Transcript
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
SOC 210
Social Sciences- focus on human behavior
Sociology- focus on human behavior in group settings
Durkheim- study of suicide, father of Structural Functional theory
Marx- Father of conflict theory, capitalism to blame for evils of society
Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat- owners of the means of production vs. exploited workers
Principle of Verstehen (Weber)- understand a person’s actions based on the social setting and that person’s perspective in that setting
Basic Sociology- non judgmental study of society without the intent of reforming society
Applied Sociology- use of sociological studies to identify problems and solve those problems by suggesting solutions that will bring about change
Public Sociology- sociological studies with the intent of providing information and guidance to policy makers who can then make informed decisions about social policies
Reasons why Sociological Theories present unique challenges:
1. Human behavior so complex
2. Human subjects can alter behavior when they know they’re being studied
3. Sociologist is biased as a human being himself/herself
Structural Functional Theory (Durkheim)- interactions between segments of society work together to produce overall stability and interdependence
Manifest function- intended or anticipated result of a function
Latent function- unintended or unpredicted result of a function
Dysfunction- negative consequence of a function
Conflict Theory (Marx)- groups/classes compete for resources and the powerful attempt to maintain their control at the expense of the powerless
Symbolic Interaction Theory (Weber)- focuses on human relations in small groups and how shared symbols shape thoughts and communication between people
Collective Imagination- society is a product of everyday interactions between people
Stanford Prison Experiment- considered unethical due to its potential emotional harm to the participants, it demonstrated the extent to which individuals assume authority roles and how those under that authority conform and obey authority
Material Culture- man made physical objects
Non Material Culture- man made ideas, beliefs, symbols, and values that are abstract
Society- group of people who share a culture
Cultural Universals- traits that occur in some form in all societies (ex- religion)
Ethnocentrism- evaluating other cultures by one’s own standards, assuming different is inferior
Cultural Relativism- judging other cultures by their own standards, assuming one is not better or worse than the other, only different
Belief- statement about reality that people accept as true
Value- derives from belief, and leads people to have convictions about what is right or wrong
Norms- standards of behavior in a society
Folkways- customs, casual routines for behavior, violations aren’t serious (ex- picking nose in public)
Mores- vital aspects of morality that are punished when violated (ex-murder)
Taboos- extreme violations that cause revulsion within society (ex- incest taboo, cannibalism)
Subculture- group within society who receive emotional and social support for each other, generally accepted by society
Argot- language, lingo of a subculture
Counterculture- group whose members reject an important aspect of society and rebel
Socialization- process by which a person learns accepted behaviors within a society
Nature vs. Nurture- argument about whether social experience or heredity is more of a factor in determining an individual’s personality and life fate
Internalization- when a value, idea, or belief becomes accepted as necessary and important within an individual
Gender roles- behaviors associated with being male or female, typically passed down to children through their parents, but also passed along by other social institutions
Hidden curriculum- attitudes and perspectives conveyed within schools not directly included in the academic curriculum (Ex- patriotism)
Peer groups- influence a person most during adolescence, influences such as risk taking behavior and short term attitudes about alcohol and drugs
Resocialization- learning new norms, values, behaviors to fit a new situation
Body language- ways people use their body to communicate with others without words
Ascribed status- given, not earned, often determined at birth (Ex- gender, race)
Achieved status- earned, acquired through actions (Ex- Job, occupation)
Status symbols- signs that identify a status (Ex- wedding ring)
Role- set of expected behaviors associated with a status
Role strain- when two roles of one status are incompatible (Ex- student= party or study)
Role conflict- when roles of different statuses conflict (Ex- father, businessman- kids or work)
Authority- right to give orders accepted by others
Traditional authority- time, tradition honored (Ex- monarchy)
Charismatic authority- authority gained through persuasive personality (Ex- Martin Luther King)
Legal authority- authority attached to an office, position (Ex- judge)
Conformity- extent to which an individual follows norms
Asch experiments- demonstrated the power of social and peer pressure to produce conformity
Milgram experiments- inspired by Nazis in World War II, an attempt to determine to what extent individuals will conform and submit to authority
Deviance- considered a violation of important rules, values, standards of a group
Structural Functional View of Deviance-
1. Clarifies moral boundaries and leads to unity among groups
2. Signal for the need for change
3. Creates jobs
4. Serves as a safety valve to relieve pressure
Dysfunctions of Deviance-
1. Diverts resources
2. Creates tension and anxiety
3. Creates mistrust of society
Conflict theory of Deviance-
Ultra punishment for poor who are punished at higher rates
Token punishment for upper class who receive less punishment
Crime- violation of criminal law, normally but not always deviant behavior
Types of Crime
1. Violent crime- rape, murder, assault, robbery- involved threat or presence of physical harm
2. Property crime- petty theft, stealing
3. Victimless crime- criminal act which does not seemingly have a direct victim (Ex- gambling, prostitution)
White Collar crime- middle to upper class crime committed within business or job activities
Prisons- designed to practice retribution (punishment), deterrence, isolation of criminals, and rehabilitation
Social Class- group of people who are similar in property, power, and prestige
Property- includes all forms of wealth and income
Power Elite- those who possess the most power and influence within a society
Prestige- respect or regard society has for an individual or profession (Ex- doctor is highest on list of occupations in America)
Capitalist class- wealthiest 1/10th of 1% of Americans
1.Old Money- “Blue Bloods” who have inherited family money
2.New Money- recently rich
Upper Middle class- educated, corporation managers, professionals
Lower Middle class- white collar jobs with less prestige than upper middle
Working class- blue collar, manual jobs
Working poor or Underemployed class- unskilled, low paying jobs
Underclass- unemployed, often homeless
Meritocracy- belief that highest positions in society should be rewarded the most financially because of their importance (Ex- doctors, physicians)
False consciousness- workers are unaware of their true purpose, which is that they are being exploited by the owners
Race- group of people with inherited physical characteristics
Ethnicity- group of people who are distinguished on the basis of common cultural characteristics
Genocide- attempt to destroy a group of people based on their presumed race or ethnicity
Prejudice- attitude of prejudging an individual or group in a negative manner
Discrimination- action of unfair treatment based on specific characteristics
Racism- discrimination based on perception of race
Nuclear family- two generations (normally parents and children) living together
Extended family- more than two generations living together
Patriarchal- husband (father) is main source of authority in family
Matriarchal- wife (mother) is main source of authority in family
Egalitarian- husband/wife (father/mother) share power in family
Incest Taboo- sexual relations between close relatives are forbidden by society
Helicopter parenting- parents who are heavily involved in their children’s lives
Sandwich generation- couples or individuals, usually ages 40-55, who become responsible for caring for their children and their elderly parents at the same time
Cohabitation- living together without being married
1. Dviorce rates are similar to those who don’t live together before marriage
2. Less than half will eventually get married
3. Numbers are increasing due to relaxation of societal restraints and stigma
Divorce- when a couple legally splits from each other
1. numerous adjustments due to legal, emotional, community, economic, and co-parental issues
2. first time marriages tend to be more stable than second or third marriages
Family violence- 75% of victims are female, 25% are male
Cycle of Abuse- those who were abused are more likely to become abusers themselves
Structural Functionalism- Positive Functions of Religion:
1. Meaning and Purpose
2. Emotional comfort in times of crisis, need
3. Social cohesion and moral ties to others
4. Practical guidelines for living
5. Social control through the promotion of conformity
6. Can serve as an agent of social change for the betterment of society
Conflict theory criticisms of Religion-
1. Similar to a drug that causes people to divert attention away from their true problems
2. Encourages male dominance
3. Segregates society
4. Has been the cause of much social conflict
Symbolic Interaction theory of religion-
1. Shared symbols and rituals unite individuals as a group
2. Religious experiences canalter the way individuals interact with others
Statistics concerning Religion:
1. Christianity is the largest religion in the United State and the world
2. Percentage of Unaffiliated (Nones) is rising in the United States and the world
