Important Questions: Understanding Social Institutions | Sociology Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What is the definition of an institution in sociology?
Ans: An institution in sociology is an entity that operates based on established rules, whether set by law or custom, and its regular operation relies on adherence to these principles.

Q2: What are the two contrasting perspectives in sociology for analyzing social institutions?
Ans: The two contrasting perspectives are the functionalist perspective, which sees social institutions as fulfilling societal needs, and the conflict perspective, which views them as serving the dominant segments of society.

Q3: What is the primary function of the nuclear family, according to the functionalist perspective?
Ans: According to the functionalist perspective, the nuclear family's primary function is to meet the needs of modern industrial society by dividing labor, with one adult working outside the home and the other managing domestic responsibilities and child-rearing.

Q4: What determines the family structure in certain cultures?
Ans: The family structure in certain cultures is determined by the residence rule, with some being matrilocal (couple lives with wife's parents) and others being patrilocal (couple lives with husband's parents).

Q5: What is the term for having more than one spouse at the same time?
Ans: Having more than one spouse at the same time is referred to as polygamy, which can take the forms of polygyny (one husband, multiple wives) or polyandry (one wife, multiple husbands).

Q6: What are endogamy and exogamy in the context of marriage?
Ans: Endogamy requires individuals to marry within their culturally defined group, such as caste, while exogamy mandates marriage outside of one's own group.

Q7: What is the sociological concept of "secularization" regarding religion?
Ans: Secularization is the idea that as societies modernize, religion's influence over various aspects of life decreases.

Q8: What is the term for the use of power to enforce rules or make decisions, often considered legitimate?
Ans: The term for the use of power to enforce rules or make decisions, often considered legitimate, is "authority."

Q9: What are the three categories of citizenship rights?
Ans: The three categories of citizenship rights are civil liberties, political entitlements, and social entitlements.

Q10: What does education aim to do in complex modern societies, according to Emile Durkheim?
Ans: In complex modern societies, education aims to promote uniformity, standardize aspirations, and transmit universalistic principles, providing a common base of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors that all children must learn, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q11: Explain the functionalist and conflict perspectives on social institutions in detail.
Ans:

• Functionalist Perspective: The functionalist perspective views social institutions as essential for fulfilling societal needs and maintaining social order. According to this perspective, each institution serves a specific function, such as the family providing socialization and emotional support. In this view, a stable society depends on the smooth functioning of these institutions.
• Conflict Perspective: The conflict perspective sees social institutions as tools of the dominant segments of society to maintain control and perpetuate inequality. All institutions, including family and education, are believed to serve the interests of the ruling class. This perspective emphasizes power struggles and the unequal distribution of resources within society.

Q12: Describe the various forms of marriage and their characteristics.
Ans:

• Monogamy: Monogamy limits individuals to one spouse at a time. It is prevalent in modern societies, although remarriage may be allowed after the death or divorce of a spouse.
• Polygamy: Polygamy involves having more than one spouse simultaneously. It can be further divided into polygyny (one husband, multiple wives) and polyandry (one wife, multiple husbands). Polyandry is often practiced in societies facing economic challenges.

Q13: Explain the concepts of endogamy and exogamy in marriage and provide examples.
Ans: 

• Endogamy: Endogamy requires individuals to marry within their culturally defined group, such as caste or religion. For example, some Indian communities practice caste endogamy, where individuals are expected to marry within their caste.
• Exogamy: Exogamy mandates marriage outside of one's own group. An example is village exogamy in northern India, where daughters are married into households from distant villages, maintaining patrilineal ties but causing married daughters to rarely see their parents.

Q14: Discuss the role of religion in society and its relationship with power and social reform.
Ans: Religion plays a significant role in society, influencing individuals' beliefs, values, and behaviors. It often interacts with power structures and has been a driving force behind social reform movements, such as movements for caste and gender equality. Max Weber's work highlights how religion, specifically Calvinism, can impact economic development. For example, Calvinists viewed work as an act of worship and lived frugally, contributing to the development of capitalism.

Q15: Explain the significance of education in complex modern societies according to Emile Durkheim and its role in stratification.
Ans: In complex modern societies, education is essential for transmitting universalistic values and providing a common base of ideas, attitudes, and behaviors. It promotes uniformity and standardizes aspirations.
Education can also be a tool for stratification, as it can exacerbate existing inequalities. Prestigious schools may provide advantages, while others may feel disadvantaged. Education selects individuals for different status levels based on their abilities.

Q16: Describe the concept of sovereignty in the context of the state and how it differs from traditional states.
Ans: Sovereignty refers to a state's unquestioned political control over a specific territory. Modern states emphasize sovereignty, citizenship, and nationalism. Unlike traditional states, modern states include citizenship with political participation privileges, achieved through struggles that limited the power of monarchs. Citizenship encompasses civil liberties, political entitlements, and social entitlements.

Q17: Explain the roles and functions of political institutions and the concept of authority.
Ans: Political institutions deal with the distribution of power within a society. Power is the ability to achieve goals despite opposition. Authority is the use of power to enforce rules or make decisions, often considered legitimate. Examples of political institutions include parliaments and governments. Authority is institutionalized based on legitimacy, and people generally respect those in authority because they believe their use of power is fair.

Q18: Discuss the transformation of work from pre-modern to modern societies and the impact of industrialization on work.
Ans: In pre-modern societies, work was primarily in agriculture or animal husbandry. With industrialization, work became specialized, and factories emerged. Work shifted from home to outside the home. The development of the moving assembly line was a crucial innovation in modern industrial production. It led to mass production and economic interdependence. In recent decades, there has been a move towards flexible production and the decentralization of work to respond to changing market conditions.

Q19: Explain the sociological perspective on the relationship between religion and society.
Ans: Sociology examines religion empirically, adopting a comparative approach to study its functions and interactions with other institutions. Rituals in religion are distinct from everyday habits and often involve symbolic actions. Religion pertains to the sacred realm, often linked to a supernatural element. Religion is influenced by social circumstances and has a public dimension, playing a role in social reform and economic development.

Q20: Describe the role of education in transmitting values and its function in modern societies.
Ans: Education is a continuous process encompassing formal and informal learning. It promotes knowledge, social skills, and societal values. In complex modern societies, education is crucial for providing a common base of ideas and maintaining social order. It standardizes aspirations and selects individuals based on abilities. Education is also a tool for stratification, as it can exacerbate inequalities between the elite and the masses.