Chapter 11: Social Structure and Demographics

Question 1

What is the difference between manifest function and latent function?

Answer 1

Manifest: action is intended to help some part of a system.
Latent: Unintended positive consequence from manifest function

Question 2

What is conflict theory?

Answer 2

Karl Marx; Focuses on how POWER DIFFERENTIALS are created and how these differentials contribute to the MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL ORDER. Power differentials can lead to dominance of a particular group.

Khan Academy: thesis + antithesis -> synthesis

Question 3

What is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 3

The ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and symbols. Ex. a thumbs up means good in America.

Question 4

What is social constructionism? Examples?

Answer 4

Reflects how we, as a society, construct concepts and principles. Social constructs arise from humans communicating and working together to agree on the significance of a concept or principle.
Examples: money, worth ethic, gender roles

Question 5

What is the difference between rational choice theory and exchange theory?

Answer 5

Rational choice theory: Individual, making mental pros and cons list and the course of action an individual takes is that which maximizes personal benefit.

Exchange theory: Group, individual will carry out behaviors because of anticipated rewards and will avoid certain behaviors because of anticipated punishments

BOTH THEORIES CONSIDER REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

Question 6

What is a theocracy?

Answer 6

A system where power is held by religious leaders

Question 7

What is the difference between a value and belief?

Answer 7

Value: what a person deems important in life, which dictates one’s ethical principals and standards of behavior.

Belief: Something that an individual accepts to be truth .

Question 8

What is ageism?

Answer 8

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age.

Question 9

What is the racial formation theory?

Answer 9

Posits that racial identity is FLUID and dependent on concurrent political, economic, and social factors.

Question 10

What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

Answer 10

One can choose whether or not to display ethnic identity, while racial identities are always on display. Ex. a person may be considered black due to physical characteristics but the perosn’s ethncitity could be Latino.

Question 11

What are demographic shifts?

Answer 11

Changes in the makeup of a population over time.

Question 12

What is the difference between fertility rate and birth rate?

Answer 12

Fertility rate: children per women per lifetime

Birth rate: children per 1000 people per year

Question 13

What is morality rate?

Answer 13

deaths per 1000 people per year

Question 14

What is migration rate?

Answer 14

Immigration rate minus emigration rate

Question 15

What is the Malthusian theory of population growth?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is functionalism?

Answer 16

The study of structure and function of society. If all parts of society fulfill their functions, society is in a normal state. Functionalism looks at society as a living organism.

Khan Academy: Look at society for large perspective (not individual level), maintaining equilibrium, social facts are necessary to keep society functioning, society is interdependent

Question 17

What is the glass ceiling of feminist theory?

Answer 17

A barrier to enhancement of profession, especially affecting woman. Example: women are less frequently promoted and paid less than men.

Question 18

What is the glass escalator of feminist theory?

Answer 18

Men rise higher and faster than women in female-dominated careers.

Question 19

What is the sick role of a patient?

Answer 19

A patient is not responsible for their illness, but are still exempt from normal social roles. The patient also has the obligation to WANT TO become well and seek out help.

Question 20

What is intersectionality?

Answer 20

The interplay between multiple demographic factors (gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) – especially when it leads to discrimination or oppression

Question 21

What are common trends seen in the overall population of the US (size, age, diversity)?

Answer 21

• Increased size
• Increased age
• Increased diversity through immigration, mobility, and intermarriage.

Question 22

How do pull and push factors effect immigration?

Answer 22

Pull factors: positive attributes of the NEW location that attract immigrants

Push factors: negative attributes of the OLD location that encourage immigrants to leave

Question 23

Describe demographic transition as a country develops in terms of birth and death rates.

Answer 23

• Pre-industrial society: birth and death rates high
• Improvements in healthcare, nutrition sanitation: death rates drop
• Improvements in contraception, women’s rights: birth rates drop
• Industrialized society: birth and death rates low