Peer Experiment’- This
groups teach shows society is not a
values that Family thing or force acting
would not usually on behaviour. It has no
teach. Apply objective reality
informal sanctions beyond interaction
to regulate produced by people
behaviour. • Schutz believes that
o Family: society has a
Primary ‘subjective reality’ it's
socialization is a simply a label people
one way process. give to rules and
Family regulates responsibilities.
behaviour through Labelling gives a
sanctions (mostly product it’s
informal). characteristics like
Contradictory Male or Female etc-
Socialization may not the other way
take place: One around.
parent punishing • George .H Mead:
for the behaviour Concept of ‘Iand
another parent may ‘Me’. In this theory
reward for. Mead states that
Education: although people
T.Parsons; believe that self-
emancipates child awareness is an
from primary instinctive human
attachments and attribute, it is actually
allows them to learnt. He believes
internalize values a that ‘the Self’ has two
step higher than related aspects.
family’s, makes • The ‘I’ is based on
them widen their individuals opinions
personal value of themselves. Mead
system. Also coined this aspect as
teaches to how to the ‘Unsocialised Self’
‘learn to limit • The ‘Me’ aspect is
individual desires’. when the individual
o Religion: has an awareness of
Religion teaches how the others around
the child the values them expect them to
that are needed to behave. Mead calls
create value this the ‘Social Self’
consensus, leading • Goffman: ‘People are
to social order Actors’
• Socialization is a form of • Cooley: ‘Looking
social control. Glass Self’
Functionalists believe
1. Perspectives on behavior
2. Perspectives on social change
1.
Functionalism Interactionism Conflict theory
[NURTURE] [NURTURE] • The ruling class norms
• Structural forces shape our • They reject this idea are enforced so that
behavior, major influence of structures creating individuals would
on our thought process and limiting behave a certain way.
• Structures of our society behaviour-social Through this Marxists
are institutional action focuses on argue about the “False
arrangements required for people’s abilities to Consciousness” of the
the smooth functioning of make choices about working class as they
society (ORGANIC how to act. are manipulated by the
ANALOGY) • Social interaction does ruling class to behave
• These institutions create not simply involve according to their
established patterns of obeying rules without ideals.
behavior that together question because • Sociological agencies
create law and order in a meaning can change are as Louis Althusser
society depending on social calls it ‘Ideological
• Action of individuals interaction. If an State Apparatus’.
should be explained in individual were • In terms of education as
forms of influences of the completely controlled an institution, Marxists
overall structures of by structures there Bowles and Gintis state
society; ‘Social forces are would be no that Schools prepare
instrumental in learning dysfunction in society pupils for adult work
behavior’ (DURKHEIM) however since it is not rules by socializing
• Behaviour is governed by the case individuals them to function well,
informal and formal rules are able to exercise a & without complaint,
created by institutions that degree of freedom in the hierarchical
define expected behaviour over their life. Wrong structure of modern
• Every time people play (1961) criticises corporation.’
roles they experience the functionalist claim
effect of social structures that human beings are
• AGENCIES: simply a product of
o Peers: Sociologist their socialisation and
Hughes call them behaviour could be
‘models we use for understood merely as
appraising & a response to external
shaping our stimulation- he calls
attitudes, feelings this ‘over socialised
& action.’ Values conception of man’
taught within a • Garfinkel proves this
o friendship vary by showing how
with age and people construct
circumstances with reality through his
an emphasis on age ethnomethodological
, appropriate ‘Breaching
behaviour. Peer Experiment’- This
groups teach shows society is not a
values that Family thing or force acting
would not usually on behaviour. It has no
teach. Apply objective reality
informal sanctions beyond interaction
to regulate produced by people
behaviour. • Schutz believes that
o Family: society has a
Primary ‘subjective reality’ it's
socialization is a simply a label people
one way process. give to rules and
Family regulates responsibilities.
behaviour through Labelling gives a
sanctions (mostly product it’s
informal). characteristics like
Contradictory Male or Female etc-
Socialization may not the other way
take place: One around.
parent punishing • George .H Mead:
for the behaviour Concept of ‘Iand
another parent may ‘Me’. In this theory
reward for. Mead states that
Education: although people
T.Parsons; believe that self-
emancipates child awareness is an
from primary instinctive human
attachments and attribute, it is actually
allows them to learnt. He believes
internalize values a that ‘the Self’ has two
step higher than related aspects.
family’s, makes • The ‘I’ is based on
them widen their individuals opinions
personal value of themselves. Mead
system. Also coined this aspect as
teaches to how to the ‘Unsocialised Self’
‘learn to limit • The ‘Me’ aspect is
individual desires’. when the individual
o Religion: has an awareness of
Religion teaches how the others around
the child the values them expect them to
that are needed to behave. Mead calls
create value this the ‘Social Self’
consensus, leading • Goffman: ‘People are
to social order Actors’
• Socialization is a form of • Cooley: ‘Looking
social control. Glass Self’
Functionalists believe
