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MCAT: Behavioural Sciences > Chapter 11: Social Structure and Demographics > Flashcards

Chapter 11: Social Structure and Demographics Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Define sociology.

A

The study of society: how we create society, how we interact within it, how we define what is normal and abnormal in society, and how we institutionalize these ideas

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2
Q

Differentiate macrosociology and microsociology.

A

Macrosociology: focuses on large groups and social structure
Microsociology: focuses on small groups and the individual

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3
Q

Define a social structure.

A

A system of people within a society organized by a characteristic pattern of relationship

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4
Q

Define functionalism/functional analysis.

A

The study of the structure and function of each part of society; viewing society as a living organism

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5
Q

Define function.

A

Refers to the beneficial consequences of people’s actions

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6
Q

According to functional theorists, what helps keep society in balance?

A

Functions

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7
Q

Define dysfunctions.

A

Harmful consequences of people’s actions as they undermine a social system’s equilibrium

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8
Q

What are manifest functions?

A

Deliberate actions that serve to help a given system

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9
Q

What are latent functions?

A

Unexpected, unintended, or unrecognized positive consequences of manifest functions

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10
Q

What is the manifestation of deviance in healthcare and medicine?

A

The individual who has fallen ill is not only physically sick, but now adheres to the specifically patterned social role of being sick that disrupts the normal social order of society

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11
Q

What does conflict theory state? Who’s work is it based on?

A
  • Karl Marx
  • Focuses on how power differentials are created and how these differentials contribute to the maintenance of social order
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12
Q

What can power differentials lead to?

A

The dominance of a particular group if it successfully outcompetes other groups for economic, political and social resources

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13
Q

What is symbolic interactionism?

A

The study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and other symbols

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14
Q

What is social constructionism?

A

Focuses on how individuals put together their social reality; arise from humans communicating and working together to agree on the significance of a concept or principle

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15
Q

How a society defines honor and justice, how paper money and coinage are imbued with value from society are examples of what concept?

A

Social constructionism

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16
Q

Define social institutions. What do they regulate?

A
  • Well-established social structures that dictate certain patterns of behavior or relationships and are accepted as a fundamental part of culture
  • Regulate the behavior of individuals in core areas of society
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17
Q

What are the 6 types of social institutions?

A
  • Education
  • Family
  • Religion
  • Government
  • Economy
  • Medicine
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18
Q

What does beneficence mean?

A

The physician has a responsibility to act in the patient’s best interest

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19
Q

What does nonmaleficence mean?

A
  • Do no harm
  • The physician has a responsibility to avoid treatments or interventions in which the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit
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20
Q

What does respect for patient autonomy mean?

A

The physician has a responsibility to respect patients’ decisions and choices about their own healthcare

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21
Q

What does justice mean in terms of medical ethics?

A

The physician has a responsibility to treat similar patients with similar care, and to distribute healthcare resources fairly

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22
Q

Define culture.

A

Encompassing the entire lifestyle for a given group; what makes human societies unique from one another

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23
Q

What is material culture?

A
  • Focuses on the artifacts associated with a group

- Physical objects (artworks, clothing, jewelry, foods, buildings, tools)

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24
Q

What is symbolic culture?

A
  • Focuses on the ideas and principles that belong to a particular group
  • Mottos, songs, catchphrases, themes
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25
Q

Differentiate a value and a belief?

A

Value: what a person deems to be important
Belief: what a person deems to be true

26
Q

What is the most highly developed and complex symbol system used by most cultures?

A

Language

27
Q

Provide the word for the definition: when a cultural difference impedes interaction with others.

A

Cultural barriers

28
Q

Provide the word for the definition: formalized ceremony that usually involves specific material objects, symbolism, and additional mandates on acceptable behaviors.

A

Ritual

29
Q

In prehistoric times, what likely served as a conduit for teaching future generations how to create tools, hunt, domesticate animals, and grow crops?

A

Culture

30
Q

What creates a sense of loyalty and allegiance, and a sense of us vs. them?

A

Culture

31
Q

Define demographics.

A

Refer to the statistics of populations and are mathematical applications of sociology

32
Q

Name some common demographic categories.

A
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Race
33
Q

Differentiate sex and gender.

A

Sex: biologically determined (XY or XX)
Gender: behavioural, cultural, or psychological traits

34
Q

How is race determined in terms of demographics?

A
  • Based on phenotypic differences between groups of people

- Not strictly defined by genetics, and rather classifies individuals based on superficial traits such as skin colour

35
Q

Differentiate race and ethnicity.

A

Race: based on phenotypic differences between groups of people
Ethnicity: based on common language, religion, or other cultural factors

36
Q

Can you choose whether or not to display ethnic identity? What about racial identity?

A

Ethnic: yes
Racial: no

37
Q

Define symbolic ethnicity. Give an example.

A

Describes a specific connection to one’s ethnicity in which ethnic symbols and identity remain important (ex: St. Patrick’s Day)

38
Q

Alfred Kinsey described sexuality on a scale of zero to six (Kinsey’s scale). What do these numbers represent?

A

0: heterosexuality
6: homosexuality

39
Q

How has the population size in the U.S. changed since the 1950s?

A

The population has doubled

40
Q

Define demographic shifts.

A

Changes in the makeup of a population over time

41
Q

What are the three factors that explain the increased population in the U.S.?

A
  • Fertility
  • Mortality
  • Migration
42
Q

What is the fertility rate?

A

Children per woman per lifetime (ex: Africa = 4 to 8, U.S. = 2), they both contribute to population growth

43
Q

What is the birth rate?

A

Children per 100 people per year

44
Q

What is the mortality rate?

A

Deaths per 1000 people per year (ex: has dropped in the U.S.)

45
Q

What is the migration rate?

A

Immigration rate minus emigration rate

46
Q

What are three contributors to the increase in average age of the population?

A
  • Decreased mortality rate
  • Decreased fertility rate
  • Aging of the baby boomer generation
47
Q

Define demographic transition.

A

Specific example of demographic shift referring to changes in birth and death rates in a country as it develops from a preindustrial to industrial economic system

48
Q

What is the first stage of the demographic transition? What rates are high?

A
  • Preindustrial society

- Birth and death rates are high

49
Q

What is the second stage of the demographic transition? What improves? What does that lower?

A
  • Improvements in healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, and wages
  • Causes death rates to drop
50
Q

What is the third stage of the demographic transition? What drops?

A
  • Improvements in contraception, women’s rights and a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy
  • Causes birth rates to drop
51
Q

What is the fourth stage of the demographic transition? What drops?

A
  • Industrialized society

- Birth and death rates are low

52
Q

How does the total population change during a demographic transition?

A

Increases

53
Q

What is the Malthusian theory?

A

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

54
Q

Differentiate proactive and reactive social movements.

A

Proactive: promote social change
Reactive: resist social change

55
Q

Define globalization.

A

The process of integrating the global economy with free trade and the tapping of foreign markets

56
Q

What are positive effects of globalization? What are negative effects?

A

Positive: availability of food from around the world during the entire calendar year
Negative: significant worldwide unemployment, rising prices, and increased pollution

57
Q

Define urbanization.

A

Refers to dense areas of population creating a pull for migration; cities are formed as individuals move into and establish residency in these new urban centers

58
Q

What % of the world’s population live in what are considered urban areas?

A

More than half

59
Q

Define ghettos.

A

Areas where specific racial, ethnic, or religious minorities are concentrated, usually due to social or economic inequities

60
Q

Define a slum.

A

Extremely densely populated area of a city with low-quality, often informal housing and poor sanitation

61
Q

During demographic transition, what happens to the mortality rate? To the birth rate?

A

Mortality rate: decrease (2nd stage)

Birth rate: decrease (3rd stage)

MCAT: Behavioural Sciences (12 decks)

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