Question 1

Which sociological perspective criticizes the functionalist approach to social change for disregarding the crucial significance of change that is needed to correct social injustices and inequalities?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective views society as a struggle between different groups competing for resources and power. This perspective criticizes the functionalist approach for ignoring the fact that change is necessary to address social inequality and injustices. The interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another, and the dialectical perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding social change as an ongoing process of conflicts and contradictions. However, neither of these perspectives specifically critiques the functionalist approach for disregarding the need for change to address social injustices and inequalities.

Question 2

The role of women in the family has changed dramatically within the United States during the last 50 years. Women have furthered their education and developed careers. This change in the family has necessitated adaptive changes in school systems, corporations, churches, and other facets of society to provide childcare services. This situation reflects which view of social change?

Accepted Answer

The equilibrium model suggests that social change occurs as a response to the need for society to maintain a stable balance or equilibrium. In this case, the changing role of women in the family necessitated adaptive changes in other facets of society, such as schools and corporations, in order to maintain balance and stability.

Question 3

Which sociological perspective would likely suggest that members of new social movements tend to mobilize as they reject statements made by established authority figures, including scientists and technical authorities?

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective focuses on power struggles between groups and argues that social change often comes about through conflict and resistance to authority. This perspective would suggest that members of new social movements reject statements made by established authority figures as a way to challenge and resist their power and authority.

Question 4

A person needing to have his or her car repaired can go to a muffler store, a transmission shop, a tire retailer, or a gas station for a tune-up. Talcott Parsons refers to this type of specialization as

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person needing to have his or...

Question 5

Which of these statements about social change is true?

Accepted Answer

Social change can often challenge the power structure or status quo, which may threaten the interests of certain groups or individuals who benefit from the existing system. Therefore, these people may resist social change. Social change can have both positive and negative consequences, and it is not always universally accepted or embraced. Thus, statement A and B are incorrect. Additionally, social change can be unsettling or unsettling for some people, so statement D is incorrect.

Question 6

The practice of colleges admitting more ethnic minorities and women, under Talcott Parsons's model, is called

Accepted Answer

Under Talcott Parsons's model, the practice of colleges admitting more ethnic minorities and women is referred to as "inclusion." This term reflects the effort to incorporate diverse groups into the social system, enhancing its functionality and cohesion by acknowledging and valuing diversity.

Question 7

Which sociological perspective would likely be interested in the labels attached to activists associated with a social movements, such as a feminist student referred to as a "bra burner?"

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective focuses on the meanings and symbols that people attach to their actions and how this shapes their interactions with others. Labels like "bra burner" are symbolic and can affect how others perceive and interact with the feminist activist, making this issue of interest to the interactionist perspective. The functionalist perspective would focus on how the social movement contributes to the stability and function of society as a whole, while the conflict perspective would focus on the power dynamics and struggles between different groups involved in the social movement. The epidemiological perspective focuses on the spread and distribution of disease.

Question 8

In Talcott Parsons's equilibrium model, the incorporation of groups that were previously excluded because of their race, ethnicity, and social class is known as

Accepted Answer

In Talcott Parsons's equilibrium model, the incorporation of groups that were previously excluded because of their race, ethnicity, and social class is known as inclusion. This refers to the process of providing these previously excluded groups with access to the resources and opportunities that were previously unavailable to them, enabling them to participate fully in society.

Question 9

Karl Marx suggested that humanity will move toward its final stage of development through

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx believed that the only way for humanity to move toward its final stage of development, where class conflict is eliminated and resources are shared equally, was through a socialist revolution. He argued that this would overthrow the capitalist system and lead to the establishment of a socialist society. This idea is central to Marx's theory of historical materialism, which suggests that the history of humanity is shaped by the struggle between different classes and their conflicting interests. Marx did not believe in unilinear or evolutionary change, and apartheid is a system of racial segregation that is not related to his ideas about social and economic transformation.

Question 10

Which term does Talcott Parsons use to characterize the feature of social change that involves social institutions becoming more specialized in their purposes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term does Talcott Parsons use to...

Question 11

Thorstein Veblen is responsible for coining the term

Accepted Answer

Thorstein Veblen coined the term "vested interests" to describe the entrenched interests of those who benefit from the status quo and resist social change.

Question 12

Talcott Parsons's functionalist view of society as tending toward a state of stability or balance is known as

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons's functionalist view of society as tending toward a state of stability or balance is known as the equilibrium model.

Question 13

Electronic communication can aid new social movements

Accepted Answer

The answer of Electronic communication can aid new social movements
...

Question 14

Which sociological perspective would be most likely to study the bestowal of status that activists assume in their new social roles created through social movements?

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective focuses on the study of symbolic interaction and how it shapes human attitudes and behaviors. The bestowal of status in new social roles created through social movements is a symbolic interaction that can be studied through this perspective.

Question 15

Talcott Parsons contends that societies experience value ________, the development of new values that tolerate and legitimate a greater range of activities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Talcott Parsons contends that societies experience value...

Question 16

Talcott Parsons viewed society as naturally being in a state of

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons believed that society operates like a system striving for equilibrium or balance. He saw society as constantly trying to maintain a stable and harmonious state through various mechanisms such as social norms, values, and institutions. Therefore, the correct answer is C) equilibrium.

Question 17

Which sociologist has noted that the functionalist perspective's emphasis on stability and the conflict perspective's focus on change reflect the contradictory nature of society?

Accepted Answer

Ralf Dahrendorf has noted that the functionalist perspective's emphasis on stability and the conflict perspective's focus on change reflect the contradictory nature of society. He argued that society is characterized by both cooperation and conflict, and that these two forces are in constant tension with each other. Therefore, both stability and change are necessary for the functioning of society.

Question 18

The Marxist view of social change is appealing to some because it

Accepted Answer

The Marxist view emphasizes the role of human agency in social change, particularly through class struggle, allowing individuals to actively engage in shaping history and addressing injustices, rather than being passive observers of change.

Question 19

Which sociological perspective argues that when changes occur in one part of a society, there must be adjustments in other parts, and if these adjustments do not occur, the society's equilibrium may be threatened?

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interdependence of different parts of society and argues that when changes occur in one part, adjustments must occur in other parts to maintain the society's equilibrium. The focus is on how different parts of society contribute to overall stability and functioning.

Question 20

Which concept does Talcott Parsons use to indicate the increasing complexity of social organization?

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons uses the concept of differentiation to indicate the increasing complexity of social organization. Differentiation refers to the increasing specialization and division of labor in society, as well as the emergence of distinct roles, institutions, and social spheres. This concept helps explain how modern societies become more complex and differentiated over time.

Quiz 16: Social Change in the Global Community