Chapter 11 - Social Structure and Demographics

Question 1

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 1

Attempts to understand human action and interaction by studying the symbols we use to communicate

Question 2

Social Constructionism

Answer 2

Attempt to understand a society through the study of the society’s social constructs

Question 3

Rational Choice (Exchange) Theory

Answer 3

People weigh the costs and benefits when making choices, ranking their options based on maximizing perceived benefit

Question 4

Conflict Theory

Answer 4

Attempts to understand society by examining the inevitable conflicts between groups in society

Question 5

Structural Functionalism

Answer 5

Different groups of society work together in an unconscious, almost automatic, way toward maintencance of equilibrium
- Latent and manifest

Question 6

Manifest function

Answer 6

Intended consequence of the actions of a group within society

Question 7

Latent function

Answer 7

Unintended, but beneficial consequences

Question 8

Malthusian Theory

Answer 8

Focuses on how the exponential growth of a population can outpace growth of the food supply and lead to social degradation and disorder