Overview of Sociological Theories: Functionalist Perspective 1

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What is the purpose of a sociological theory?

To explain events, forces, materials, ideas, or behavior in a comprehensive manner (correct)

To focus on individual actions and behaviors

To prove traditional commonsense beliefs wrong

To provide a specific solution to a social problem

According to sociologists, why are traditional explanations for suicide not particularly convincing?

Because they are widely held beliefs

Because they focus on individual desires

Because they do not offer general explanations of suicidal behavior (correct)

Because they link suicide to sunspots

What is the primary focus of sociologists in studying suicide?

Exploring the hereditary nature of suicidal behavior

Identifying the social forces that cause some people to take their own lives (correct)

Understanding the individual motivations for suicide

Identifying sunspots as the main cause of suicide

What does an effective sociological theory provide according to the text?

Both explanatory and predictive power Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'sociology' and what major events influenced his work?

Auguste Comte; The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution Signup and view all the answers

According to Emile Durkheim, what was the primary determinant of suicide rates?

Religious affiliations Signup and view all the answers

In which stage of societal development, as proposed by Comte, did people view society as natural?

Metaphysical stage Signup and view all the answers

What aspect did Comte primarily contribute to sociology?

Classification of sciences Signup and view all the answers

What did Durkheim's research suggest about suicide rates in relation to economic instability?

Higher rates in times of peace Signup and view all the answers

According to Durkheim, what did the suicide rates of a society reflect?

Extent of integration into group life Signup and view all the answers

What are the three stages of societal development as proposed by Comte?

Theological, metaphysical, scientific or positivist stage Signup and view all the answers

What were the suicide rates per million inhabitants in England, France, and Denmark in 1869, as reported by Durkheim?

England: 67, France: 135, Denmark: 277 Signup and view all the answers

What were the primary social factors that Durkheim focused on in his investigation of suicide rates?

Cohesiveness or lack of cohesiveness of religious, social, and occupational groups Signup and view all the answers

According to Durkheim, what societal characteristic did the suicide rates reflect?

Extent to which people were or were not integrated into the group life of the society Signup and view all the answers

What were the societal conditions associated with higher suicide rates, as identified by Durkheim?

Unmarried status, lack of religious affiliation, times of peace, times of economic instability and recession Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a sociological theory according to the text?

To explain problems, actions, or behavior comprehensively with explanatory and predictive power. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, why are sociologists not particularly interested in why any one individual commits suicide?

They are more concerned with identifying the social forces that systematically cause some people to take their own lives. Signup and view all the answers

What major contributions did Auguste Comte make to the development of sociology?

He coined the term 'sociology' and his work was greatly influenced by the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. Signup and view all the answers

Why do sociologists develop a theory that offers a general explanation of suicidal behavior?

To identify the social forces that systematically cause some people to take their own lives. Signup and view all the answers

According to the text, what does an effective sociological theory provide?

An effective sociological theory provides both explanatory and predictive power, helping to see relationships among seemingly isolated phenomena and understand how one type of change in an environment leads to other changes. Signup and view all the answers