Deck 7: Structural Functionalism, Systems Theory, and Conflict Theory

Question 1

According to Talcott Parsons, the _____ imperative refers to a system's ability to manage its internal and external interrelationships.

A) adaptation
B) goal attainment
C) integration
D) latency (pattern maintenance)

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, low rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) require the least amount of ability and talent
B) are more important to the survival of society than higher ranking ones
C) provide more rewards than higher rank positions
D) are less pleasant to occupy than higher rank positions

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Conflict theories see _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) shared norms and values as fundamental to society
B) social change as occurring rapidly and in a disorderly fashion
C) social order as based on manipulation and control by dominant groups
D) dominance of some social groups by others

Answer 3

B, C, D

Question 4

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, high rank positions in society _____.

A) are less important to the survival of society than lower rank ones
B) require the greatest amount of ability and talent
C) provide lesser rewards than lower rank positions
D) are more pleasant to occupy than lower rank positions

Question 5

Which of the following is a critique of Davis and Moore's structural functional explanation of inequality? Select all, but only those that apply.

A) In arguing the privilege need their rewards to enhance all of society, the explanation perpetuates social inequality.
B) It assumes just because society has been unequal in the past; it must continue to be so in the future.
C) There are many examples of rewards being disjuncture from importance; many lower paying positions (like garbage collectors) are extremely important
D) There may not be a scarcity of people capable of filling high-level positions; only a scarcity of structural opportunity for more people to do so
E) People could be motivated by things other than power, prestige, and income.

Question 6

Which of the following is a similarity between structural functionalism and conflict theory? Select all, but only those that apply.

A) Macro-level focus
B) Similar sociological facts
C) Concern with large-scale social structures
D) Concern with large-scale social institutions

Question 7

Which of the following focuses on the interrelationships between large-scale social structures and institutions, including how they constrain actors?

A) Structuralism
B) Functionalism
C) Structural Functionalism
D) Societal Functionalism

Question 8

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, high rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) are more important to the survival of society than lower rank ones
B) require the greatest amount of ability and talent
C) provide greater rewards than lower rank positions
D) are less pleasant to occupy than lower rank positions

Question 9

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, low rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) require the most ability and talent
B) are less important to the survival of society than higher ranking ones
C) provide more rewards than higher rank positions
D) are less pleasant to occupy than higher rank positions

Question 10

Which of the following was articulated by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore explanation of social inequality? Select all, but only those that apply.

A) Social stratification is universal.
B) Social stratification is functionally necessary.
C) The stratification is a structure.
D) Stratification comes from a system of positions.

Question 11

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, high rank positions in society _____.

A) are less important to the survival of society than lower rank ones
B) require the lease amount of ability and talent
C) provide lesser rewards than lower rank positions
D) are less pleasant to occupy than lower rank positions

Question 12

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, high rank positions in society _____.

A) are less important to the survival of society than lower rank ones
B) require the lease amount of ability and talent
C) provide greater rewards than lower rank positions
D) are more pleasant to occupy than lower rank positions

Question 13

According to Talcott Parsons, the _____ imperative refers to a system's ability to identify, and then achieve an ends or outcome.

A) adaptation
B) goal attainment
C) integration
D) latency (pattern maintenance)

Question 14

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, high rank positions in society _____.

A) are more important to the survival of society than lower rank ones
B) require the lease amount of ability and talent
C) provide lesser rewards than lower rank positions
D) are more pleasant to occupy than lower rank positions

Question 15

According to Talcott Parsons, the _____ imperative refers to a system's ability to cope with the external context, like the environment. Select one:

A) adaptation
B) goal attainment
C) integration
D) latency (pattern maintenance)

Question 16

Which of the following is a similarity between structural functionalism and conflict theory? Select all, but only those that apply.

A) Macro-level focus on large-scale structures and institutions
B) Micro-level focus
C) Concern for small-scale groups
D) Concern for the individual

Question 17

Consensus theories see _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) shared norms and values as fundamental to society
B) focus on social order based on tacit agreements
C) view social change as occurring in a slow and orderly fashion
D) dominance and oppression of some social groups by others

Question 18

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, low rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) require the most ability and talent
B) are more important to the survival of society than higher ranking ones
C) provide fewer rewards than higher rank positions
D) are less pleasant to occupy than higher rank positions

Question 19

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, low rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) require the least amount of ability and talent
B) are less important to the survival of society than higher ranking ones
C) provide fewer rewards than higher rank positions
D) are more pleasant to occupy than higher rank positions

Question 20

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, low rank positions in society _____. Select all, but only those that apply.

A) require the most ability and talent
B) are more important to the survival of society than higher ranking ones
C) provide more rewards than higher rank positions
D) are more pleasant to occupy than higher rank positions

Question 21

According to Talcott Parsons, the polity or political subsystem achieves the _____ imperative of the larger social system. Select one:

A) adaptive
B) goal attainment
C) latency or pattern maintenance
D) integrative

Question 22

Which of the following statements describes the postulate of indispensability that Robert Merton challenged?

A) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are functional.
B) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are positive rather than problematic.
C) All structures and functions in society are necessary.
D) There are no alternatives to the structures and functions found in society.

Question 23

Robert Merton defines a _____ an intended and anticipated outcome.

A) manifest function
B) dysfunction
C) latent function
D) nonfunction

Question 24

Which of the following is a structural component of the social system?

A) status
B) role
C) status-role complex
D) interaction

Question 25

Compared to Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton _____. Select all, but only those apply.

A) favored more limited, middle-range theories rather than grand, overarching theories
B) was more favorable toward Marxian theories
C) was more politically to the left
D) was much more conservative

Question 26

In Talcott Parson's overall action system, the _____ is mostly associated with the latency or pattern maintenance imperative.

A) behavioral organism
B) cultural system
C) personality system
D) social system

Question 27

Which aspect of systemic evolution did Talcott Parsons thinks happens as system upgrades their capacity to achieve their primary function and balance?

A) Differentiation
B) Adaptive upgrading
C) Integration
D) Generalization of values

Question 28

Which of the following is a structural location within the social system?

A) status
B) role
C) status-role complex
D) interaction

Question 29

Which of the following statements describes the postulate of the universal functionalism that Robert Merton challenged?

A) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are functional.
B) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are positive rather than problematic.
C) All structures and functions in society are necessary.
D) There are no alternatives to the structures and functions found in society.

Question 30

In Talcott Parson's overall action system, the _____ is mostly associated with the goal-attainment imperative.

A) behavioral organism
B) cultural system
C) personality system
D) social system

Question 31

According to Talcott Parsons, the fiduciary subsystem achieves the _____ imperative of the larger social system. Select one:

A) adaptive
B) goal attainment
C) latency or pattern maintenance
D) integrative

Question 32

Which of the following statements describe the postulate of the functional unity of society that Robert Merton challenged?

A) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are functional.
B) All social or cultural beliefs and practices are positive rather than problematic.
C) All structures and functions in society are necessary.
D) There are no alternatives to the structures and functions found in society.

Question 33

According to Talcott Parsons, the societal community achieves the _____ imperative of the larger social system. Select one:

A) adaptive
B) goal attainment
C) latency or pattern maintenance
D) integrative

Question 34

In Talcott Parson's overall action system, the _____ is mostly associated with the adaptive imperative.

A) behavioral organism
B) cultural system
C) personality system
D) social system

Question 35

Which aspect of systemic evolution did Talcott Parsons claim make systems less diffuse? Select one:

A) Differentiation
B) Adaptive upgrading
C) Integration
D) Generalization of values

Question 36

According to Talcott Parsons, the _____ imperative refers to a system's ability to motivate participation with culture.

A) adaptation
B) goal attainment
C) integration
D) latency (pattern maintenance)

Question 37

According to Talcott Parsons, the economic subsystem achieves the _____ imperative of the larger social system.

A) adaptive
B) goal attainment
C) latency or pattern maintenance
D) integrative

Question 38

In Talcott Parson's overall action system, the _____ is mostly associated with the integration imperative.

A) behavioral organism
B) cultural system
C) personality system
D) social system

Question 39

Which of the following is a behavior ascribed to person in a structural location within the social system?

A) status
B) role
C) status-role complex
D) interaction

Question 40

Which of the following is a functional prerequisite of a social system? Select all, but only those that apply.

A) Social systems are structured to be compatible with, and even garner requisite support from other systems.
B) Social systems meet most of actors' needs.
C) Social systems elicit sufficient participation from actors.
D) Social systems must control disruptive behaviors and conflict.
E) Social systems need a language.

Question 41

Structural functionalism is criticized for _____.

A) concentrating on conflict while ignoring cohesion
B) overemphasizing historical processes
C) dealing with abstract as opposed to actual societies
D) overemphasizing social change

Question 42

There are similarities between conflict theory and consensus-oriented structural functionalism.

Question 43

The terms structural and functional must be used in conjunction with one another.

Question 44

Structural functionalism is criticized for _____.

A) concentrating on conflict while ignoring cohesion
B) being unable to deal with social change
C) focusing too much on actual society instead of how people see their society in an idealized way
D) overemphasizing historical processes

Question 45

Which of the following statements describe center-periphery differentiation?

A) Systems differentiate to repeatedly fill identical functions.
B) Systems differentiate themselves vertically, further defining rank and status.
C) Systems coordinate between differentiated outside and inside elements.
D) Differentiated systems are ascribed to a particular unit.

Question 46

Structural functionalism is criticized for _____.

A) overemphasizing social change
B) ignoring conflict
C) overemphasizing historical processes
D) focusing too much on actual society instead of how people see their society in an idealized way

Question 47

The first major alternative to structural functionalism to emerge was conflict theory.

Question 48

Robert Merton thought a _____ occurs when one social structure or institution has negative consequences for another.

A) dysfunction
B) latent function
C) manifest function
D) nonfunction

Question 49

Questions about a conflictual versus a consensual nature of society stem back to ancient times.

Question 50

Robert Nisbet and Kingsley Davis both agree that for a good portion of twentieth century, structural-functionalism was sociology and sociology was structural-functionalism.

Question 51

In the middle of the last century, structural functionalism was the dominant theoretical paradigm in sociology.

Question 52

Robert Merton thought a _____ happens when a social system exists, but has been relegated insignificant by social change

A) nonfunction
B) dysfunction
C) latent function
D) manifest function

Question 53

Robert Merton defines a _____ an unintended and unanticipated outcome.

A) dysfunction
B) manifest function
C) nonfunction
D) latent function

Question 54

Conflict and consensus theories fundamentally disagree on the importance of macro-level, large-scale social structures and social institutions.

Question 55

Questions about a conflictual versus a consensual nature of society stem are relatively recently, only coming about with the rise of structural functionalist theory after World War II.

Question 56

Which of the following statements describe segmentary differentiation?

A) Systems differentiate to repeatedly fill identical functions
B) Systems differentiate themselves vertically, further defining rank and status
C) Systems coordinate between differentiated elements on the periphery and in the center
D) Differentiated systems are ascribed to a particular unit

Question 57

Which of the following statements describe stratificatory differentiation?

A) Systems differentiate to repeatedly fill identical functions.
B) Systems differentiate themselves vertically, further defining rank and status.
C) Systems coordinate between differentiated elements on the periphery and in the center.
D) Differentiated systems are ascribed to a particular unit.

Question 58

Structural functionalism is criticized for _____.

A) paying too much attention on social change
B) focusing too much on actual society instead of how people see their society in an idealized way
C) overemphasizing conflict
D) being unable to deal with history

Question 59

Which of the following statements describe functional differentiation?

A) Systems differentiate to repeatedly fill identical functions.
B) Systems differentiate themselves vertically, further defining rank and status.
C) Systems coordinate between differentiated outside and inside elements.
D) Differentiated systems are ascribed to a particular unit.

Question 60

Structural functionalism cannot be split apart; it is only possible to understand functions as they relate to the structures of society.

Question 61

Think of an example of anomie and then explain how it comes about because people are pressured to achieve cultural standards but structurally, lack the means to do so.

Question 62

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, societies need structural inequality because it is functional.

Question 63

Although structural functionalism takes various forms, societal functionalism is the dominant approach among sociological structural functionalists.

Question 64

Tautology is the view that society (or other social structures) has purposes or goals.

Question 65

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore focused on how individuals come to occupy certain positions.

Question 66

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore's functionalist explanation of inequality has been criticized because power, prestige, and income are only some of the motivations people have to fill different social positions.

Question 67

Using examples, explain whether you agree with Talcott Parsons or Robert K. Merton about the three postulates of structural functionalism.

Question 68

Is systems theory subject to the same critiques that ultimately led to the downfall structural-functionalism?

Question 69

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore's functionalist explanation of inequality has been criticized for perpetuating the power, prestige, and resources of those already at the top of the social hierarchy.

Question 70

Teleology is the view that society (or other social structures) has purposes or goals.

Question 71

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore focused on how certain positions come to carry with them different degrees of prestige.

Question 72

The functions of some social processes may not take a structural form.

Question 73

The structures of society can be studied independently of their functions (or consequences).

Question 74

Most mediums of interexchange are symbolic.

Question 75

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore's functionalist explanation of inequality has been criticized for perpetuating the power, prestige, and resources of those already at the top of the social hierarchy.

Question 76

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore ague society consciously develops a stratification system in order to be sure that the high-level positions are adequately filled.

Question 77

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore's functionalist explanation of inequality has been criticized because there is no proof there is a scarcity of people to fill high-level positions.

Question 78

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore's functionalist explanation of inequality has been criticized because arguments can be made all social positions are important and necessary.

Question 79

According to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, societies must overcome structural inequality to become fully functional.