Chapter 4 Flashcards
What are the two levels of analysis that sociologists use?
Macrosociology and microsociology
What is macrosociology?
Level of analysis which focuses on broad features of society.
What types of sociologists use macrosociology?
Conflict theorists (analyzing social class) and functionalists (analyzing how groups are related to one another).
What is microsociology?
Level of analysis which focuses on social interaction
What types of sociologists use microsociology?
Symbolic interactionists
Analyzing a group of homeless men’s rules/codes for getting along, how they divide up money, wine, relationships with girlfriends, family, friends, where they spend their time, their language and pecking order is an example of what level of analysis?
Microsociology
Analyzing a group of homeless men’s location in the U.S. social class system i.e. how their low status means many opportunities are closed to them, is an example of what level of analysis?
Macrosociology
True or false: Both approaches are necessary to understand life in society.
True
___ ____ refers to the typical patterns of a group, such as the usual relationships between men and women or students and teachers. It is the framework of society that was laid out before you were born.
Social structure
What is the sociological significance of social structure?
It guides our behavior.
What people do when they are in one another’s presence; includes communications at a distance.
Social interaction
Analysis of social life that focuses on broad features of society, such as social class and the relationships of groups to one another; usually used by functionalists and conflict theorists.
Macrosociolgy
Analysis of social life that focuses on social interaction; typically used by symbolic interactionists.
Microsociology
The framework of society that surrounds us; consists of the ways that people and groups are related to one another; this framework gives direction to and sets limits on our behavior.
Social structure
Large numbers of people who have similar amounts of income and education and who work at jobs that are roughly comparable in prestige.
Social class
True or false: Social structure tends to override our personal feelings and desires.
True
Behaviors are logical depending on where people find themselves in their ___ ____. Whether it be that of a student or homeless person, “natural” and “normal” depend on this.
Social structure
The differences in our behavior are not because of our biology (race, sex, etc.) but to …?
Our location in the social structure.
What are the major components of social structure?
Culture Social class Social status Roles Groups Social institutions Includes material objects that a group uses.
Sociologists use the term ____ to refer to a group’s language, beliefs, values, behaviors, and even gestures.
Culture
The broadest framework that determines what kind of people we become i.e. if reared in Chinese, Arab, or U.S. culture, we will grow up to be like most Chinese, Arabs, or Americans.
Culture
A significantly important social structure component, one which influences not only behaviors, but also attitudes and ideas and relates to similar income levels is called …?
Social Class
The position that someone occupies in a social group - whether it be prestigious or low-ranking, this provides guidelines for how we are to act and feel.
Status, also called Social Status
___ ___ is the term used to refer to ALL of the statuses or positions you occupy simultaneously such as being a daughter, student, girlfriend, and sister all at once.
Status set
What is the involuntary status which is given to you at birth such as sex, race-ethnicity, social class inherited from your parents as well as statuses such as daughter, niece, etc? And can change later in life?
Ascribed status
What is the voluntary status which is earned as a result of your efforts such as a student, spouse, lawyer, or drop-out, ex-spouse, or de-barred lawyer?
Achieved status
All the statuses or positions that an individual occupies
Status set
A position an individual either inherits at birth or receives involuntarily later in life
Ascribed status
Positions that are earned, accomplished, or involve at least some effort or activity on the individual’s part; can be either positive or negative achievement
Achieved status
Indicators of status, especially items that display prestige but can be either positive or negative (wedding rings to symbolize marriage, CONVICTED DUI bumper sticker)
Status symbols
A status that cuts across all other statuses that an individual occupies such as being female, being wealthy, or disfigured. They take center-stage no matter what other statuses you hold.
Master status.
Ranking high on some dimensions of social status and low on others; also called status discrepancy. It upsets our expectations/norms that come with our statuses. Example: a 14-year-old college student or 40-year-old woman dating a 19-year old.
Status inconsistency