Theory KEY WORDS

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Modernity
The period of the application of rational principles and logic to the understanding, development and organisation of societies.
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Social Order
Refers to a relatively stable state of society, with some shared norms and values which establish orderly patterns that enable people to live together and relate to one another in everyday life.
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Determinism
Idea that people's behaviour is moulded by their social surrounding and that they have little free will, control or choice over how they behave.
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Dominant Ideology
Set of ideas which justifies social advantages of wealthy, powerful and influential groups in society, and justifies the disadvantages of those who lack wealth, power and influence.
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Structuralism
Perspective concerned with the overall structure of society, sees individual behaviour moulded by institutions like family, media and work
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Macro approach
One that focuses on the large-scale structure of society as a whole, rather than on individuals
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Positivism
The view that the logic, methods and procedure of the natural sciences can be applied to the study of society with little modification.
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Functional prerequisites
The basic needs that must be met if society is to survive
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Collective conscience
Shared beliefs and values which form moral ties binding communities together which regulate individual behaviour.
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Structural differentiation
the way new, more specialised social institutions emerge to take over functions previously performed by a single institution.
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Dysfunction
Part of the social structure which doesn't contribute to the maintenance and well-being of society, but creates tensions and problems.
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Manifest function
Recognised and intended outcome of the action of an individual or institution
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Latent function
Unrecognised and unintended outcome of the action of an individual or institution
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New Right
Political ideology and approach to policies that stresses individual freedom, self-help and self-reliance, reduction of the power of the state and free market and competition between institutions. Traditional values
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Dependency culture
Set of values and beliefs and a way of life centred on dependence on others. Usually used by NR in the context of those who depend on welfare state benefits.
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Means of production
Key resources necessary for producing society's goods, such as land, factories and machinery.
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Relations of production
The forms of relationship between those involved in production, cooperation or private owenership and control. rel
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Communism
An equal society without social classes or class conflict, in which the means of production are common property of all
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Surplus value
Extra value added by workers to the products they produce after allowing for production costs and payment of wages. This goes to employer in form of wages
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Bourgeoisie
Class of owners of the means of production in industrial societies, whose primary purpose is to make profits
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Proletariat
Social class of workers who have to work for wages as they don't own means of production
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Labour power
People's capacity to work in capitalist societies. People sell their labour power to employers for a wage.
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False conciousness
Lack of awareness among people about what their real interests are. False belief that everyone benefits from the present organisation of society which is presented as fair and just
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Class conciousness
Awareness among members of a social class of their real interests/
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Relative economy
Neo-marxist theory that the superstructure has some independence from the economy, rather than being determined by it
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Hegemony
The dominance in society of the ruling class' set of values over others and acceptance and consent to them by the rest of society.
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Repressive state apparatus
Those parts of the state which are concerned with mainly repressive,physical means of keeping a population in line, such as the army, police, courts and prisons.
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Ideological state apparatus
Agencies that spread the dominant ideology and justify the power of the dominant social class.
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Interpretivism
An approach emphasising that people have consciousness involving personal beliefs, values and interpretations that influence how people act. They have choices and are not controlled by external forces.
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Interpretivism
To understand society it is therefore necessary to understand the meanings people give to their behaviour and how these are influenced by the behaviour and interpretations of others.
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Micro approach
One that focuses on small groups or individuals rather than on the structure of society as a whole
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Symbol
Something that stands for something else and to which individuals have attached some meaning.
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Impression management
The way individuals try to convince others of the identity they wish to assert by giving particular impressions of themselves to others.
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Disembedding
The way social relations are lifted out of local contexts and are no longer confined by time and space
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Empirical evidence
Observable evidence collected in the physical and social world
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Objectivity
Approaching topics with an open mind, avoiding bias and being prepared to submit research evidence to scrutiny
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Value freedom
Idea that the beliefs and prejudices of a researcher should not influence the way research is carried out and evidence interpreted
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Social facts
Phenomena that exist outside individuals and independently of their minds, but which act upon them in ways which constrain or mould behaviour
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Social integration
Refers to integration of individuals into social groups, binding them into society and building social cohesion
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Moral regulation
Refers to the regulation or control by social values of the actions and desires of individuals
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Realism
View that events in both the social and natural worlds are produced by underlying structures and processes, which may be unobservable
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Paradigm
Framework of scientific laws, concepts theories and assumptions within which scientists operate and provides guidlines for the conduct of research.
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Consumer society
Society in which people's identities are primarily based upon the products they buy and use.
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Reflexivity
Ability of people to reflect on their lives and consider different ways to act and live
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Hybridity
Mixing of different cultures to create something that combines elements from those.
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Inductive approach
One which develops theories on the basis of evidence that has been collected
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Grounded theory
Theory that arises from analysis of data that has been collected
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Refers to a relatively stable state of society, with some shared norms and values which establish orderly patterns that enable people to live together and relate to one another in everyday life.

Back

Social Order

Card 3

Front

Idea that people's behaviour is moulded by their social surrounding and that they have little free will, control or choice over how they behave.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Set of ideas which justifies social advantages of wealthy, powerful and influential groups in society, and justifies the disadvantages of those who lack wealth, power and influence.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Perspective concerned with the overall structure of society, sees individual behaviour moulded by institutions like family, media and work

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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