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Theory and Methods - Coggle Diagram
Theory and Methods
Action theories
Weber - both structural and action approach is necessary to understand human behaviour. he argued that and adequate sociological explanation consists of two levels
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although there are an infinite number of meanings, wber tries to classify actions into four types
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traditional actions - actions that are done out of habit, no conscious though has gone into it
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Mead
symbols vs instincts - our action are more than just instincts - it is based on the meaning we give things. we do this by attaching symbols to things that are significant to us.
Taking the role of the other - we manage to interpret other peoples meanings by taking the role of the other - putting ourselves in their shoes - we first develop this ability by taking the role fo those close to us ' the significant other ' later on we take the role of anyone and everyone 'the generalised other'
Goffman - life is like a stage and we are all actors, acting out scripts, using props to control how we come across.
impression management and presentation of self - as actors we have ways of controlling how we come across we do this by constantly studying how the audience is responding and therefore adjust our behaviour. we use techniques such as props, setting, dress make-up etc
Cooley - looking glass self,
our idea of self concept arises from taking the role role of the other, this allows us to see ourselves as they see us. people act as a mirror. therefore this may lead to self fulfilling prophecy and we end up becoming what who they thought us to be, although this may have been false initially it comes to be true and have genuine consequences.
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functionalist
Parson argues that society is like an organism in 3 ways. - system - society is made up many interdependent parts that work together to make society function. similar to that of an organism which is made of different organisms. - system needs - society requires its members to be adequately socialise equivalent to the organisms need for nutrients. - function - this is any contribution the system makes to meeting its needs of the social system through the economic system
value consensus and social order is achieved through a shared value system or shared culture, a value consensus is only possible if all of societies members subscribe to it or accept it. the system ensures that individuals conform using two mechanisms socialisation - the individual is taught the cultural norms and values of society & through social control - positive and negative sanctions are put in place to make sure individuals behaviour meets the needs of society.
system needs
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goal attainment - goals are set and the means to achieve them are set out by the political sub-system
latency - the processes that society over time such as the kinship sub-system which provides pattern maintenance and tension management.
integration - different parts of society have to be integrated in order to pursue shared goals, for example education and religion.
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Phenomenology - a word used to describe things as they appear to our senses Husserl argues that we only understand the world because we apply meaning and categorise the thing we experience through our senses.
Schutz - the categories and concepts we use are not limited to us however we share these categories, he calls these categories typifications this helps provide order to the world. the fact that the social world exists proves this to us.