Asked by Devraj Basnet on May 09, 2024

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____ maintained that social structures may have different consequences for different groups of people.

A) Emile Durkheim
B) Robert Merton
C) Karl Marx
D) Talcott Parsons
E) Max Weber

Social Structures

The complex framework of societal institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the behavior and interactions of individuals and groups within a society.

Different Consequences

This term refers to varying outcomes or effects that may result from a particular action or set of actions in different contexts or under different conditions.

Robert Merton

An American sociologist known for developing theories such as the strain theory, and for coining terms like "self-fulfilling prophecy" and "role model."

  • Understand the sociological theories related to social structures and their effects on distinct groups in society.
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SA
Sangeeta AgarwalMay 14, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
This belief is a central concept in Robert Merton's theory of structural functionalism. Merton argued that social structures could have both manifest (intended) and latent (unintended) consequences for different groups of people. This theory was meant to explain why certain social institutions, such as education or the economy, may have negative outcomes for some individuals or groups, even if they were created with positive intentions.