Chapter 11: Social Structure and Demographics

Question 1

Define sociology.

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Differentiate macrosociology and microsociology.

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Define a social structure.

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Define functionalism/functional analysis.

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Define function.

Answer 5

Refers to the beneficial consequences of people’s actions

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Functions

Question 7

Define dysfunctions.

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are manifest functions?

Answer 8

Deliberate actions that serve to help a given system

Question 9

What are latent functions?

Answer 9

Unexpected, unintended, or unrecognized positive consequences of manifest functions

Question 10

What is the manifestation of deviance in healthcare and medicine?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What can power differentials lead to?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is social constructionism?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Social constructionism

Question 16

Define social institutions. What do they regulate?

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

What are the 6 types of social institutions?

Answer 17

• Education
• Family
• Religion
• Government
• Economy
• Medicine

Question 18

What does beneficence mean?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What does nonmaleficence mean?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What does respect for patient autonomy mean?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What does justice mean in terms of medical ethics?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Define culture.

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What is material culture?

Answer 23

• Focuses on the artifacts associated with a group

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

Question 24

What is symbolic culture?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Differentiate a value and a belief?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Language

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Cultural barriers

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Ritual

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Culture

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Culture

Question 31

Define demographics.

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Name some common demographic categories.

Answer 32

- Age - Gender - Race

Question 33

Differentiate sex and gender.

Answer 33

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

Question 34

How is race determined in terms of demographics?

Answer 34

- 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

Question 35

Differentiate race and ethnicity.

Answer 35

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

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Ethnic: yes Racial: no

Question 37

Define symbolic ethnicity. Give an example.

Answer 37

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

Question 38

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

Answer 38

0: heterosexuality 6: homosexuality

Question 39

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

Answer 39

The population has doubled

Question 40

Define demographic shifts.

Answer 40

Changes in the makeup of a population over time

Question 41

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

Answer 41

- Fertility - Mortality - Migration

Question 42

What is the fertility rate?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

What is the birth rate?

Answer 43

Children per 100 people per year

Question 44

What is the mortality rate?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

What is the migration rate?

Answer 45

Immigration rate minus emigration rate

Question 46

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

Answer 46

- Decreased mortality rate - Decreased fertility rate - Aging of the baby boomer generation

Question 47

Define demographic transition.

Answer 47

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

Question 48

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

Answer 48

- Preindustrial society | - Birth and death rates are high

Question 49

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

Answer 49

- Improvements in healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, and wages - Causes death rates to drop

Question 50

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

Answer 50

- Improvements in contraception, women's rights and a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy - Causes birth rates to drop

Question 51

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

Answer 51

- Industrialized society | - Birth and death rates are low

Question 52

How does the total population change during a demographic transition?

Answer 52

Increases

Question 53

What is the Malthusian theory?

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Differentiate proactive and reactive social movements.

Answer 54

Proactive: promote social change Reactive: resist social change

Question 55

Define globalization.

Answer 55

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

Question 56

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

Answer 56

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

Question 57

Define urbanization.

Answer 57

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

Question 58

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

Answer 58

More than half

Question 59

Define ghettos.

Answer 59

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

Question 60

Define a slum.

Answer 60

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

Question 61

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

Answer 61

Mortality rate: decrease (2nd stage) | Birth rate: decrease (3rd stage)