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MCAT PSYCH/SOC > Class 1 - Major Sociological Theories > Flashcards

Class 1 - Major Sociological Theories Flashcards

1
Q

Sociology

A

The study of society and the individual in relationship to society

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2
Q

Macro-Sociology

A

Behind with society as a whole; focuses on large-scale social structures and drills down to how structures affect groups/individuals; top-down view

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3
Q

Micro-Sociology

A

Begins with one-on-one interactions; focuses on the smallest building blocks of society and builds up to larger structure; bottom-up view

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4
Q

Macro-Sociology Theories

A
  1. Functionalism
  2. Conflict Theory
    -considered founding theories
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5
Q

Premise of Macro-Sociology

A

Individual positions within social structures determine behavior

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6
Q

Micro-Sociology Theories

A
  1. Symbolic Interactionism
  2. Rational Choice/ Exchange Theory
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7
Q

Premise of Micro-Sociology

A

Human behavior is the result of individual interactions

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8
Q

Theories that are both Macro- and Micro-Sociology

A
  1. Social Constructionism
  2. Feminist Theory
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9
Q

Functionalism- how it views society

A

Views society as an organism and as a complex system; compares society to a living organism

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10
Q

Functionalism- how society functions

A

Individual parts work together in order to maintain solidarity, order, BALANCE, and social STABILITY; Dynamic Equilibrium

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11
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

a term to describe when society balances out and is in homeostasis; parts of society work together to maintain dynamic equilibrium

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12
Q

Emile Durkheim

A

Considered the founder of modern sociology; established sociology as separate from psychology and political philosophy

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13
Q

Durkheim’s Assertions:

A

Post-industrial societies are complex; society requires different people to work together to make society function (division of labor); people felt solidarity with those that had things in common with them (common consciousness); dysfunctions in society are caused by anomie

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14
Q

Anomie

A

Not having a group or category they belong in; mismatch between what society expects of you and what you are
ex. idealized body image

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15
Q

Manifest Functions

A

Intended to happen, obvious; always good

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16
Q

Latent Functions

A

Unintended consequence of something, less recognizable; can be good or bad

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17
Q

Social Reproduction

A

Inequality that is passed down from one generation to the next

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18
Q

Major Flaws of Durkheim’s Theory:

A

-Doesn’t really address gross inequality

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19
Q

Conflict Theory- how it views society

A

Views society as a competition for limited resources

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20
Q

Conflict Theory- how society functions

A

Individuals and groups compete for social, political, and material power

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21
Q

What are conflict theorists concerned with

A

imbalances in wealth, power, and prestige among major groups in society and how they create class struggle between those who control production and those who provide labor

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22
Q

Karl Marx

A

Considered the founder of modern sociology; his theories of economy and society form the foundation for conflict theory

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23
Q

Marx asserted that:

A

Capitalism is an economic system that encourages private ownership in order to produce profit and wealth; Capitalism would create a cycle of greater inequality which would lead to worker revolts; capitalism should be replaced with socialism- collective ownership of production

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24
Q

Class Consciousness

A

A social condition in which members of a subordinate social class are actively aware of themselves as a group that is exploited by the wealthy

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25
False Consciousness
A lack of class consciousness and awareness that a group is subordinate and is being exploited; People are okay with how things are
26
Flaws in Marx's Theory
-Altruism: anonymous charity; help others without expecting things in return
27
Max Weber
Considered a founder of modern sociology; Believes modern societies are becoming increasingly bureaucratic and rational; still conflict theory
28
Weber asserted that:
There could be more than one source of conflict; There are factors that can moderate people's reactions to inequality (high rates of social mobility, agreeing w/ authority); The defining transformation of society was increasing RATIONALIZATION
29
bureaucracy
refers to all the different layers of administration
30
rationalization
societies' trend towards increasing efficiency and away from traditional religious standards of spirituality and morality; also promotes the proliferation of highly impersonal bureaucracies
31
Weber believed:
-ideas and beliefs can exert a very powerful effect on society -people base their actions on personal interpretation of the meaning of the world around them *these beliefs form the basis of the SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM theory
32
Cultural Capital
Having a role that is valued in the culture
33
Social Capital
Knowing people, having influence
34
Social mobility/ Vertical Mobility
Moving up of down in classes
35
Horizontal mobility
Can move around at the level you're at
36
Founders of Modern Sociology
Durkheim, Marx, and Weber
37
Symbolic Interactionism Theory
People act towards things based on meaning; meanings are derived from social interactions and adopted through individual interpretation; symbols are socially derived from social objects that have shared meanings, which are created through social interactions
38
Central Theme of Symbolic Interactionism
Human life is lived in the symbolic domain; through language and communication, symbols provide the means by which realty is constructed
39
Founder of the symbolic interactionism school of thought
George Herbert Mead
40
George Herbert Mead asserted that the self develops in 3 stages:
1. Preparatory Stage 2. Play Stage 3. Game Stage
41
Preparatory Stage
(0-2yrs); children learn to use language and symbols, but only mimic those around them
42
Play Stage
(2-6yrs); children learn to play the roles of others in pretend games, such as "playing doctor"
43
Game Stage
(7+yrs); children begin to understand the "generalized other," the generalized attitude of a social group
44
"Me"
The social self that develops through interactions with others and consists of our interpretations of how the "generalized other" views us
45
"I"
A response to the social self, "Me," which arises in response to the "Me"; this is one's personal identity and individuality
46
Mead's "actual self"
A balance between the "I" and "Me"; thinking is an ongoing discussion between them
47
Looking-Glass Self
The self is shaped by others and interactions with others and perception of others; Individuals shape themselves on this perception, tending to confirm expectations
48
Charles Cooley (symbolic interactionist) asserted that one's concept of self is developed in 3 stages:
1. We imagine how we must appear to others 2. We imagine what others think about us based on their observations of us 3. We develop our feelings about ourselves based on our imagined judgements of others, which can cause our behavior to confirm these judgements
49
Social Constructionism Theory
"Reality" is not inherent, but socially constructed; social constructionists believe there is no "natural" reason that constructs necessarily have to be the way they currently are
50
Social Construct
Anything that appears natural of obvious to the people that accept it, but is largely the intervention of a given society ex. childhood, marriage, gender roles
51
Socialization
The dynamic, ongoing process by which an individual internalizes the values, beliefs, and norms of their society and learns to function as a member of society; helps explain how social constructs are maintained and passed along
52
Symbolic Interactionism VS Social Constructionism
Symbolic Interactionism- focuses on symbols; looks at how symbols impact interactions Social Constructionism- focuses on social constructs; looks at how socialization maintains and transmits concepts through society
53
Rational Choice Theory
(similar to Exchange Theory) Individuals make decisions by comparing the costs and benefits; the goal is to maximize benefits and reduce the costs
54
Exchange Theory
(similar to Rational Choice Theory) Individuals respond to rewards and punishments; The goal is to maximize rewards and reduce punishments
55
Feminist Theory
A variety of perspectives on the treatment of women vs men in society
56
Intersectionality
The study of how different social identities, such as gender, race, etc. intersect
57
Glass Escalator
Refers to the way men are often fast-tracked to advanced positions when entering primarily "pink collar" professions
58
Glass Ceiling
A metaphor representing an invisible barrier that prevents a given demographic from rising beyond a certain level in a hierarchy
59
Functionalism (Description, Level, and Theorists)
Description: Parts of a society work together to maintain stability (dynamic equilibrium) Level: Macro Theorist: Durkheim
60
Conflict Theory (Description, Level, and Theorists)
Description: Parts of society work against each other in competition for limited resources Level: Macro Theorists: Marx, Weber
61
Symbolic Interactionism (Description, Level, and Theorists)
Description: Individuals communicate with each other using culturally learned symbols Level: Micro Theorist: Mead
62
Social Constructionism (Description, Level, and Theorists)
Description: Individual interaction results in socially agreed upon constructs Level: Both Macro and Micro Theorists: N/A
63
Rational Choice/ Exchange Theory (Description, Level, and Theorists)
Description: Individuals act and interact based on rewards/benefits and punishments/costs Level: Micro Theorists: N/A
64
Feminist Theory (Description, Level, and Theorists)

MCAT PSYCH/SOC (7 decks)

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