Sociology Olympics!
Lightning Round!!!
• Lightning Round Topics
• Basic Theoretical Perspectives
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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 interdependent 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
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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 parentage
c. describing growth and development of
humans without the use of stages
d.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 world
b.having time to re-evaluate a life structure
c. having a vision of a future occupation
d.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???
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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…
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Evolution of the family
Cohabitation
Issues facing marriage
Attachment
Parenting – styles, issues, trends