Erika Lozada
Professor Hageman
ZHON 194
2017 October 20
Exam 1- Midterm Question 1 Power is a fairly ambiguous term to define though many have taken on the challenge. One may attempt to define power by first looking at its sources: “charisma, legitimacy, wealth, confidence, support, resources, and prestige” (Notes, August 28th) among others. A person in power may hold one or all of these traits, but the result remains the same; those in power have the ability to manipulate material items or even whole societies for whatever reason they deem necessary.
In the sociology book Power and Society: An Introduction to the Social Sciences by Brigid Harrison she defines power as “the
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Harrison’s definition felt more like a means by which one may obtain power rather than the meaning of power itself. The ability to give and take resources may allow you to have power superficially, but what happens when a person no longer has those resources? What if a person gained power through other means? Harrison’s definition seems to bring about more questions than answers when it comes to what is power. Castell’s definition can be viewed as an extension of Harrison’s definition as they both hold the same ideology; power is rooted in being able to give and take from people. However, Castell explained how one may use reward and punishment to obtain power more extensively. I do agree that power is about being “the primary source of social structuration and dynamics” (Castell, 3), but it does so by exercising control. By using the term “transformative capacity” (Notes, August 28th) Giddens can be referring to any of the seven source of power listed above. A person is able to use control to influence people both superficially (ie. money) or socially (ie. government), but one may do this through more than just “production and distribution” (Castell, 2). The one problem I see with Giddens’s definition is the vagueness of his wording, but that is partially because power is such a broad term in itself. Harrison and Castell were able to do a better job of specifying how power is …show more content…
Social scientist use history to analyze the growth and change of modern society, the human psyche, and human development. History is “an unending dialogue between the present and the past” (Harrison 164) and is usually viewed through one of three perspectives: “the great man paradigm”, “the institutionalist perspective”, or “the elite theory” (Harrison 143). Throughout history we are able to see how societies seemed to continuously separate itself into groups depending on how the individual identified him/herself whether is was social class, race, religion, or government affiliations. Nevertheless, the majority of these identifiers have changed over time as the middle class expanded, African Americans gained civil rights, new religions emerged, and parties changed
things defined as sacred by an organized community of believers.” (Basirico et.al. 379). Religion is an important element in the society because it influences the way individuals act and think. It has shaped the relationship and bonding among families as well as influenced the decision made in economics and politics. Religion in general has contributed to shape a society and a government structure which will influence the way the individuals under certain governmental structure behave. Sociologists
established by the Catholic Church. The Church taught that the Earth was the center of the universe, and everything revolved around our planet. Another theory that the Church supported was that the Earth stood still while the sun rose and set every day. Society in the 1500s believed that the Pope spoke for God through a divine connection, and to go against the Church was to go against God. To speak out against the Church in this time was strictly taboo. If one spoke against the Church, it was considered
Contrasts Between Traditional, Pre-industrial and Industrial Societies in Work "We cannot understand work apart from society and historical change." This purpose of this essay is to outline the stark contrasts between traditional, pre-industrial and industrial societies to work. It will show how work is inexorably interconnected with society and how historical change has led to our understanding of work today. In traditional societies, such as those of the pre-colonial, Australian Aboriginals
fundamental unit holding up a society as well as individuals, people often witness a family as a whole overcoming adversity, making impossible to possible. Behind such wonders, many believe that there are invisible power only shared within a family members and that keeps a family united and moving forward. What is the hidden power and what makes up a family of 21st century? This essay, therefore, will review the general definition of a family in a contemporary society, discuss the framework of family
institution in the service of society and development which are open to the public which acquires conserves researches, communicates and exhibits for the purpose of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of people and their environment. On the other hand, museum also provides information in the environment where people
Many commend Margaret Atwood for her ability of depicting individual and worldly troubles of universal concern (Study Guide). Over thirty years, Atwood has written more than twenty volumes of verse, novels, and nonfiction. Although she is noted for all of these volumes, she is better known for her novels. In these work of fiction, themes such as feminism, mythology and power of language pervade. Margaret Atwood's immense talent for conveying the importance language through her characters can be seen
Australia with the privileged having majority of the power and wealth. Moreover, exploitation of the ‘working class’ continue to maintain less power within the workplace & less wealth. Connell & Irving offer an uncomplicated view of class structure, (1992: p 40): ‘Class’ at least is a term with a definite, classic meaning, referring to a particular type of society. When we talk about the “class structure” in Australia, we are saying that the facts of power, privilege and poverty in this country have a
Targets of Satire in The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams satirizes many targets in The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Adams came up with the idea for The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in a drunken haze in Germany while he was lying in a field with the stars spinning over him (Adams, Douglas 12) which explains the style of humor, and the satire in the novel, which does not appear to make sense at first, but eventually does. Adams almost forgot about
Social Theory is multifaceted. It boasts ideals that expound upon society on a grand scale, and theories that dissect the minute actions of individuals that comprise their daily lives. These ranges of theoretical ideals prove beneficial when trying to unravel the complexities of society. Using theory as a framework or a guide, many societal plagues can be examined from the different perspectives that social theory has to offer. This multidimensional approach can be used in the achievement gap
generally show higher levels of loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, to name a few (Nansel, T.R., Overpeck., M., Pilla, R.S., Ruan, W.J., Kimons-Morton, B. & Scheidt, P., 2001). The impact of bullying can have lasting affects with studies showing frequent victimisation can predict anxiety disorders in adults. Furthermore, there can be negative effects for the bullies themselves who are more likely to struggle with antisocial personalities, substance abuse, depression and anxiety disorders
Deviance Whatever the term deviance creates , in general it is popularly assumed that 'deviants' are individuals who are somehow less capable, less socially responsible, less adjusted, and consequently less useful to society than their more fortunate, upright and 'normal' fellows ( Social Deviance in Australia, p 4). In the case of Aboriginal drinking, alcohol is the main source of criminalisation and incarceration. This public labelling gives the individual an entirely new status- one which tends
Does one’s life belong to himself or to the community/society he lives in? Well, perspective varies from person to person. If you go and take private data from people you meet and analyze the data, you would see the diversity in opinions. Those opinions have their distinct evidence to back standout. Technically, every argument being raised can be expressed as a two-way street. It’s true that more or less than half the people you obtain the data from likely to choose individualism and the rest would
the balance of the degree of social equality and social inequality; while they tend to avoid political changes that would result in extreme deviation of society to either side. Modern liberalism and modern conservatism tend not to be as centrist or middle-of-the-road ideologies as they once could be. Ideology is a set of ideas and beliefs that guide the goals, expectations, and actions of a group (Webster’s Dictionary). Individuals who are conservative or liberal tend to have views that align within
Introduction The term sociology is used to refer to the scientific study of the social behaviors and the societal components like the origin, its developments, the organization structure, institutional networks and the manner in which all these factors are related or fit into one system. Sociology is categorized as a social science because it applies empirical methods of investigation as well as the critical analysis of situations in the development of a pool of knowledge related to social orders
These elements are not only rich in cultural expressions, but also provide profound insights into how societies construct and interpret their worlds. Witchcraft, with its associations with power, fear, and social control, offers a window into the mechanisms of societal cohesion and conflict. Myths, as foundational narratives, reveal the deep-seated beliefs and values that shape cultures and guide individual behavior. Together, these elements highlight the dynamic interplay between belief systems and