Question

It shows how individuals are trapped in systems or organizations which run on the principles of efficiency, rationality, and control. The iron cage of rationality reflects the pressure that builds over us due to both others and ourselves to act and behave in certain ways. What sociological concept is being described in this passage?

a) Social mobility
b) Bureaucracy
c) Social stratification
d) Anomie

Answer 1

The concept described is bureaucracy, which refers to the systematic rules and structures that govern organizations and societies, leading to what Max Weber called the iron cage of rationality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sociological concept described in the given passage is bureaucracy. This concept encapsulates the experience of individuals within a system that prioritizes efficiency, rationality, and control, often leading to a loss of individual autonomy. This idea is known as the iron cage of rationality, a theory proposed by the influential sociologist Max Weber. He predicted that as societies become more rationalized, especially due to capitalism and bureaucracy, individuals would become trapped in a system of formal rules and organizational structures. According to Weber, this can create a disenchantment with the world, as the spontaneity, individuality, and freedom that characterize a less structured society become constrained.