Theoretical Explanations Social Class Inequalities

Value consensus is a term often associated with which social theory?

• The New Right

• Functionalism

• Marxism

• Social Action

Role Allocation Theory is a concept that theoretically ensures that those who are most able, fill the most important roles within society, offering them higher rewards. This is put forward by ...

• Tumin

• Murray

• Davis and Moore

• Parsons

Which of the following can we use to determine which positions are most functional?

• The Pool of Talent - Many people actually have the ability to fulfil roles.

• The Functional Uniqueness - Only one person/small number of people can fulfil.

• Power and Reward - High pay jobs reflect power thus meaning they're useful.

• Degree of Dependence - The dependability of society upon those roles, EG Surgeons/CEOs.

Which theorist offers a series of counter-criticisms to the Role Allocation Theory?

• Parsons

• Tumin

• Murray

• Marx

Which of the following are criticisms put forward by Tumin towards the RAC (Role Allocation Theory)?

• Is is possible to determine the functional importance of a job?

• Is there consensus about rewards?

• Is it only monetary rewards that motivate people to fulfil the most functional roles?

• Would the threat of considerable force encourage people to fulfil functional roles?

The key theorists for TNR (The New Right) for Social Class inequalities are ...

• Durkheim

• Parsons

• Saunders

• Tumin

Saunders believes that ...

• Britain was developing an underclass through rising rates of dependency

• There is conflict between classes and the workers create the wealth.

• If considerable force or threat was used, this would encourage people to complete their jobs to the best of their abilities.

• Middle class children are probably more intelligent and deserve to do better than working class children.

Polarisation of the social classes is ...

• Competition between companies creating a 'boom'

• Workers being unable to find satisfaction in their work

• The divide between classes grows wider due to powerful 'big' businesses driving out small businesses.

• Capitalist societies are flourishing despite the 'boom and bust'

Economic Determinism is...

• Capitalist societies have flourished despite the boom and bust

• We can explain society through it's system and economic relationships

• Dismissing the importance of the middle class

• Workers being able to be satisfied with their job

Weberian views of society (social action) derive/build on which previous theorist?

• The New Right

• Marxism

• Feminism

• Functionalism