Sociology Olympics!

Lightning Round!!!

• Lightning Round Topics• Basic Theoretical Perspectives

– Systems theory – Conflict theory– Feminist Theory– Symbolic Interactionism – Social exchange– Functionalism– Family Life Cycle

Functionalism

True or False

Functionalists examine roles that individuals play within an institution

such as the family?

TRUE!!!

Family Life Cycle

True or False

It is NOT important for individuals in the family to develop an identity separate from that of the family

origin ?

FALSE!!!

Explained…

• According to Family Life Cycle, one of the three developmental tasks is to develop an identity separate from that of their amily of origin.

• The other two developmental tasks include:

• Developing new intimate relationships outside of the family• Committing oneself to a career

Functionalism

true or false

The functions of institutions and the status and roles of individuals are vital parts of

functionalism?

TRUE!!!

Explained…

• Functionalists see society as made up of inter-dependent sections which work together to fulfill the functions necessary for the survival of society as a whole.

• People are socialized into roles and behaviours which fulfill the needs of society.

• Functionalists believe that behavior in society is structural. They believe that rules and regulations help organize relationships between members of society.

Further Explained…

• Attempts to explain how a society is organized to perform its required functions effectively.

• The ‘role’ is the set of behaviours that an individual is expected to demonstrate with in a status.

• What you do in society is a function of your role. The theory then is - understanding behaviour based on its function.

Functionalism

True / False

Functionalists say that Canadian youth are not allowed to participate fully in

the adult world of work.

FALSE!!!

Explained…

• Society is viewed as a system – a collection of interdependent parts, with a tendency toward equilibrium (homeostasis).

• There are functional requirements that must be met in a society for its survival (such as reproduction of the population).

• People and institutions are seen to exist because they serve a function.

Symbolic Interactionism

True / False

Symbolic interactionism takes into consideration how a group influences the actions of its

members.

TRUE!!!

Symbolic Interactionism

True / False

• The symbolic interactionism theory states that it is how individuals interpret their own and others’ actions that matters.

TRUE!!!

Explained…

• Symbolic interactionist researchers investigate how people create meaning during social interaction, how they present and construct the self (or "identity"), and how they define situations of co-presence with others. One of the perspective's central ideas is that people act as they do because of how they define the present situation.

Systems Theory

True / False

Systems theory examines the family process and how individuals in the

family influence one another?

TRUE!!!

Explained…• Attempts to explain how groups of individuals interact as a

system, a set of different parts that work together and influence one another in a relatively stable way over time.

• A basic principal of systems theory is feedback, a process by which the system informs its members how to interact to maintain the stability of the system.

• Relationships between husbands and wife and between children and their parents, may be thought of as normative subsystems; at that level systems theory and functionalist theory would overlap

• Systems theory goes beyond normative subsystems to examine other subsystems referred to as - interpersonal subsystems. – Such as between one child and one parent, or between

two siblings but not all of the siblings

Conflict Theory

True / False

Conflict theory explains how power is personal, not structural?

FALSE!!!

Explained…

• Conflict theory states that the society or organization functions so that each individual participant and its groups struggle to maximize their benefits, which inevitably contributes to social change such as changes in politics and revolutions.

Social Exchange Theory

True / False

Social exchange theory examines how people are governed by the

expectations of their roles and how they can minimize the benefits they will receive and maximize the costs

to themselves?

FALSE!!!

Explained…

• Social exchange theory states that all human relationships are formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives. For example, when a person perceives the costs of a relationship as outweighing the perceived benefits, then the theory predicts that the person will choose to leave the relationship.

Social Exchange

True / False

• The benefits and costs of a relationship are not facts, but are perceptions formed by each individual.

TRUE!!!

Explained…

• Our own perception of our needs and wants, serves as guidance when searching for balance between the costs and benefits of the relationship.

• What an individual perceives as a benefit, may be a ‘cost’ to another individual. Therefore social exchange theorists believe that subjectivity plays a role in situations.

Feminist Theory

True or False

• Feminist theories are often misunderstood because of their varying degrees of extremism?

TRUE!!!

Explained…

• The goal of feminism is equality. • Radical feminism – the most extreme form – states

that in order for balance between the sexes to be achieved, we as a society must go through a portion of time under a matriarchy.

• Most feminists maintain that an equal society is the ideal.

• The 20th century has taken many great strides towards equality. This is seen in politics, the family, the workforce, etc.

Lightning Round

Complete!

Prepare for the CAGE MATCH!!!

• Developmental Theorists • Erik Erikson – Stages of human development• Daniel Levinson – Theory of Seasons of Life • Jane Loevinger - Theory of Ego Development • Leonard Pearlin – Theory of Psychological

Distress• Klaus Riegal – Interpretation of Development

What is a common feature in Erikson’s and Loevinger’s developmental theories?

a. development reflects change but stages are not evident

b. changes relate to the stages of the family life cycle

c. development occurs in stages and they signify growth and improvement

d. changes occur “on time” or “off time” in a distinct sequence

C

• development occurs in stages and they signify growth and improvement

Who is this handsome devil?

Erik Erikson

Multiple Choice

• What was Erikson the first to do as a developmental psychologist?

a. describing predictable stages of human development

b.changing his name to reflect his parentagec. describing growth and development of

humans without the use of stagesd.describing the fast pace of physical maturity

as a result of better nutrition

A

• describing predictable stages of human development

Levinson - The Seasons of Life

Multiple Choice

• What is the meaning of the Dream, according to Levinson?

a. having a sense of self in the adult worldb.having time to re-evaluate a life structurec. having a vision of a future occupationd.having a committed relationship

A

• a. having a sense of self in the adult world

Developmental Theorists

• Which of the following theorists believe that development in adulthood occurs not in predictable stages but as individuals adjust in response to the interaction of both internal and external changes ?

• Erik Erikson ???• Klaus Riegal ???

RIEGAL!!!!!!!!

• Contrary to Erikson, Klaus Riegal suggests that development in adulthood coocurs not in predictable stages but as individuals adjust in response to the interaction of both internal and external changes.

• Riegal identified four interrelated internal and external dimensions of development

• Development occurs when a change in one dimension requires an adjustment in one or more of the other dimensions.

• This is reflective of systems theory

• Question…• Which theorist does believe that the patterns that the

developmental theorists have outlined are a cohort effect???

» Riegal?» Erikson?» Loevinger?» Levinson?» Pearlin?

PEARLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Pearlin suggests that the changes in behaviour result from socialized responses to a common social clock rather than from age – linked inner changes.

• This theorist uses Sigmund Freud’s definition of EGO, and describes a higher level of development.

• This theorist sees young adults at a transitional stage between the conformist stage, and the conscientious stage.

– Is it :» Loevinger,

or » Levinson ?

JANE LOEVINGER!!!!!

• Contrary to the other theorists, Loevinger concluded from her research that because most people spend a lifetime developing this ability, the progress form one stage to the next is determined by an individuals psychological clock, not by chronological age or the social environment.

And so ends the Cage Match

INTELLECTUAL FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!!

Questions that lead to other questions…that lead to other

questions…

• What age group has the highest suicide rate?

a. 15-24?b. 35-44?c. 75+ ?d. 7-15 ?

Answer

C. 75+

Explained…

• Though the highest actual number of suicides exists in males aged 25-44, the highest suicide ‘rate’ (per percentage of the population) belongs to males aged 75 and older.

Continued…

Explain the fact that males aged 75 + have the highest suicide rate through any of the developmental theories studied in class.

Question is worth 2 points.

BEST ANSWER – 2 points each

• How would social exchange theorists explain couples’ desire to terminate their marriage relationship?

Insight…

• Social exchange theorists might say that the couples no longer feel that the benefits of remaining in the relationship outweigh the costs of leaving it.

Give two pro’s and con’s for both arranged marriages and free choice…

Insight…

Arranged Marriage• Pros:– Less work– Extended families get

along– Parents work for your

best interests and the family’s.

• Cons– No choice– Prescribed life

Free Choice Marriage• Pros:– My interests– My choice– My life!

• Cons:– ‘there are lots of fish in

the sea, but the sea is huge!

Give three reasons and explanations for the high divorce rate…

6 points

Insight

• Currently the divorce rate is just under 50% in Canada

• One of the major factors is financial infidelity.

• An affair is seen as the most traumatic event that a marriage relationship can encounter.

• Modern contraceptives have taken sex outside of marriage

List and explain the 3 stages of divorce…

6 Points

3 phases of divorce

• Awareness Phase – couple is aware that problems exist. In this phase, the couple may wish to try marriage counseling.

• Separation Phase – the couple decides that it is best to live apart. Within this phase, formal documents are signed, and the divorce is legalized.

• Reorganization Phase – the couple begins a new life apart from each other.

And so we arrive at the end of Part 1

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Prepare for tomorrow…

• Evolution of the family• Cohabitation• Issues facing marriage • Attachment • Parenting – styles, issues, trends