Sociology MCQs - 2025

Ogburn coined "cultural lag" to describe when material culture (technology) advances faster than non-material culture (norms). Mills (A) studied power elites, Merton (C) developed strain theory, and Blumer (D) contributed to symbolic interactionism.

Merton advocated for theories explaining specific phenomena (e.g., deviance) rather than abstract "grand theories" (Parsons) or historical analyses (Weber/Mills).

Marx’s "base" (economy) shapes the "superstructure" (culture, laws). Functionalism (A) studies societal stability, symbolic interactionism (B) focuses on micro-level interactions, and rational choice theory (D) analyzes individual decision-making.

Postmodernists (e.g., Lyotard) reject meta-narratives like Marxism or liberalism, favoring fragmented, localized truths. (B) is a modernist critique, (C) is positivism vs. interpretivism, and (D) aligns with structuralism.

Foucault’s biopower refers to how institutions (e.g., prisons, schools) regulate bodies and populations. (B) aligns with sociobiology, (C) with Habermas, and (D) with biological determinism.

Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors of their society. It occurs through family, education, peer groups, and media. Assimilation (A) refers to adopting a dominant culture, amalgamation (B) means blending cultures, and institutionalization (D) refers to embedding norms into formal structures.

Mills’ "power elite" describes military, corporate, and political leaders controlling society. Weber (A) studied authority types, Merton (B) focused on functions, and Bourdieu (D) analyzed cultural capital.

Adorno and Horkheimer argued capitalism reduces art to mass-produced, profit-driven entertainment, stifling critical thought. (B) is the opposite of their critique, while (C) and (D) are neoliberal perspectives they opposed.

Wallerstein’s model emphasizes economic exploitation: core nations (e.g., U.S.) dominate periphery nations (e.g., Bangladesh), with semi-periphery (e.g., India) as intermediaries. (C) is outdated terminology, and (D) describes Marxist historical stages.

R.W. Connell’s theory analyzes how one masculine ideal (e.g., toughness) dominates others, reinforcing gender hierarchies. While (B) is partially correct, the concept specifically targets hierarchies among masculinities, not just male-female inequality.

Parsons’ five pattern variables include (A), (B), (D), plus Affectivity vs. Neutrality and Self-orientation vs. Collectivity. "Rationalism vs. Emotionalism" is a false pairing—Weber, not Parsons, discussed rationality.

Habitus is ingrained habits/attitudes from one’s social class. Cultural capital (A) is knowledge/resources, social capital (B) is network benefits, and class conflict (D) is Marxist.

Anomie describes normlessness during rapid change (e.g., economic crises). Mechanical solidarity (B) bonds traditional societies, organic solidarity (C) ties modern societies, and social fact (D) is Durkheim’s term for societal forces shaping behavior.

Mores are norms with strong moral significance (e.g., laws against theft). Folkways (A) are informal customs (e.g., table manners), taboos (C) are extreme prohibitions (e.g., incest), and customs (D) are traditional practices.

Giddens’ double hermeneutic means sociologists interpret a world already interpreted by its subjects (e.g., studying how people understand "class"). Schutz (D) pioneered phenomenology, while Berger (C) co-wrote The Social Construction of Reality.

Durkheim identified fatalistic suicide as resulting from oppressive over-regulation (e.g., slaves or prisoners). Altruistic (A) stems from excessive group integration (e.g., soldiers), egoistic (B) from weak social ties, and anomic (D) from normlessness during crises.

Weber linked Calvinist beliefs (hard work, frugality) to capitalism’s rise. Rationalization (A) refers to efficiency-driven logic, materialism (C) focuses on economic conditions (Marx), and the Industrial Revolution (D) was a structural factor that Weber downplayed.

Althusser distinguished Repressive State Apparatuses (coercive institutions like police) from Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA), which subtly enforce ideology through schools, churches, etc. (A) and (C) are RSAs, while (D) mixes both.

Spencer applied Darwin’s biological concept to society, justifying inequality. Class struggle (B) is Marxist, solidarity (C) is Durkheimian, and rationalization (D) is Weber’s concept.

Merton distinguished manifest (intended) and latent (unintended) functions of institutions. Social fact (A) is Durkheim’s term, rationalization (C) is Weber’s, and stratification (D) is a broader sociological concept.