Sociology 2024

 

Sociology - Solved Exam Paper (2024)

Paper Code: 66832 | Date: 20/01/2024

Q.1 Answer in one or two sentences (Any 6)

a) Polarization

• Polarization refers to the process where the social structure breaks down into two contrasting and hostile groups, specifically the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat in Marxian theory.
• It signifies a widening gap between the social classes, leading to increased conflict.

b) Comte's law of three stages

• Auguste Comte proposed that human thought and society evolve through three stages: the Theological (supernatural), the Metaphysical (abstract), and the Positive (scientific).

c) Accommodation and Association

• Association: A group of people organized for a specific purpose or interest, such as a trade union or a club.
• Accommodation: A social process where individuals or groups adjust their behavior to avoid conflict and reach a state of peaceful coexistence.

d) Purusharthas

• In Hindu philosophy, Purusharthas are the four ultimate goals of human life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

e) Social Mores

• Mores are strong social norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group; violating them usually results in severe social disapproval or punishment.

f) Kinship ties

• Kinship ties are the social relationships based on blood (consanguineal) or marriage (affinal) that bind individuals into families and larger social networks.

g) Social Change

• Social change refers to the significant alteration or modification of social structures, institutions, and cultural patterns over time.

h) Culture

• Culture is the complex whole of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that members of a society use to cope with their world and with one another.

Q.2 Short notes (Any two)

a) Pluralism

• Pluralism is a social system where diverse groups (ethnic, religious, or cultural) maintain their unique identities while participating equally in the larger society.
• It promotes tolerance and coexistence rather than forced assimilation.

b) Socialization

• Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors required to function as members of their society.
• Agencies: Primary agencies include family and peers, while secondary agencies include school, media, and workplace.

c) Social Group

• A social group consists of two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity.
• Distinguished into primary groups (intimate, e.g., family) and secondary groups (goal-oriented, e.g., political parties).

d) Status and Role

• Status: The social position an individual occupies (e.g., Mother, Lawyer).
• Role: The behavior expected of an individual who occupies a given status.

Q.3 Situational Questions (Any two)

a) Crime against women in India

• i) Gender discrimination: The root cause where women are treated as inferior to men due to patriarchal mindsets, leading to unequal access to resources and systemic violence.
• ii) Recent laws: Includes the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 (Nirbhaya Act), the POSH Act (Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at Workplace), and the Triple Talaq law.

b) Food and agriculture issues

• i) Population and feeding: Rapid population growth puts immense pressure on agricultural land, leading to food security challenges.
• ii) Causes of hunger: Poverty, unequal distribution of food, climate change affecting crops, and wastage in the supply chain.

c) Social inequality

• i) Tribal problem: Tribes face inequality through land alienation, displacement due to industrialization, and lack of access to mainstream healthcare and education.
• ii) Backward Classes: Groups that face historical social and educational disadvantages; the state uses reservation and welfare schemes to address these inequalities.

d) Misuse of Religion

• i) Evil practices of Godmen: Exploitation of followers through superstition, financial fraud, or sexual abuse under the guise of spiritual guidance.
• ii) Role of society: Society must promote scientific temper, rational thinking, and legal awareness to prevent exploitation by self-proclaimed leaders.

Q.4 Detailed Answers (Any three)

a) Auguste Comte’s contribution to Sociology

• Comte is known as the "Father of Sociology" because he first coined the term and advocated for the scientific study of society (Positivism).
• He categorized sociology into Social Statics (order/structure) and Social Dynamics (progress/change).

b) Herbert Spencer and the Political System

• Spencer compared society to a biological organism (Organic Analogy), suggesting that both grow in complexity and size.
• He argued that the political system evolves from "Military societies" (based on compulsory cooperation) to "Industrial societies" (based on voluntary cooperation).

c) Concept of Caste and its features

• Caste is a closed system of social stratification based on birth.
• Key features: Segmental division of society, hierarchy, restrictions on feeding and social intercourse, endogamy (marriage within caste), and hereditary occupation.

d) Urban Community and its problems

• Urban communities are characterized by high population density, heterogeneity, and impersonal relationships.
• Problems: Housing shortages (slums), environmental pollution, traffic congestion, high crime rates, and social isolation.

e) Conflict as a social process

• Conflict is a dissociative social process where individuals or groups seek to attain rewards by eliminating or weakening their rivals.
• While often seen as negative, sociologists like Lewis Coser argue it can be integrative by strengthening internal group bonds and leading to social reform.