Week 11: Rational choice and institutionalism

Question 1

social behavior and attitude is the result of individual actions and choices, where each individual bases his decision on rational considerations.

Answer 1

rational choice

Question 2

Rationality could take various forms, but applied to sociology, it becomes the:

Answer 2

identity of society

Question 3

_____ s a theory is very broad, since it covers a number of sub-topics that deal with different aspects of society. Their one similarity is that all of these sub-topics deal with the function and relevance of institutions.

Answer 3

institutionalism

Question 4

One of the major thinkers when it comes to the study of institutional theory is the French philosopher and sociologist:

Answer 4

Michel Foucault

Question 5

Michel Foucault’s works include:

Answer 5

Discipline and Punish, The Birth of the Clinic, History of Sexuality and other works that deal with the function and administration of various institutions over society.

Question 6

There are three important kinds of institutionalism:

Answer 6

(1) Old Institutionalism
(2) New Institutionalism
(3) Historical Institutionalism

Question 7

focuses on the effects of institutions, as well as general rules, schemes, and factors, on the scale of the global or local economy

Answer 7

Old institutionalism

Question 8

this focuses on the sociological view on institutions, the way these institutions co-operate with each other and how they affect society as a whole

Answer 8

new institutionalism

Question 9

it traces the progress of both socio-economic behavior in society through the growth and history of an institution

Answer 9

historical institutionalism

Question 10

an approach that views institutions as humanly devised constraints that structure political, economic, and social interactions

Answer 10

Institutionalism

Question 11

focuses on the sociological view on institutions, the way these institutions co-operate with each other and how they affect society as a whole.

Answer 11

New Institutionalism

Question 12

focuses on the effects of institutions, as well as general rules, schemes, and factors, on the scale of the global or local economy.

Answer 12

Old Institutionalism

Question 13

is a product of scarcity and demand the people to make the right and rational choice to maximize the use of its resources. The basic premise of rational choice is that social behavior and attitude is the result of individual actions and choices, where each individual bases his decision on rational considerations.

Answer 13

Rational Choice