AIR 23 · CSE 2023 · Sociology I · 82 pages

Saurabh Sharma: Sociology I answer copy

28 answers by Saurabh Sharma, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Discuss the significance of symbols in symbolic interactionism approach of G.H. Mead.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion.10 marks
  3. Q1(c)Formal bureaucratic structure offers a dichotomy of benefits and challenges for a diverse country like India. Discuss.10 marks
  4. Q1(d)To what extent, in your opinion, are religion and science compatible?10 marks
  5. Q1(e)Discuss the significance of ideology for a nation.10 marks
  6. Q2(a)Discuss the points of convergence and divergence between views of Classical Pluralism and Talcott Parsons on Power.20 marks
  7. Q2(b)Durkheim's emphasis on causal functional analysis is reflected in many of his works. Comment.20 marks
  8. Q2(c)Discuss the feminist perspective on religion. Also, highlight its relevance in contemporary times.10 marks
  9. Q3(a)Compare and contrast the contributions of Karl Marx and Max Weber on social stratification in capitalist society.20 marks
  10. Q3(b)Occupying positions at the very apex of our society, elites use the language of national interests, valour and endeavour in order to keep themselves in power. Discuss in context of theory of Power Elites by C.W. Mills.20 marks
  11. Q3(c)Durkheim's society is merely a by-product of his concerns with moral issues. Discuss.10 marks
  12. Q4(a)What do you understand by Religion? How Max weber's understanding of religion is different from that of Marx in capitalist society?20 marks
  13. Q4(b)Talcott Parsons, like other functionalists, focused on considering how stratification system helps to maintain order and stability in society. Elaborate.20 marks
  14. Q4(c)"Citizenship is a right to have rights". Critically analyze T H Marshall's theory of Citizenship by shedding light upon those rights.10 marks
  15. Q5(a)Write a short note on each of the following in not more than 150 words. (a) Do you agree with the statement that the bourgeoisie produces its own grave-diggers. Give supporting arguments to your answer.10 marks
  16. Q5(b)Discuss the factors acting as barriers to social mobility of women.10 marks
  17. Q5(c)Define New Age Movement and explain the growth of new age movement with few examples.10 marks
  18. Q5(d)Durkheim labelled the modern form of collective conscience as the cult of the individual. Discuss.10 marks
  19. Q5(e)Discuss why pluralists consider interest groups as necessary elements in a democratic system.10 marks
  20. Q6(a)Parsons combined the Weberian notion of subjective aspect of social action with the Durkheimian notion of objective contexts of social fact. Explain.20 marks
  21. Q6(b)How far, do you agree with the view that Globalisation has eroded the power of nation states?20 marks
  22. Q6(c)'Sociology is a science which attempts Interpretivist understanding of Social action'. Explain the Interpretative understanding of Max weber.10 marks
  23. Q7(a)The issue of fundamentalism illustrates that religion appears to be associated with conflict in many parts of the world. Critically discuss.20 marks
  24. Q7(b)Merton's critique to conventional structural functionalism provided new conceptual insights which helped to give structural functionalism a continuing usefulness. Discuss.20 marks
  25. Q7(c)'I' and 'Me' are central terms in Mead's work. Critically analyse.10 marks
  26. Q8(a)Durkheim observes that the process of division of labour helps to integrate societies where heterogeneity, differentiation and complexity are to be found. Critically analyse.20 marks
  27. Q8(b)The decline of conventional form of religion has led to growth of Sects & Cults which provides solution to the problems created by the modernity. Discuss.20 marks
  28. Q8(c)How can we use reference group theory to understand the New middle class in India?10 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 215 words written

Discuss the significance of symbols in symbolic interactionism approach of G.H. Mead.

Opening

G.H. Mead through the work on "Mind-Self and Society" has bridged the gap between sociology and psychology by emphasising on "Interactions" which refers to coming together of two reflexive minds to produce a social context with help of symbols.

Body · continuous prose

"Mind" which is storehouse of knowledge, experiences, rules, norms incorporates meanings attached to certain symbols in a particular culture reacting and reflecting to which he/she conducts an reaction.

(Eg.) Smiling, Crying, Laughing, Shouting are attached to certain emotions and guide the action of the other individual.

Symbols are learnt through the process of socialisation i.e. in game stage and play stage. (Eg): Girl playing with a kitchen set develops a notion that symbols attached to domestic work are associated with her and thus gets socialized in a feminine way as society wants.

Man is a reflexive animal unlike other animals according to Mead, as a result of which a self is cultivated based on the symbols present in society, culture, religion and laws complying to which man acts in a socially desirable way.

Without symbols, it becomes difficult to understand expectations of other thus one can't adapt/steer/change one's behaviour.

Close · a summary

Importance of symbols has thus lead to development of symbolic interactionism and other methods like ethnomethodology, phenomenology in sociological enquiry thus expanding the scope of the discipline.