Sociology 2025

 

Sociology - Solved Exam Paper (2025)

Paper Code: 66832 | Date: 04/12/2024

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

1) Ascribed and Achieved Status

• Ascribed Status: A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life, such as race, sex, or age.
• Achieved Status: A social position acquired on the basis of merit, effort, or choice, such as being a doctor, lawyer, or Olympic athlete.

2) Formal and Informal Group

• Formal Group: A group created by an organization to achieve specific goals, characterized by structured roles and rules (e.g., a corporate department).
• Informal Group: A group formed naturally based on shared interests or friendships without a rigid structure (e.g., a group of friends who have lunch together).

3) Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

• Verbal Communication: The use of sounds and words to express oneself, encompassing both spoken and written language.
• Non-Verbal Communication: The transmission of messages through body language, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact without using words.

4) Teknonymy

• Teknonymy is the practice of referring to a parent by the name of their child (e.g., "Mother of John" instead of her personal name).
• It is a kinship usage found in many cultures to signify the parent's status within the family structure.

5) Jajmani System

• The Jajmani system is a traditional social and economic arrangement in rural India where lower castes (Kamins) provide specialized services to landowning upper castes (Jajmans) in exchange for grains or goods.
• It reinforces a hereditary, patron-client relationship between different castes.

6) Social Deviance

• Social deviance refers to behavior or actions that violate established social norms, values, or laws of a community.
• Deviance is relative, meaning what is considered deviant in one society or time period may be acceptable in another.

7) Causes of Crime

• Common sociological causes include poverty, lack of educational opportunities, broken family structures, and peer pressure.
• Other factors include psychological issues, biological predispositions, and the breakdown of social control mechanisms (Anomie).

8) Status and Role

• Status: A socially defined position that an individual occupies in a group or society (e.g., "Student").
• Role: The set of expectations and behaviors associated with a particular status (e.g., a student is expected to attend classes and study).

Q.2 Short Notes (Any 2)

1) Sociology of the Legal Profession

• This field examines the legal profession as a social institution, focusing on the recruitment, socialization, and career patterns of lawyers.
• It analyzes the relationship between the legal system and social inequality, noting how access to legal services often depends on social class.
• Sociologists study the "professionalization" process, where lawyers establish exclusive expertise and ethical standards.
• It also explores the ethics of legal practice and the role of lawyers in promoting or resisting social change.

2) Social Stratification

• Social stratification is the hierarchical ranking of individuals and groups into different layers based on wealth, power, and prestige.
• It is a universal feature of societies, though the criteria (like caste, class, or estate) vary across cultures.
• Social Mobility: The ability for individuals to move up or down the stratification ladder.
• Functionalists argue it is necessary to motivate the most talented people for difficult jobs, while conflict theorists see it as a tool for exploitation.

3) Power and Authority

• Power: The ability to exercise one's will over others, even if they resist, often involving coercion or force.
• Authority: Power that is perceived as legitimate or justified by the people being governed.
• Max Weber identified three types: Traditional (customs), Charismatic (extraordinary personality), and Legal-Rational (laws and bureaucracy).

Q.3 Situational Questions (Any 2)

1) National election campaign and Social Media.

• a) Importance of Social Media: It allows political parties to reach massive audiences instantly and at low cost compared to traditional media. It facilitates direct two-way communication between leaders and voters.
• b) Impact on Society: It can lead to rapid political mobilization and awareness, but it also risks spreading "fake news," creating "echo chambers," and polarizing public opinion through algorithmic targeting.

2) Workplace harassment ("No" ignored by male colleague).

• a) Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile work environment or interferes with work performance.
• b) Legal Steps: The woman can report the incident to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the POSH Act, file an FIR with the police for stalking or harassment, and seek legal protection through workplace harassment policies.

3) News report judging someone before a trial.

• a) Role of Mass Media: The media is expected to report facts objectively; however, sensationalism can lead to "Media Trials" where the accused is declared guilty in the court of public opinion before a legal verdict.
• b) Influencing Public Opinion: Media can shape public perception by cherry-picking evidence or using emotional language, potentially biasing prospective jurors and damaging the reputation of individuals who may later be acquitted.

4) Poor student unable to buy books.

• a) Class Stratification: A system where individuals are grouped based on their economic position (wealth, income, and occupation). Here, the student's lower economic class limits their access to educational resources.
• b) Help for Students: Measures include government scholarships, provision of free textbooks/laptops, community-run book banks, and affirmative action policies to bridge the resource gap for lower-income students.

Q.4 Detailed Answers (Any 3)

1) Émile Durkheim’s Division of Labour

• Durkheim argued that as societies evolve, the nature of social cohesion (solidarity) changes based on how labor is divided.
• Mechanical Solidarity: Found in traditional/simple societies where everyone performs similar tasks (e.g., farming); solidarity is based on shared beliefs and likeness.
• Organic Solidarity: Found in modern/industrial societies with high specialization; solidarity is based on mutual interdependence (like organs in a body).
• Dynamic Density: The increase in population and interaction that drives the shift toward specialization.

2) Karl Marx’s Social Conflict Theory

• Marx believed that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources.
• Class Struggle: Society is divided into two main classes: the Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the Proletariat (workers who sell their labor).
• Alienation: Capitalism causes workers to feel disconnected from their work, the products, themselves, and each other.
• Revolution: Marx predicted that the Proletariat would develop "class consciousness" and overthrow the Bourgeoisie to create a classless, communist society.

3) Social Groups in Society

• A social group consists of two or more people who interact regularly, share common interests, and have a sense of belonging.
• Primary Groups: Small, intimate, and long-lasting (e.g., Family).
• Secondary Groups: Large, impersonal, and goal-oriented (e.g., Labor Unions).
• Reference Groups: Groups individuals use as a standard to evaluate themselves.
• In-groups and Out-groups: Groups we feel loyalty toward ("us") versus groups toward which we feel antagonism ("them").

4) Social Change: Technology and Law

• Technology as an agent: Innovations like the internet and automation change how we work, communicate, and live, often leading to "cultural lag" where social values change slower than technology.
• Law as an agent: Law can be a tool for planned social change by outlawing harmful traditions (e.g., Sati, Child Marriage) or granting new rights (e.g., Right to Information).
• The interaction between the two ensures that society adapts to modern needs while maintaining structural order.

5) Elements of National Power

• National power is a state's capacity to influence others to achieve its interests.
• Geography: Size, location, and natural resources (e.g., oil, fertile land).
• Demographics: Population size, age distribution, and educational levels.
• Economic Strength: Industrial capacity, GDP, and technological advancement.
• Military Strength: The size and technological sophistication of armed forces.
• Leadership and Morale: The quality of governance and the unity/will of the citizens.