PS9: major theories

Question 1

conflict theory (marx)

Answer 1

unequal division of power in society drives social behaviors and institutions

Question 2

proletariat- conflict theory

Answer 2

common wage worker

Question 3

bourgeoisie- conflict theory

Answer 3

owners of the means of production, including factories and farms

Question 4

meritocratic approach

Answer 4

individuals gain influence and power in society through positive individual qualities, such as talent, diligence, and charisma

Question 5

symbolic interactionism (mead and cooley)

Answer 5

applied to one-on-one (micro-level) interactions; states that symbols such as words, objects, and gestures gain significance through the social interactions that are generated

Question 6

social constructionism (berger and luckman)

Answer 6

refers to the phenomenon of “social constructs”—deeply embedded, influential, and abstract concepts, such as money, race, and justice—that possess their meaning as a consequence of society’s active participation in the “meaning-making” of the social construct

Question 7

rational choice-exchange theory (homans)

Answer 7

1) individuals behave “rationally” and are able to evaluate their choices based on logical thought and consequences, and 2) as a result, social relationships develop based on an evaluation of exchanges

Question 8

structural functionalism (durkheim)

Answer 8

examines the different functions of varying social structures and how they all contribute to societal stability, interconnectedness, and equilibrium