S.
No.
|
Name of the theory
|
What does it
state?
|
Key concepts
|
Its
weaknesses
|
1
|
Structural
Functionalism
|
Sees
society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity
and stability
|
Consensus,
social
order,
structure
and
function
in
society.
|
Emphasis
on stability and order
while
neglecting conflict and changes which so vital in any society
|
2
|
Social
conflict
theory
|
Sees
society in a framework of class conflicts and focuses on the struggle for
scarce resources by different groups in a given society
|
Class
conflict;
alienation;
competition;
domination
|
For
its overemphasis on inequality and division, for neglecting the fact
of
how shared values and interdependence generate unity
among
members of society; it is also criticized for its explicit political goals.
|
3
|
Symbolic
Interactionism
|
Stresses
the analysis of how our behaviors depend on how we define others and ourselves.
It concentrates on
process,
rather than structure, and keeps the individual actor at the center.
|
Symbols;
processes;
interaction;
meaning
|
Too
much emphasis on microlevel
analysis;
neglect of larger social processes
|
4
|
Feminism
|
Feminist
sociology focuses on the particular disadvantages, including
oppression
and exploitation faced by women in society
|
Women;
gender;
exploitation;
male
supremacy
|
Some
extreme views such as
radical
feminism seem unrealistic
|
5
|
Social
Exchange
Theory
|
Focuses
on the costs and benefits which people
obtain
in
social interaction, including money, goods, and status.
It
is based on the principle that
people
always act to maximize benefit.
|
----
|
----
|
6
|
Rational
choice theory
|
Assumes
that individuals will
operate
in rational way and will seek to benefit themselves in the life choices they
make
|
----
|
----
|
7
|
Structuralism
|
Denies
any basis for humans being active, since human consciousness is no longer
seen as the basis of meaning in language
|
Underlying
structures;
language
|
Views
societies as static and do not help very much in explaining variation among
societies; treats culture as a given order and fails to explain the adaptive dimensions
of culture.
|
8
|
Poststructuralism
|
Argues that humans cannot arrive anything they can confidently call the (universal)
truth. There is no link between the words (language) ideas, and the real
world
|
----
|
----
|
9
|
Postmodernism
|
Argues power has become decentralized and fragmented in Contemporary societies
|
Modernity;
postmodernity;
subjective
reality
|
Denial
of objective, sociological
knowledge
|
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any suggestion on my side