Chapter 11: Social Structure and Demographics Flashcards
Functionalism
The study of the structure and function of each part of society.
Functions can either be ____ or ____.
Manifest or latent
Manifest Function
Action that is intended to help some part of the system.
Ex: Annual meetings of medical societies have the manifest function of educating a group of pysicians, sharing research findings, and setting goals for the next year.
Latent Function
Unintended positive consequences on other parts of society.
Conflict Theory
Focuses on how power differentials are created and how these differentials contribute to the maintenance of social order.
Symbolic Interactionism
A theoretical framework that studies the way individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and other symbolism.
Social Constructionism
Focuses on how individuals put together their social reality (reflects hpw we, as a society, construct conepts and principles).
Rational Choice Theory
Focuses on decision making in an individual and attempts to reduce this process to a careful consideration of benefits and harms to the individual.
Ex: In this theory, an individual carefully considers all of the possible rewards and punishments of each social action and chooses the option that has the highest benefit-to-harm ratio.
Feminist Theory
Attempts to explain social inequalities that exiat on the basis of geneder. This theory focuses on the subordination of women through social structures and institutional discrimination.
What are the four key tenets of American medical ethics? Provide a short description of each.
- Beneficence: Act in the patients best interest.
- Nonmaleficence: Do no harm, avoid interventions where the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit.
- Respect for autonomy: Respect patients’ decisions and choices about their own healthcare.
- Justice: Treat similar patients with similar care; distribute healthcare resources fairly.
During demographic transition, what happens to the mortality rate? To the birth rate?
During demographic transition, both the mortality and birth rate decrease.
Proactive Social Movements
In favor of a specific social change
Reactive Social Movements
Run against a specific social change.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children a woman has during her life-time in a population.
Birth Rate
The number of births in a population per unit time, usually measured as births per 1000 people per year.