Sociological Theories

Question 1

The structure of society (norms, values/rules) that holds it together and contributes to its social order

Answer 1

Social statistics

Question 2

The active relationships between the various parts of society and through which change is likely to occur

Answer 2

Social dynamics

Question 3

Auguste Comte put forward that there are 4 parts of society with specific functions. They are:

Answer 3

1. Family
2. Economy
3. Religion
4. Political structure

Question 4

Auguste Comte believed that social change progressed in 3 stages. They are:

Answer 4

1. Theological - ideas controlled by the clergy
2. Metaphysical - ideas controlled by philosophers
3. Positivism - the triumph of scientific thinking

Question 5

________ used his interest in Charles Darwin and biology to explain how he believed society is structured.

Answer 5

Herbert Spencer

Question 6

Herbert Spencer applied Charles Darwin’s idea of ____________ to society.

Answer 6

Evolution

Question 7

Herbert Spencer argued that societies naturally evolved through ________ and __________ in order to progress.

Answer 7

Specialisation and differentiation

Question 8

Social fact that consists of an agreement on common moral values and beliefs [Durkheim]

Answer 8

Collective consciousness

Question 9

The inability of a society to enforce and maintain a collective consciousness results in a state of __________: [Durkheim]

Answer 9

Anomie

Question 10

An individual internalises a collectie consciousness through _________. [Durkheim]

Answer 10

Socialisation

Question 11

Changes in one part of society are followed by changes in another. This creates a state of balance which results in ________ _______ [Talcott Parsons]

Answer 11

social equilibrium ⚖️

Question 12

Parsons offered the view that the everyday survival of society depends on 4 basic prerequisites, including the need for:

Answer 12

1. Adaptation
2. Goal attainment
3. Integration
4. Pattern maintenance

Question 13

Talcott Parsons argued that the disruptive effects brought by social change are mitigated by __________ ___________

Answer 13

Social equilibrium

Question 14

The 4 sociologists associated with Functionalism are:

Answer 14

1. Auguste Comte
2. Èmile Durkheim
3. Herbert Spencer
4. Talcott Parsons

Question 15

A situation in which institutions in modern societies carry out specialised functions [Parsons]

Answer 15

Structural differentiation

Question 16

A general agreement about things deemed worthy by members of a society

Answer 16

Value consensus

Question 17

A state in which people have become passive and dehumanised , and strangers from themselves. [Karl Marx]

Answer 17

Alienation

Question 18

As the rich get richer, they increasingly distance themselves from poorer groups. [Marxism]

Answer 18

Polarisation

Question 19

Where members of the working class are blind to their exploitation and their attention is diverted away from the true sources of their oppression [Marxism]

Answer 19

False class consciousness

Question 20

When workers become aware of their exploitation by the ruling class but are still in a state of false class consciousness [Marxism]

Answer 20

A class in itself

Question 21

According to Marx, the successful protelariat revolution would result in a _________ __________ - a society with no private property, alienation, exploitation , class divisions, capitalists and working classes.

Answer 21

Communist society

Question 22

An organisation with a hierarchy of paid officials who form a chain of command (government, ministries, churches etc) [Weber]

Answer 22

Bureaucracy

Question 23

The creolisation theory was derived by: _______ _________

Answer 23

Edward Kamau Brathwaite

Question 24

The cultural changes that occur when people of two different backgrounds come together in a new environment and their interactions with each other result in a new culture [Brathwaite]

Answer 24

Creolisation

Question 25

The forced acceptance of aspects of another’s culture [Creolisation]

Answer 25

Acculturation

Question 26

The uncoscious/somewhat conscious and willing absorption of aspects of another’s culture [Creolisation]

Answer 26

Interculturation

Question 27

Functionalist’s treatment of socialisation and the role of institutions draw parallels with the Caribbean ______ and _________ theories.

Answer 27

Creolisation, plural society

Question 28

The Marxist view of social stratification, along with the Interactionist view of total institutions have similarities with the Caribbean ________ theory.

Answer 28

Plantation society

Question 29

Ethnomedology, a theory that explains the methods that people use to make sense of the social world, was introduced by:

Answer 29

Harold Garfinkel

Question 30

Phenomenology, an approach popularised by Alfred Schultz, looks at:

Answer 30

The process through which people understand the chaotic social world based on their experiences

Question 31

_______ ______ introduced falsification, the practice of disproving theories.

Answer 31

Karl Popper

Question 32

Thomas Kuhn believed that all scientists operate within a specific ______, a framework of concepts and theories that state how the world works.

Answer 32

Paradigm He goes on to say that this does not exist in sociology, therefore it is “pre-paradigmatic and by extension pre-scientific” (Pikington et al 2008)

Question 33

Giddens (1986) asserts that institutions and individuals have a:

Answer 33

Double involvement - they create society while simultaneously being created by it

Question 34

Functionalists saw social change as ______, while ________ saw social change as revolutionary.

Answer 34

Functionalists - evolutionary | Marxists - revolutionary

Question 35

What is ‘value freedom’?

Answer 35

A concept associated with the positivist research approach, which should not be influenced by reaearcher’s beliefs and ideas so as to be ‘free’ from bias.

Question 36

Define culture.

Answer 36

The way of life of a society, comprising of tangible and intangible objects.

Question 37

Define socialisation.

Answer 37

Socialisation is the unconscious process of learning the culture of one’s society.

Question 38

What are norms?

Answer 38

Norms are the guidelines for the expected behaviours of a society within specific contexts.

Question 39

What are values?

Answer 39

Values are ideas that are considered as good, correct, worthwhile and desirable in a society.

Question 40

What is status?

Answer 40

Status refers to the ascribed or achieved position that one holds in society.

Question 41

What are roles?

Answer 41

Roles are expedted behaviours that accompany one’s status position.

Question 42

A social group is considered to be _________ if it occupies a position outside the centres of power.

Answer 42

Margianalised