SOSYOLOJİYE GİRİŞ - Deneme Sınavı - 4

Symbolic interactionists have often been criticized for focusing on small-scale, face-to-face interactions and not referring to their relationship to historical and social context. On the other hand, structural functionalism received harsh criticism because of the following reasons: Unrealistically presenting society as a functional unity by too much focusing on the social order problem; ignoring conflicts and similar factors that divide modern societies of the 20th century; and not giving enough importance to the role of actions and agents of these actions in social life by prioritizing the systems and their need. The correct answer is A.

Conflict theories emphasize the importance of social structures in societies; however, unlike functionalism, which focuses on the consensus, they focus on power, social divisions, inequality and struggle among different groups pursuing their own interests. The correct answer is B.

Symbolic interactionism is a micro-oriented approach that deals with everyday life. The correct answer is E. 

Unlike all other approaches, feminist theories focus on gender inequality, which they see as the most important and oldest form of inequality. Feminist theories try to analyse inequalities by using concepts such as gender and patriarchy. The correct answer is C. 

Sociology took place in the 19th century.

The most significant contribution of Saint-Simon to the development of sociology is the term industrial society.

Saint-Simon argued that social problems that occurred during the transition from feudal society to industrial society would be solved with the help of social physics.

Comte used the term "sociology" for the first time.

Comte considered sociology as the queen of sciences and the science of future due to its scientific power.

Karl Marx developed a theory called historical materialism, which had a great influence in the field.

Classical Sociology: This section of the unit deals with the modern society analyses of K.Marx, E. Durheim, M. Weber and G. Simmel

Durheim adopted a point of view called functionalism and greatly contributed to the development of structural functionalism.

Weber sees society as a formation consisting of social actions, and defined the study topic of sociology as "social action".

Saint-Simon argued that the social problems that occurred during the transition from feudal society to industrial society would be solved with the help of positive science, which he calls social physics, and society could be restructured with this new type of science. Therefore, Saint-Simon is considered “the first sociologist, and the first socialist”. The correct answer is C.

Comte believes that gradual intellectual development of human mind plays a great role on social order and progress, so moral consensus, which is essential for social order, can be achieved through positivism, which he tried to establish as a religion for humanity. Comte became the most important pioneer of positivist sociology. The correct answer is A.

According to Spencer, social transformation in Darwin’s terms operates on the hypothesis that the strong ones survive and weak ones die, that is the natural selection law. Spencer adapted the “natural selection” principle, which means the survival of the fittest, into social evolution and rejected any type of state interventions and social reforms that are supportive of disadvantaged individuals in social life. The correct answer is B.

Mechanical solidarity is observed in traditional societies where there is a simple division of labour based on resemblances. In this type of order and solidarity, collective consciousness and collective identity are more powerful and dominant than individual consciousness and identities. Organic solidarity is observed in modern societies where there is a complex division of labour based on social differentiation. Durkheim states that increasing social differentiation in developed societies depending on social division of labour leads to a new social order from mechanical solidarity to an organic one. The correct answer is C.

This phrase draws the readers’ attention to the limits of personal wishes and demands. Thus, Durkheim’s collective consciousness would be the most proper tool to interpret this phrase. Durkheim defines collective conscience as the common beliefs and feelings of the members of a society. Collective consciousness - that forms the basis of a central value and norm system- guides individuals about how to behave in social life by shaping individual consciousness. In addition, it functions as a social control mechanism over the unlimited wishes and demands of individuals. The correct answer is A.

It is emphasized that the most significant contribution of Saint-Simon to the development of sociology is the term industrial society, which successfully influenced both the radicals like Marx and the conservative theoreticians like Comte at same time by reflecting both socialist and conservative point of views. The correct answer is A.

Comte used the term “sociology” for the first time and established a tradition known as positivist sociology. Therefore the answer is B.