BIOM 121 1nd Edition Exam 1 Study Guide Lectures 1 6 Lecture 1 January 8 Structural Functionalism Idea of that society is a complex integrated system that thrives on inequality Societies always have a system educational economic political Societies who follow structural functionalism generally evolve through evolutionary social change which is a method of social change through which change is evident through generations rather than immediate revolutionary change Older generations are generally always resistant to the changes that newer generations bring August Comte Law of Three Stages Theological Stage Metaphysical Stage Scientific Stage Herbert Spencer Increasing the population will lead to a differentiation of structure Durkheim Integrated system of parts and whole Talcott Parson It is possible to prolong the length of any political regime by using good political policies Social Darwinism Survival of the fittest applied to society those who are best fit in society will succeed in society Lecture 2 January 15 Social Differentiation Two differences in society biological and manmade Social Stratification A system of ranking of individuals in society based on the things valued in society Stratification Systems The Caste System Hinduism The Estate System Europe The Social Class System Wealthy Class Social Stratification in the US Economic Occupation Income Wealth Status Personal Prestige Association Socialization Political Lecture 3 January 22 Criticism and Praise of Social Inequality Davis and Moore claim social inequality is functional and that everyone has the means and mechanisms to reach the occupations they desire Unequal access to resources and inequality based on gender age race etc Classical Theories on Social Inequality Emile Durkheim 1 Mechanical Solidarity 2 Organic Solidarity Anomie when social norms break down Max Weber Bureaucracy horizontal vs vertical associations Rational Traditional Authority Lecture 4 January 27 Max Weber Status Restricted pattern of social inclusion Ruling Class and the Elites There are elites in all societies Ancient Roman Egyptian Chinese societies Agrarian Societies Modern Industrial Societies Conflict Perspective A theory that repels functional perspective conflict perspective portrays society as a complex system where social conflict is caused my inequality Karl Marx was a significant figure who believed inequality was not the key to a functional society He believed real social change only stemmed from social evolution through generations Forces of Production Labor Means of Production Raw Material Lecture 5 January 29 Karl Marx Continued Bourgeoisie rich and wealthy class Proletariat poor class Marx believed the middle class wasn t a real social class because he thought the middle class was only a form of a middleman between the poor and the rich like trained manipulators Alienation Marx believed there were different ways a worker could be alienated from his work From work From the product From the workers Self alienation Criticism of Karl Marx Too much emphasis on economic organizations Societies are not always under conflict Social conflict is rarely bipolarized Power is not always associated with property ownership Conflict does not always lead to social change Lecture 6 February 3 Conflict Perspective Religion Marx believed religion was only a system used by the wealthy class to impose on the people to create a feeling of hope No political leader will criticize any religion