Sociological Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Sociological Theory?
Sociological Theory is an important concept in the study of sociology. It is a framework used to explain how social forces interact with each other and how they affect individual behavior and society as a whole. Sociological theory looks at how different aspects of society, such as family, education, economics, politics, and religion influence people’s actions and beliefs. It also examines trends in social change over time.At its core, sociological theory seeks to explain why individuals behave the way they do within a given social context. For example, it might explore why some people are more likely to commit crimes than others or why certain types of relationships form between individuals in certain societies. Moreover, it can help us understand why certain behaviors or norms exist in one country but not another or why particular cultural values tend to persist across generations even when other conditions have drastically changed.Sociological theories provide important insights into issues like inequality, gender roles and race relations by illustrating how these dynamics are shaped by both external forces (like economic conditions) as well as internal forces (like personal values). For instance, theorists might look at gender roles through the lens of structural functionalismwhich argues that societies need gender roles in order to function properlyor power-conflict theory which views gender roles as being determined by those with power trying to maintain their dominance over those without it. Theories also offer us new ways of looking at familiar topics such as crime or poverty by helping us understand what role structural factors like economic inequality play in shaping these phenomena. By exploring concepts like collective action theorywhich suggests that collective action against injustice can be effective if groups organize together effectivelywe may be able to gain better insight into how social movements arise and achieve success (or fail). Ultimately, sociological theories provide valuable tools for understanding the complexities of our world today and for studying ongoing changes within society over time. They allow us to think critically about our own beliefs while gaining insights into what motivates human behavior on both an individual level as well on a larger scale within groups or communities.