CSP Sociological Theory & Frameworks 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which theorist introduced the concept of 'anomie' to describe a state of normlessness in society?
- Max Weber
- Émile Durkheim (Correct answer)
- Karl Marx
- Auguste Comte
Correct answer: Émile Durkheim
Durkheim introduced anomie to describe conditions where social norms are weakened or absent, contributing to deviance and suicide.
Question 2: In Talcott Parsons' AGIL framework, what does the 'I' stand for?
- Integration (Correct answer)
- Ideology
- Individualism
- Institutionalization
Correct answer: Integration
The 'I' in AGIL stands for Integration, referring to how a system coordinates its parts to function as a whole.
Question 3: Symbolic interactionism focuses primarily on which level of social analysis?
- Macro-level institutional structures
- Micro-level face-to-face interactions (Correct answer)
- Meso-level organizational dynamics
- Global-level systemic forces
Correct answer: Micro-level face-to-face interactions
Symbolic interactionism examines how individuals create meaning through everyday face-to-face interactions and shared symbols.
Question 4: Which concept from W.E.B. Du Bois describes the internal conflict experienced by African Americans living within a dominant white society?
- Cultural lag
- Double consciousness (Correct answer)
- Intersectionality
- Relative deprivation
Correct answer: Double consciousness
Du Bois coined 'double consciousness' to describe the sense of always looking at oneself through the eyes of others in a racist society.
Question 5: According to conflict theory, social institutions primarily serve to:
- Promote social harmony and equilibrium
- Reproduce and legitimize existing power inequalities (Correct answer)
- Satisfy universal human needs impartially
- Facilitate individual self-actualization
Correct answer: Reproduce and legitimize existing power inequalities
Conflict theorists argue that institutions such as education and law reinforce the dominance of powerful groups over subordinate ones.
Question 6: The concept of 'verstehen,' as used by Max Weber, refers to:
- Statistical measurement of social facts
- Empathic understanding of social action (Correct answer)
- Structural analysis of economic systems
- Cross-cultural comparison of norms
Correct answer: Empathic understanding of social action
Weber used 'verstehen' (German for 'understanding') to describe the interpretive method of grasping the subjective meaning behind social actions.
Question 7: Which feminist theoretical framework emphasizes that gender, race, and class intersect to create overlapping systems of discrimination?
- Liberal feminism
- Radical feminism
- Intersectionality (Correct answer)
- Socialist feminism
Correct answer: Intersectionality
Intersectionality, developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw, examines how multiple social identities combine to shape unique experiences of oppression.
CSP Sociological Theory & Frameworks 2
Which theorist introduced the concept of 'anomie' to describe a state of normlessness in society?