Discuss Merton’s contribution to role-theory specifically in regards to social status and role-sets.
What will be an ideal response?
Similarly, Merton made a significant contribution to role theory by demonstrating that “social status” and “role-sets” are organized in the social structure in a more complex way than Parsons initially supposed. Specifically, Merton (1996:43) defines social status as “a position in a social system, with its distinctive array of designated rights and obligations.” That is, the status of a role is not fixed, but rather changes in conjunction with the particular role-set involved. Yet, the point is that not only role statuses but also role-expectations and role obligations shift in interaction. Consequently, not only is role conflict inevitable because any one individual plays multiple roles (e.g., you are a Little League coach on your way to the big game, when your elderly mother calls because she needs you to take her to the doctor); even within one role, conflict may occur because of the multiple role-sets involved.
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According to which political point of view should we look to the market system to develop new technology leading to people living longer and healthier lives?
a. radical right b. conservative c. liberal d. radical left
Mario has been diagnosed as an HIV-positive patient. This means that Mario
(a) is infected with the virus that weakens his immune system. (b) is able to donate a special type of blood. (c) has a rare but curable type of disease. (d) has full-blown AIDS.
Sociologists who distribute clean needles to prevent HIV infection work for:
a. the government. b. business. c. non-profit organizations. d. colleges and universities.
On which of the following points do conflict and functionalist theorists agree?
A. Education sometimes undermines societal authority by promoting a critical approach to dominant ideas. B. Education channels individuals into the positions for which they are best suited. C. Education trains people in the dominant norms and values of society. D. Education reproduces social inequality.