Exam 1 Definitions

Question 1

Aim of sociological research

Answer 1

to connect abstract and concrete levels of experience.

Question 2

Overgeneralization

Answer 2

draw a conclusion or make a statement about (something) that is more general than is justified.

Question 3

Purpose of culture

Answer 3

solve real-life problems

Question 4

Culture capital

Answer 4

social assets of a person that promote social mobility in a stratified society (ie. Education, intellect, style of speech and dress, etc.)

Question 5

Social Capital

Answer 5

the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function Social Capital effectively

Question 6

Human Capital

Answer 6

stock of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes, including creativity, embodied in its ability to perform labor so as to produce economic value

Question 7

Subculture

Answer 7

cultural group whose values and norms are different but are not in direct contradiction with the values and norms of the larger culture.

Question 8

Counterculture

Answer 8

Cultural group whose values and norms are in contradiction with those of the larger culture.

Question 9

Prejudice

Answer 9

preconceived opinion (attitude) that is not based on reason or actual experience

Question 10

Discrimination

Answer 10

the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

Question 11

Absolute Poverty

Answer 11

state of total deprivation of basic needs.

Question 12

Relative Poverty

Answer 12

Poverty based on societal standards (poverty lines) or LICO (low income cut-offs) based on local/specific terms

Question 13

Shock Poverty

Answer 13

Rapid onset of Poverty

Question 14

Structural Functionalism

Answer 14

views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability

Question 15

Conflict (Marx) Theory

Answer 15

Poverty and inequality are universal but are worse under capitalism where owners must exploit labour.

Question 16

Structuralism

Answer 16

Poverty is a by-product of normal competition and circulation of people through various roles necessary for society.

Question 17

Symbolic (Social Interactionism)

Answer 17

poverty is a cultural experience that tends to reproduce itself because people tend to group with people like themselves through symbolic and ritual practices.

Question 18

Feminism

Answer 18

emphasizes feminization of poverty and argues for emancipatory research from the standpoint of people living in poverty

Question 19

Anomie

Answer 19

condition in which society provides little moral guidance to individuals; a condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values or from lack of purpose and ideals.

Question 20

Law

Answer 20

is a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior

Question 21

Mores

Answer 21

essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community; social norms, taboos. Socially constructed and enforced.

Question 22

LICO (Low income cut off)

Answer 22

o average proportion of after-tax income that all families (regardless of size) spent on food, shelter and clothing

o Family is considered low income if it spends 20% points or more of its income than the average family on necessities of food, shelter, and clothing than the average family.

o Used for Regional Comparisons

Question 23

LIM (Low income measure)

Answer 23

o Use for International comparisons

o fixed percentage (50%) of median adjusted household income, where “adjusted” indicates that household needs are taken into account.

o Adjustment for household sizes reflects the fact that a household’s needs increase as the number of members increases

Question 24

According to Sharma, what are two keys to approach Poverty?

Answer 24

• Stigma Theory

- social exclusion thoery

Question 25

Stigma Theory

Answer 25

-Cannot understand poverty unless one looks at relationships between poor and non-poor.

• Physical Stigma
• Tribal Stigma
• Blemishes of Character

 All types of stigma interfere with normal interaction

Question 26

Social Exclusion Theory

Answer 26

• individuals unable to participate in any key economic, social, and political activities of a society in which they live.
• Could be due to a lack of resources, insufficient financial means, limited capacities (those with a disability, children, elderly) or inadequate social networks

Question 27

Four types of homelessness discussed in the Canadian Definition of
Homelessness (COH)

Answer 27

1) Unsheltered
2) Emergency Sheltered
3) Provisionally Accommodated (Temporary Accommodation)
4) At Risk of Homelessness