What is one of these social theories that tries to understand why society works by focusing on the relations between different social institutions that society should be built?

A. Structural Functionalism

B. Symbolic Interaction

C. Conflicts

D. Positivism

This question was previously asked in
NTPC Tier I (Held On: 28 Apr 2016 Shift 3)
View all RRB NTPC Papers >
  1. C
  2. B
  3. D
  4. A

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : A
Free
RRB NTPC CBT-I Official Paper (Held On: 4 Jan 2021 Shift 1)
5.4 Lakh Users
100 Questions 100 Marks 90 Mins

Detailed Solution

Download Solution PDF

The correct answer is A.

  • Structural Functionalism is one of these social theories that try to understand why society works by focusing on the relations between different social institutions that society should be built.
  • Functionalism emphasizes how various social institutions work together to meet the needs of society.
  • Structural-functional theory, also called functionalism, sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of the individuals in that society.

Key Points

  • Structural-functionalism's core concepts are, in harness, structure, and system.
  • Under the auspices of Radcliffe-Brown (1881–1955), it emerged as a clear-cut alternative to hybrid Boasian functionalism and successor to Malinowski's particular brand of economism and radical individualism.
  • It derived not from German and British precursors but mainly from Durkheimian French sociology with supplementary insights from the Russian geographer and anarchist, Peter Kropotkin (1842–1921).

Additional Information

Description Details
Symbolic Interaction

Symbolic interaction is one of the several theories in the social sciences.

According to this theory, people live both in the natural and the symbolic environment.

Symbolic interaction is a process that is enlivened the reciprocal meaning and values by the aid of the symbols in the mind.

Conflicts A conflict is a clash of interests. The basis of conflict may vary but it is always a part of society. Basis of conflict may be personal, racial, class, caste, political and international. Conflict in groups often follows a specific course.
Positivism

Positivism is a philosophical theory that states that "genuine" knowledge is exclusively derived from the experience of natural phenomena and their properties and relations.

Thus, information derived from sensory experience, as interpreted through reason and logic, forms the exclusive source of all certain knowledge.

 

Latest RRB NTPC Updates

Last updated on Jun 11, 2025

-> RRB NTPC 2025 Exam Postponed. Railway Recruitment Board has rescheduled the RRB NTPC Exam for June 5, 2025 (Shift 3). 

-> RRB NTPC Exam Analysis 2025 is LIVE now. All the candidates appearing for the RRB NTPC Exam 2025 can check the complete exam analysis to strategize their preparation accordingly. 

-> The UPSC Prelims Result 2025 and UPSC IFS Result 2025 has been released @upsc.gov.in

-> The RRB NTPC Admit Card 2025 has been released on its official website.

-> Candidates who will appear for the RRB NTPC Exam can check their RRB NTPC Time Table 2025 from here.

-> The RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam is scheduled from 5th June to 24th June 2025 as per the revised tentative exam schedule. 

-> The RRB NTPC 2025 Notification has been released for a total of 11558 vacancies.

-> A total of 3445 Vacancies have been announced for Undergraduate posts like Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk Cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist & Trains Clerk.

-> A total of 8114 vacancies are announced for Graduate-level posts in the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) such as Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, etc.

-> Prepare for the exam using RRB NTPC Previous Year Papers.

-> Check out the Rajasthan PTET Admit Card 2025 and UPSC Prelims Result Date 2025 here.

More Basic Concepts of Ethics and Values Questions

Get Free Access Now
Hot Links: teen patti 3a teen patti party teen patti rules teen patti master king