Sociological Theory & Frameworks Flashcards

Which of the following best characterizes postmodern sociological theory?

Answer: Skepticism toward grand narratives and objective truth

Postmodern theory rejects totalizing narratives and universal truths, emphasizing fragmentation, plurality, and the social construction of knowledge.

Émile Durkheim classified suicide as a social phenomenon rather than purely an individual act because:

Answer: Suicide rates vary systematically across social groups and conditions

Durkheim showed that suicide rates differ predictably across social groups, demonstrating that social forces shape even the most personal acts.

The concept of 'hegemony,' as used by Antonio Gramsci, describes:

Answer: Cultural and ideological domination that secures ruling-class consent

Gramsci's hegemony refers to the way dominant groups maintain power through cultural and ideological influence rather than coercion alone.

In Merton's strain theory, 'innovation' as a mode of adaptation means:

Answer: Accepting cultural goals but using illegitimate means to achieve them

In Merton's typology, innovators accept society's success goals but resort to deviant methods when legitimate pathways are blocked.

Which sociological framework emphasizes that social reality is constructed through ongoing human interaction and interpretation?

Answer: Social constructionism

Social constructionism, associated with Berger and Luckmann, holds that social reality is not given but is actively constructed through shared meanings and practices.

Pierre Bourdieu's concept of 'cultural capital' refers to:

Answer: Non-financial social assets such as education, taste, and knowledge

Bourdieu defined cultural capital as the accumulated knowledge, skills, and behaviors that confer social advantages within a given field.

Which theoretical perspective would best explain why social norms vary across different cultural groups?

Answer: Cultural relativism within a symbolic interactionist framework

Symbolic interactionism combined with cultural relativism emphasizes that norms are created through local interaction and cannot be judged by a universal standard.