SOCIO

Social events

Interactions

Patterns

Explains why these occur & what can result from them -> theories

Figure out the why

Theory -> a way to explain different aspects of social interactions, a way to create testable
propositions about society

Theories are not definitive / objective (circumstances vary)

Grand theories / macro-level theories -> explains large-scale relationships, why societies form and
change

- Abstract
- Generalized
- Impossible to test

Micro-level theories -> very specific relationships between individuals

- Context-dependent
- Concrete
- Scientifically testable

Building theories

- Question
- Hypothesis
- Testing -> surveys / questionnaires / interviews
- Enough supportive data -> theory

Paradigms

- Philosophical/theoretical frameworks used to formulate theories, generalizations and

experiments performed to support them
- Sunglasses to view the world with
- “The school of thought”
- Religion / nonreligions
- Umbrella -> condenses into standards, postulates, theories, research methods

Sociological paradigm Level of analysis Focus

Structural Functionalism Macro / mid How each part of society
functions together to
contribute to the whole
 Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Macro How inequalities contribute to
social differences and
perpetuate differences in
power
Micro How individuals interact with
and perceive things around
them based on society’s
beliefs / one-to-one
interactions and
communications

FUNCTIONALISM

- Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim

- Herbspence -> Society as the human body with organs working together to sustain it (he’s a
biologist)
- Parts of society work together to keep the whole thing functioning
- Social institutions such as the economy, political systems, healthcare, education, media and
religion
- All parts work together and functions correctly -> dynamic equilibrium
- Durkheim -> social facts
o Laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals and cultural rules
that govern social life

Institutions Functions
Students Keeps the teacher’s jobs, will grow to be future
functioning members of society
Teachers / faculty Teaches the students everything they need to
know, provide academic and emotional support
Management / admins Keeps the school in control, does the
paperwork necessary
Staff Keeps the cleanliness of the school to prevent
illnesses and increases students’ satisfaction
Security Keeps the environment safe
Student council Represent the students, keeps the students in
line, organize student-led events, communicate
directly with the admins

CONFLICT THEORY

- Karl Marx & Max Weber

- Society is made up of individuals who compete for limited resources
o Money, fame, power, influence, freedom, entertainment
- Social, political, material resources
- Winners use power and influence to maintain their positions of power and to suppress other
people’s advancement
o Power/wealth -> good quality of life
o Protect/maintain what they have (the same is always better than less)
 - Weber
o Economic inequalities of the capitalist system -> source of widespread conflict
o Disagreed to the notion that conflict leads to revolution and the fall of capitalism
o Marx was an extremist, everything is a revolution
o Inequalities over political power and social status
o Level of inequalities may be different based on education, race or gender

ACTIVITY

- Explore inequalities beyond economy

- Qs
o What inequalities exist between:
 Education backgrounds/levels?
 Races/ethnicities?
 Genders?

International National
Generally better facilities More modest facilities
FUCK LOAD OF MONEY Either free or far cheaper than international
More uni opportunities Confined to national universities
More connections Less opportunities of networking

Ethnic Chinese Indonesian (Pribumi)

Generally wealthier / more power More modest / less fortunate
Discriminated (remember peristiwa ’98) Discriminates

Male Female
Higher employment rates Lower employment rates
Higher salaries Lower (gender pay gap)
The “workers” “Belong in the kitchen” or whatever the fuck
Assertive Submissive
Different views of them sexually

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

- Relationship of individuals within their society

- Communication is how people make sense of their social words
o Words
o Actions
o Writing
o Sounds
- 3 premises
o Act towards things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things
o The ascribed meanings come from the social interactions one has with other
individuals and society itself
 o Meanings are handled in and modified through an interpretative process used by
the person in dealing with the things they encounter
- Qualitative

QUALITATIVE VS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Quantitative

- Polls and surveys

- Statistical data
- Lacks details, nuance and context

Qualitative

- Interviews, focus groups, participant observation

- Contains details, nuance and context
- Smaller sample sizes

DRAMATURGY (EVE??????????)

A sociological perspective commonly used in microsociological accounts of social interaction in

everyday life.

- Elements of human interactions are dependent on time, place and audience

- The “you” you show infront of your family is different from the “you” you show to your
friends
- Acceptance from the audience through a carefully conducted performance
- Improve your self-image, curate how people see you
1. Home vs Place of Worship
a. More relaxed at home
b. More uptight and conscious at a PoW
c. A more laid-back and less serious presentation at home
d. A more serious, conscious and religious presentation at a PoW
e. Formal and modest at a PoW
2. Birthday party vs Funeral
a. You won’t be screaming and giggling at a funeral now wouldya
b. You would feel sorrow in a funeral
c. Wear darker and modest clothes in a funeral to show respect for the grieving
d. You would be happy joy joy happy funny elated in a bday party
i. And dress accordingly
3. W/ friends vs grandparents
a. Less rambunctious around my grandparents
b. More joking around with friends
c. You dress more formally with your grandparents
d. Go fucking wild with your friends
e. Don’t swear around your grandparents