Explain Pitirim Sorokin’s rise-and-fall theory of social change. Include a discussion of the three different kinds of “mentalities” he identifies. Evaluate the strength of this theory.

What will be an ideal response?


Ans: Pitirim Sorokin: societies alternate between three different kinds of mentalities. Primacy to the senses: value hedonism and satisfaction of immediate pleasures. Emphasize religiosity: follow tenets of a religion. Celebrate logic and reason: solve problems through logic and reason. Societies contain a mixture of all three; these ideal types can be used to understand relative emphasis.
KEY: Learning Objective: 18.1: Apply sociological perspectives to understand characteristics and paths of social change.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Rise-and-Fall Theories of Social Change
Difficulty Level: Hard

Sociology

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