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Questions and Answers
What is a theoretical perspective in sociology?
What is the main focus of social conflict theory?
What is the goal of feminist theory?
What is the 'sociological imagination'?
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Who coined the term 'sociological imagination'?
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What is the primary criticism of structural functionalism according to the text?
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What concept does C. Wright Mills associate with his approach to sociology?
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What was a major consequence if people stopped agreeing on common goals in Durkheim's theory?
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What was a limitation of Emile Durkheim's theory of society?
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What problem did C. Wright Mills identify with many sociologists?
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Study Notes
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
- Theories are essential in social sciences as they help identify trends and themes in human behavior and decision-making.
- There are four major sociological perspective theories: symbolic interactionism, social conflict, structural-functional, and feminist theories.
- Symbolic interactionism explores how people interpret symbols and their meanings within communities.
- Social conflict theory explains social inequality and conflicts between societal groups.
- Structural-functional theory examines how social institutions work together to maintain social order.
- Feminist theory focuses on social inequality between men and women, striving for equality between the sexes.
Sociological Imagination
- C. Wright Mills coined the term "sociological imagination" to describe the relationship between individual troubles and societal issues.
- Applying sociological imagination involves navigating the link between personal problems and broader social issues.
- Mills argued that many sociologists fail to exercise sociological imagination, instead getting bogged down in theoretical and empirical studies.
Structural Functionalism
- Structural functionalism emerged in the 19th century, emphasizing that society is composed of building blocks working towards a common goal.
- Emile Durkheim, a French philosopher, developed this theory, arguing that social bonds are crucial for societal cohesion.
- The theory assumes that as long as most people agree on common goals, society will function well, but disagreements can lead to disintegration.
- However, structural functionalism has been criticized for being too far removed from actual society, assuming homogeneous groups with the same motivations.
- The theory also assumes a zero-sum game, where winners and losers emerge, neglecting the existence of diverse starting points and motivations.
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Description
Learn about the importance of theoretical perspectives in sociology, including the four major sociological theories that explain human behavior within societies, communities, and individuals.
