Sociological Theories and Social Institutions

Question 1

What defines a society, and what does sociology study?

Answer 1

A society can be defined as a group of people who share a culture and live/interact with each other within a definable area. Sociology is the study of how individuals interact with, shape, and are subsequently shaped by the society in which they live.

Question 2

List the four major sociological theories that explain society.

Answer 2

Top-down approaches to understanding societies:
1. Functionalism
2. Conflict Theory
Bottom-up approaches to understanding societies:
3. Symbolic Interactionism
4. Social Constructionism

Question 3

Define Macro-level Theories

Answer 3

Macro-level theories focus on the effects of large scale social structures, and try to answer fundamental questions such as why societies form, why societies change, and why their social structures function in the manner that they function.

Question 4

Define Micro-level Theories

Answer 4

Interested in small-scale individual considerations, most prominently one-on-one and small group interactions.

Question 5

Which sociological theory conceptualizes society as a living organism with many different interrelated and interdependent parts, each of which has a distinct and necessary function?

Answer 5

Functionalism
Just as organs function interdependently to help the organism survive, social structures work together to sustain society.

Question 6

Who is the scientist that’s considered the founder of sociology?

Answer 6

Émile Durkheim

Question 7

How does Durkheim view modern societies?

Answer 7

He believed that modern societies were more complex than primitive societies, in which people in modern societies reply upon each other to make the society function as a whole.

Question 8

The Functionalist Perspective

Answer 8

All the interrelated parts of modern societies, including major social structures such as the government, the police force, the education system, and the medical system have interdependent roles to play.

Question 9

Define a healthy society from a functionalist perspective

Answer 9

When a healthy society faces an imbalance or crisis, functionalist theory proposes that the major structures of society will work together to return to a state of dynamic equilibrium, thus mitigate such dysfunction

Question 10

What is a limitation of functionalism?

Answer 10

Functionalism’s focus on the structures of healthy society working together to maintain societal order, balance, and stability could not accurately account for the many rapid sociological advances.

Question 11

What is a limitation of functionalism?

Answer 11

Functionalism’s focus on the structures of healthy society working together to maintain societal order, balance, and stability could not accurately account for the many rapid sociological advances.

Question 12

Is Functionalism a macro- or micro-level theory of society?

Answer 12

Functionalism is a macro-level theory of society, which means that it focuses on the elements that shape society as a whole. Focus on large scale social structures.

Question 13

Is Functionalism a macro- or micro-level theory of society?

Answer 13

Functionalism is a macro-level theory of society, which means that it focuses on the elements that shape society as a whole. Focus on large scale social structures.

Question 14

Who is the sociologist most associated with Functionalism?

Answer 14

Émile Durkheim
Considered one of the fathers of modern sociology. Émile Durkheim pioneered modern social research and established the field of sociology as separate from psychology and political philosophy; he was a major proponent of Functionalism

Question 15

Durkheim asserted that:

Answer 15

• Modern societies are quite complex and require many different types of people working together to make the society function
• Dynamic equilibrium occurs when multiple interdependent parts in a society work together toward societal stability. Healthy societies can successfully achieve and maintain this equilibrium; unhealthy ones cannot.
• The individual is significant only in terms of his/her status, his/her position in patterns of social relations, and his/her associated behaviours.

Question 16

What are social facts?

Answer 16

Social facts are elements that serve some function in society, such as laws, morals, values, religions, customs, rituals, and rules that make up a society

Question 17

What are some of the various social structures in society?

Answer 17

Schools, hospitals, private and public corporations, neighbourhoods, parks, military, government, transportations systems and etc.

Question 18

What is the difference between a manifest function and a latent function?

Answer 18

Manifest function: the intended and recognized functions of an institution.
Latent function: the unintended, unforeseen consequences of an institution. Latent function can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

Question 19

What is a social dysfunction?

Answer 19

Not all the effects of social structures are beneficial. A social dysfunction is a process that has undesirable consequences and may actually reduce that stability of society.

Question 20

What is Conflict Theory?

Answer 20

A theory that views society as a competition for limited resources; in society, individuals and groups compete for social, political, and material resources.

Question 21

What is a major criticism of the conflict theory?

Answer 21

It does not focus on the cooperate altruistic actions that people sometimes take, it may be too narrow in only focusing on conflict

Question 22

Is Conflict theory a macro- or micro-level theory of society?

Answer 22

Conflict theory is a macro-level theory of society

Question 23

The two sociologist most associated with the Conflict Theory:

Answer 23

Karl Marx and Max Weber

Question 24

Karl Marx asserted that:

Answer 24

• Societies progress through class struggle between those who control production and those who provide the manpower for production.
• Capitalism produces internal tensions which will ultimately destroy capitalist society, to be replaced by socialism

Question 25

Max Weber asserted that:

Answer 25

• A capitalist system does lead to conflict, but the collapse of capitalism is not inevitable.
• There could be more than one source of conflict, such as conflict over inequalities in political power and social status.
• Argued that several factors moderated people’s reaction to inequality, such agreement with authority figures, high rates of social mobility, and low rates of class differences.

Question 26

Who are the three men that are generally considered the founders of sociology?

Answer 26

Émile Durkheim
Karl Marx
Max Weber

Question 27

What is the major criticism of the conflict theory?

Answer 27

The major criticism of conflict theory is that it focuses too much on conflict and does not recognize the role of stability in society

Question 28

Conflict theory may be limited in that it:

Answer 28

1. Ignores the non-forceable ways in which people and groups reach agreement
2. Approaches society more from the perspective of those who lack power than from the perspective of those who have power
3. Focuses on economic factors almost exclusively as the sole issue for conflict within society

Question 29

What is Symbolic Interactionism?

Answer 29

A theory that analyzes the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviours; subjective meanings are important (theory asserts) because people behave based on what they believe is true, not just on what is objectively true. Therefore, society is socially constructed through human interpretation, and it is these interpretations that form the social bond.

Question 30

Core assumptions of symbolic interactionism:

Answer 30

1. Humans ascribe meaning to things, and act towards those things based on their ascribed meaning
2. Communication via language allows humans to generate meaning through social interaction with each other and society
3. Humans modify meanings through an interpretive thought process that observes and considers the reaction of others as well as the social context of these interactions

Question 31

Symbolic Interactionism holds the principle of _______ to be the central aspect of human behaviour

Answer 31

meaning

Question 32

What is thought?

Answer 32

Thought is the mental conservation that requires different points of view

Question 33

What is the looking-glass self?

Answer 33

The looking-glass self is used when we take on the role of the other imagining how we look to another person

Question 34

What is the self a function of?

Answer 34

The self is a function of language; without language there would be no self concept

Question 35

Critics of the Symbolic Interactionism theory claim:

Answer 35

Symbolic Interactionism neglects the macro-level of social interception; the big picture. Thus, this theory may miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on individual interactions. It also ignores the influence of social forces and institutions on individual interactions.

Question 36

What is Social Constructionism?

Answer 36

A theory that suggest that we actively shape our society through social interactions; social institutions and knowledge are created by individuals interacting (socially constructed) within the system, rather than having any inherent truth of their own

Question 37

What is a social construct?

Answer 37

A social construct is a concept or practice that is created by a group; essentially everybody in society agrees to treat a certain aspect a certain way regardless of its inherent value, and that therefore determines its value

Question 38

What is a major focus of social constructionists?

Answer 38

A major focus of social constructionists is the study of how individuals and groups participate in the construction of society and social reality. Social construction is a dynamic, ongoing process, which must be maintained, reaffirmed, and passed along to future generations.

Question 39

What are some examples of social constructs in society?

Answer 39

Gender, social class, games/sports, marriage, and etc.

Question 40

Is Social Constructionism a macro- or micro-level theory?

Answer 40

Social Constructionism is a micro-level theory of society. It has also received similar criticism as Symbolic Interactionism; because of its hyper-focus on how individuals construct society

Question 41

Who’s the sociologist that is most important in the development of the Symbolic Interactionism?

Answer 41

George Herbert Mead

Question 42

“Society is constructed through human-interpretation”

Answer 42

Symbolic Interactionism

Question 43

For interactionists, the self is developed through three important activities:

Answer 43

language, games, and play

Question 44

According to Mead’s “development of self”, what is the distinction between play and game?

Answer 44

Social play is characterized by spontaneity and freedom with min social rules and limited stakes, while social games on the other hand, have a much stricter set of rules and offer greater stakes.

Question 45

What is the distinction between the “I” and the “me” that Mead proposed?

Answer 45

“I” represents the individualistic self, which sought to establish its own unique identity through social interactions in the face of social pressures and expectations.
“me” is used to represent the social self, which internalizes the characteristics of the social environment.

Question 46

What is the Thomas theorem?

Answer 46

The theory that interpretation of a situation affects the response to that situation

Question 47

What is the major difference between symbolic interactionism and social constructionism?

Answer 47

While both symbolic interactionists focus almost exclusively on one-on-one and small group interactions, social constructionists examine the construct of society from both macro and micro-sociological perspectives.

Question 48

What is typification?

Answer 48

Our individual stocks of knowledge allows us to classify objects and actions we observe quickly and routinely structure our own actions immediately response, in a process called typification.

Question 49

What is Rational Choice Theory?

Answer 49

Theory that assumes that humans make “rational” choices; a theory that suggest that individuals make decisions by comparing the costs and benefits of various courses of actions; we try to maximize benefits and reduce costs.

Question 50

What is the Social Exchange Theory?

Answer 50

Specific to when individuals interaction with each other; A theory that suggests that individuals assign rewards (benefits) and punishments (costs) to interactions and prefer those with the greatest personal benefit

Question 51

According to the social exchange theory, the formula for predicting the behaviour for any individual in any situation is:

Answer 51

Behaviour (Profits) = Rewards of the Interactions - Costs of the Interactions

Question 52

Rational Choice and Social Exchange Theory are both a ____ level theories.

Answer 52

micro-

Question 53

Rational choice paradigms share a the fundamental premise that human behaviours are utilitarian. Utilitarianism is based on two assumptions:

Answer 53

1. that individual humans are rational in their actions

2. In every human interaction, individuals will seek to maximize their own self-interest.

Question 54

What is Feminist Theory?

Answer 54

This theory encompasses a variety of perspectives on the different experiences and treatment of women vs. men. It is concerned with the social experiences of both men and women and the differences between these experiences.

Question 55

Three waves of feminism:

Answer 55

First-wave feminism (1900) focused on women’s suffrage: that right to vote, to own property, to have equal rights within marriage, and to work for wages.

Second-wave feminism (1960-1970) focused on women’s liberation: gender equality, sexual rights, reproductive rights, and resisting patriarchal culture.

Third-wave feminism (since 1980) has focused on areas of concern left un-theorized by first- and second-wave feminists, who were mostly white, middle-class, heterosexual, and American or European.

Question 56

Is Feminism a macro- or micro-level theory of society?

Answer 56

Feminism can be either a macro- or micro-level theory of society.

Question 57

What is intersectionality?

Answer 57

Intersectionality is the study of overlapping systems of oppression (e.g. gender, race, class, sexuality, etc.) and can be used to understand how systemic injustice and social inequality occur on a multidimensional basis

Question 58

What is intersectionality?

Answer 58

Intersectionality is the study of overlapping systems of oppression (e.g. gender, race, class, sexuality, etc.) and can be used to understand how systemic injustice and social inequality occur on a multidimensional basis; They do not exist isolated or separated from each other, but instead have complex, influential, and interwoven relationships.

Question 59

What is the rational choice theory criticized for ?

Answer 59

It is widely criticized for assuming the inherent rationality of human actions and minimizing the role of culture and subjective meaning in individual and group behaviour.