social change introduction quiz

Functionalism

A school of thought in anthropology that seeks to understand a culture by investigating the social functions of institutions.

Structuralism

A school of thought that asserts all cultures have logical structures based on binary opposites.

Cultural Materialism

An approach that claims the true explanation of a culture can only be understood by examining economic and reproductive decisions.

Psychoanalytic Theory

A psychological school of thought that explores how the unconscious mind affects actions, often using dream analysis.

Behaviourism

A theory that emphasizes the study of observable behaviour and asserts that behaviors can be predicted and controlled.

Learning Theory

Focuses on the mechanisms of how humans learn behavior and the influence of the environment on personality.

Structural-Functionalism

A sociological approach that examines how societal structures meet the needs of its members.

Neo-Marxism

A sociological perspective that focuses on the role of economic power as the basis of political power.

Symbolic Interactionism

A theory in sociology that investigates how individuals interpret their actions and learn from their experiences.

Feminist Theory

A school of thought that studies society through the lens of gender struggle and aims to address issues of sexism.

Inclusionism

The study of ethnic diversity within societies, focusing on the experiences of minority groups.

Conflict Theory

A theory that suggests social change through protest or revolution is necessary to address social inequality.

Cultural evolution

The theory that cultures change and evolve due to common patterns, though adaptation is complex.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

A theory asserting that attitude change occurs when actions conflict with personal beliefs.

Acculturation

The process resulting from prolonged contact between two cultures, involving the interchange of symbols and customs.

Diffusion

The spread of cultural traits or symbols from one culture to another, often over a distance.

Tension & Adaptation

The concept that changes in one part of a social system create tension, leading society to adapt.

Textual Discourse

The study of how people communicate based on shared experiences and the symbols they use.

Social Cognitive Theory

A learning theory that posits people learn behaviors by observing others, influenced by environment and cognition.