SOCIOLOGY CLEP EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, GRADED A+

SOCIOLOGY CLEP EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, GRADED A+ three major sociological paradigms - -Social functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism Social functionalism - -the idea that the social structure is a whole, and regards norms and institutions are parts of a 'body' that functions. In this viewpoint of sociology, all actions or interactions serve a 'functional' purpose. Conflict Theory - -examining how class conflict and differences in power result in social institutions, or in many cases, social stratification. Comparatively, functional theorists would try to understand how phenomenon such as social stratification fit into the greater part of society and provide some piece of function. Symbolic Interactionism - -based upon the belief that society as we know it is based on symbols. These symbols can be our words, gestures, or even social rules and laws. These often change, so followers of this theory believe that society itself is always in a state of change as well. Ethnocentrism - -the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of your own culture. For example, in China and Indian cultures, it is not uncommon for males to hold hands. However, from an American point of view, this is extremely unusual and weird. sociological imagination - -the insight that is given by understanding interactions in sociology. It can also be phrased as the understanding that certain outcomes are based on the social context, people, and actions that take place. interpretive sociology - -also known as verstehen. It is best understood as the study of how people associate meanings to their interactions and communication with other people. Basically, the act of a wave can mean different things in different cultures. Attempting to understand the meaning behind this interaction in various cultures is verstehen. Versetehen - -the act of placing yourself in someone else's shoes, and was a method of understanding social phenomenon that was pioneered by Max Weber. Gemeinschaft - -the concept of a close group of people who have similar morals and goals, and who are willing to sacrifice personally to achieve a worthy group goal. Gessellschaft - -dichotomy in which there is an association between an individual and a society in which the individual places themselves first. In comparison to ______, there is less loyalty to society and reduced social cohesion. egalitarian - -promoting equal rights for all people Actions vs. Agency - -The two primary influencers of human behavior are _____. ___ refers to the ability of a person to act independently for their own good. ___ refers to the social and environmental structure which surrounds a person and limits their actions. Social Theories - -viewpoints or perspectives that sociologists use to analyze interactions. Existing _____ include positivism, antipositivism, functionalism, field theory, middle range theory, and interpretivism, among others. Positivism - -First developed by Auguste Comte, stated that in society, individual rights are more important than the rule of any one person. Thus, the free will of humans is the most important thing in society. Interactionism - -looks at social theory from t