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Sociological Paradigms
hard

Which of the following statements best illustrates the relationship between functionalism, Marxist theory, and systems theory in understanding social structures?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Functionalism emphasizes the stability of society, while Marxist theory critiques the inequalities that arise within the same structure; systems theory connects these views by analyzing how each part of society interacts to maintain equilibrium.

B

Functionalism and systems theory both focus on individual actions, while Marxist theory dismisses such actions as irrelevant to the larger social context.

C

All three paradigms agree that social change is unnecessary and that social structures should remain unchanged for optimal functioning.

D

Marxist theory is solely focused on economic aspects, while both functionalism and systems theory provide a holistic view of social interactions.

Understanding the Answer

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Answer

Functionalism, Marxist theory, and systems theory each offer different ways to understand how society works. Functionalism sees society as a system made up of different parts that all work together to keep things stable and orderly, like how the heart, lungs, and brain function together in a body. In contrast, Marxist theory focuses on the conflicts between different social classes, emphasizing how power and resources are distributed unevenly, which can lead to change and social upheaval. Systems theory looks at how these parts interact dynamically, considering both the stability that functionalism highlights and the conflicts that Marxism points out. For example, in a school, functionalism would examine how teachers, students, and administration work together to create a learning environment, while Marxist theory might analyze how economic inequalities affect students' opportunities and outcomes.

Detailed Explanation

Functionalism looks at how society stays stable. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests that functionalism and systems theory only care about individual actions; This option wrongly claims all three theories think change is bad.

Key Concepts

Functionalism
Marxist Theory
Systems Theory
Topic

Sociological Paradigms

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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