Exam II Review Flashcards
What is Human Society?
Human society is a system of social interaction that includes both culture and social organization.
What is Social Interaction?
Within society, social interaction is behavior between two or more people that is given meaning by them.
What did Emile Durkheim say about Society?
“Society as Sui Generis”- “Society is greater than the sum of its parts.”
What is the meaning of Durkheim’s phrase about society?
The sociological idea that “society is more than the sum of individuals,” means that society takes on a life of its own.
How do sociologists look at society?
Macro and Micro Perspective.
What is Macroanalysis?
A sociological approach that takes the broadest view, “the whole of society,” by studying large patterns of social interaction that are vast, complex, and highly differentiated.
What is Microanalysis?
Is the study of smaller, less complex, and less differentiated interactions.
What is Social Organization?
Sociologists use the term, “social organization” to describe the order established in social groups at any level. - brings regularity and predictability to human behavior.
What is a Social Institution?
A social institution is an established and organized system of social behavior with a recognized purpose.
How are social institutions examined?
From both a macro and micro level of analysis. “Marco perspective allows the examination of the functions of the organization/system for the society.”
What are the five functions of social institutions?
- Socialization of new members.
- Production and distribution of goods and services.
- Replacement of society’s members.
- Maintenance of stability and existence.
- Providing members a sense of purpose.
What are Social Structures?
Social structures are the organized patterns of social relationships and social institutions that together comprise society.
What does Structural Analysis look at?
looks at patterns in social life that reflect and produce social behavior.
What do Different Social Classes mean?
Different social classes, racial/ethnic groups and women have different access to opportunities.
What holds Society Together?
Emile Durkheim discussed two types of societies based on solidarity.
What are Durkheim’s two types of societies based on solidarity?
Mechanical Solidarity and Organic Solidarity.
What is Mechanical Solidarity?
Members play similar roles within the society, share same values, and hold the same things sacred.
What is Organic Solidarity?
People have many different roles and roles are highly differentiated.
What is Division of Labor in organic solidarity?
The relatedness of different tasks that develop within society.
What did Ferdinand Tonnies say?
“forms of solidarity.”
How did Ferdinand Tonnies characterize societies?
He characterized them into the “Gemeinschaft” or “Gesellschaft.”
What are Tonnies “Gemeinschaft”?
Communities that have, “we” feeling, strong, family relationships, and simple social institutions.
What are Tonnies “Gesellschaft”?
Societies with fewer personal ties. These societies have elaborated division of labor.
What are the three types of societies?
- Preindustrial societies.
- Industrial societies.
- Postindustrial societies.
What are the four types of preindustrial societies?
- Foraging Societies.
- Pastoral Societies.
- Horticultural Societies.
- Agricultural Societies.
What are characteristics of Foraging (hunting and gathering) societies?
- few modern examples.
- little technological advancement.
- Nomadic
- Egalitarian
What are the characteristics of Pastoral societies?
- Domestic animals (cow, sheep, goat, horse, camel)
- Arid climate
- Nomadic
What are the characteristics of Horticultural societies?
- small scale farming
- simple tools
- chiefdoms
What are the characteristics of Agricultural societies?
- Plow and Draft animal
- Large scale farming
- Cereal Grains
- Stratification
- Urbanism
What countries use mostly agriculture as GDP?
- Liberia 76%
- Somalia 60%
What are industrial societies?
Use machines and other advanced technologies to produce and distribute goods and services.
What are the three characteristics of Industrial societies?
- Rely on highly differentiated labor and intensive use of capital/technology.
- Have large formal organizations, such as bureaucracies, which hold society together.
- These bureaucracies take care of the economy, work, the government, and politics.
What two characteristics define Postindustrial societies?
- Dependent on production/distribution of services, information, and knowledge.
- Information-based, and technology plays key role in social organization.
What are the three characteristics that sociologists use to define a “group”?
- Interact and communicate with each other.
- Share goals and norms.
- Have a subjective awareness of themselves as a distinct social unit.
What is a “Status”?
Status is an established position in a social structure that carries a degree of social rank or value.
What are the four types of Status?
- Status set.
- Achieved Status.
- Ascribed Status.
- Master Status.
What is a status set?
Set of Statuses occupied by a person.
What is an achieved status?
The result of individual effort.
What is an ascribed status?
Given at birth.
What is a master status?
The person’s dominant status.
What is status inconsistency?
Mismatch of statuses.
What is a role?
Expected behavior associated with a particular status.
What is Role Modeling?
Is imitating or copying the way someone else in that role behaves.
What are Role Sets?
Are all the roles occupied by the person at a given time.
What is Role Conflict?
When two or more roles impose conflicting expectations.
What is Role Strain?
Is conflicting expectations within a single role.
True or False: The meaning assigned to any behavior, speech, or action varies from culture to culture.
TRUE
True or False: An action that is positive in one culture can be negative in another.
TRUE.
What is Verbal Communication?
Is not just what you say, but also how and to whom you say it.
How is language restricted?
Language is restricted by societal values and tradition.
How often is nonverbal communication used?
Used more often than verbal behavior.
What are examples of nonverbal communication?
Body position, head nods, eye contact, facial expressions, touching, and so on.
What is Romantic Love?
Romantic love is idealized in this society as something that “just happens.”
What does research show about, “Romantic love”?
Research shows that interpersonal attraction follows predictable patterns.
What are the four different theories that sociologists use to analyze human interactions and relationships?
- The social construction of reality.
- Ethnomethodology.
- Impression management & dramaturgy.
- Social exchange theory.
What are the four different theories that sociologists use to analyze human interactions and relationships?
- The social construction of reality.
- Ethnomethodology.
- Impression management & dramaturgy.
- Social exchange theory.
What is the Social Construction of Reality?
Our perception of what is real is determined by the subjective meaning we assign to the experience.
True or False: There is no objective “reality” in itself.
TRUE
True or False: Things do not have their own intrinsic meaning, we subjectively impose meaning on things: ex: Gender.
TRUE
What is Ethnomethodology?
Studying norms by violating them to reveal people’s standards.
What are the two concepts of ethnomethodology?
- See how people react to disruption and what they do to restore the normative order.
- The basic premise of this approach is that everyone expects the same things.
What is Impression Management?
How one watches and manipulates another’s behavior and adjusts his/her own to the other’s expectations.
What did Goffman call Impression Management?
- Goffman likened this to a con game.
- Called this “Dramaturgical Approach.”
What is Goffman’s dramaturgical approach?
A way to think about social interaction as a performance in a stage play.
What is Social Exchange Theory?
Social Exchange Model: Our interactions are determined by the rewards/punishments we receive from others.
What two ideas does Social Exchange Theory argue?
- Behavior that is rewarded will be repeated.
2. Behavior that is punished will not be repeated.
What is Cyberspace interaction (Virtual interaction)?
Communication via personal computers through some virtual community such as email, Twitter, etc…
What is the purpose of Cyberspace interaction?
Allows us to manage our impressions to others and our presentation of self.
True or False: Internet usage patterns differ for men and women, racial groups, and different age groups.
TRUE
What is a group?
A group consists of two or more individuals who interact, share goals and norms, and have a subjective awareness as “we.”
What are the five factors that sociologists use to differentiate between groups?
- Size
- Closeness of members.
- Duration the group stays together.
- Purpose.
- Organizational Structure.
What are social categories?
Are NOT groups- when the people involved do not necessarily know each other. Engage in similar behavior, but do not hang out. Ex: Truck drivers, teenagers, people over 75.
What is a dyad?
A group of two people.
What is a triad?
A three person group.
What did George Simmel (1902) discover?
Discovered the group size effect.
What did George Simmel observe in group size effect?
He observed how group size influences the behavior of the members.
What did Simmel discover about a third person in a two person group?
He discovered that Tension often builds when a third person is introduced to a two person group: group may splinter 2 + 1.
What do primary groups consist of?
- intimate, face to face interaction.
- relatively long lasting relationships.
- serve members emotional needs.
How do primary groups affect members?
They have a powerful influence on members and affect individuals personalities and identities.
What are examples of primary groups?
Family and Peers
What do secondary groups consist of?
- larger in size than primary groups.
- less intimate
- shorter duration.
How do secondary groups affect members?
Less significant to member’s emotions and lives than primary groups and serve instrumental needs.
What is an exemption to secondary groups?
In a specific circumstance such as catastrophes. secondary groups can take characteristics of a primary group.
What are examples of Secondary groups?
Clients, Tax accountant
What is a reference group?
Provides standards for evaluating your values, attitudes, and behaviors.
What are effects of reference groups?
- You may or may not belong to this group.
- Strongly influence one’s aspirations, self-evaluation, and self-esteem.
What are examples of reference groups?
Major league sports teams, popular bands, super models, classical musicians.
What are “In Groups” ?
In groups are social groups which you belong to.
What do “In groups” provide?
Provides a sense of identity as “us.”
What are “Out Groups”?
Out groups are complementary and referred to as “them.” You are not a member of this group.
What are Social Networks?
Are links between individuals, groups, or other social units.
What are characteristics of Social Networks?
- the strength of network link varies, yet ones that are weak still connect us to other networks.
- Networks help us achieve many of our objectives.
How do social groups influence us?
Social groups exert tremendous influence on our behavior/identity.
-Even if we deny connection, influence still exists.
What is the not me syndrome?
The gulf between what people think they will do and what they actually do.
What was the Asch Conformity experiment?
Solomon Asch showed that even simple objective facts cannot withstand the distorting pressure of group influence.
What was Solomon’s experiment?
Which line on the right is more nearly equal in length to the line on length. Obvious answer- line B.
What did Asch Discover about Social Pressure?
Social Pressure of a gentle sort was sufficient to cause an astonishing rise in number of wrong answers.
What was the Milgram Obedience Studies?
Discovered that people are disturbingly likely to obey when an authority figure demands compliance.
-70% of subjects were willing to obey completely and shock a stranger against will.
What is Groupthink?
Group decision making associated with unintended and disastrous consequences.
-People are unwilling to offer a differing view out of fear of disloyalty.
What is a risky shift?
When people are in a group, they are more likely to make a risky decision.
What is a polarization shift?
Occurs when group discussion leads to a shift to more or less risk taking.
What is Deindividuation?
Willingness to do together what we would not do alone.
What is a formal organization?
- a large secondary group.
-achive goals efficiently.
-is a place where conformity is expected.
Ex: churches, political parties, schools, government.
What is a Normative Organization?
- voluntary organizations
-group activities are worthwhile.
-participants share like values and moral standards.
Ex: PTA, Choirs, bull-fighting clubs, monasteries.
What is Coercive Organization?
-total institutions
-membership is involuntary.
Ex: prison, detention center.
What is a Utilitarian Group?
-large organizations
-either for profit or non profit.
-members join for specific purpose.
Ex: microsoft, General Motors.
What is a Bureaucracy?
- large
- formal
- complex
- rationality and efficiency
- differ from small businesses since they are large and impersonal.
What are six characteristics of bureaucracy?
- division of labor and specialization
- hierarchy of authority
- rules and regualtions
- impersonal relationships.
- career ladder (technical expertise).
- efficiency
What are some problems of a bureaucracy?
- ritualism
- alienation
- groupthink
- risky shift
What is the McDonaldization of Society?
Modern society widely adopts Mcdonald’s prototype of fast food restaurant business strategy.
What are Ritzer’s defined four traits of the Mcdonald’s model?
- Efficiency
- calculability
- predictability
- control
- allows faster distribution of goods and services to a large and increasing demand for product.
What did Rosabeth Moss Kanter say about women and men in corporations?
there are fewer females and minority members than white males in top executive positions.
What is Functionalism?
Weber said functions of bureaucracy help the overall stability of society.
What is conflict perspective?
hierarchy in bureaucracy is stratified.
- encourages conflict among the individuals within it.
- lessens the smooth, running of the organization.
What does symbolic interaction do?
Stresses the role of the self in any group.
-Especially how the self develops as a product of social interaction.
What is Deviance?
Is behavior that is recognized as violating expected rules and norms.
What is Formal Deviance?
-Breaks laws or official rules.
What is Informal Deviance?
-Violates customary norms.
Deviance VS Crime
Deviance: recognized violation of cultural norms
Crime: Violation of a society’s enacted criminal law.
True or False: Not all Deviant Behavior is criminal.
TRUE
What are the four main characteristics of deviant behavior?
- it occurs in a social context not just individual.
- it is culturally relative.
- the social rules are created or constructed; not just morally decided upon or enforced.
- The audience decides what is defined as deviant.
What are Social Movements?
Networks of groups that organize to support or resist change.
Ex: campaign against smoking.
What is an example of a Social movement success and failure?
Temperance Movement
- Enacted in National Prohibition Act (1919)
- Repealed 1933
What is the social construction of deviance?
Deviance is influenced by society
-Subcultural influences.
What is Medicalization of Deviance?
Attributed deviant behavior to a “sick” state of mind, where the solution is to “cure” the deviance through therapy or other psychological treatment.
What do functionalists focus on?
how the behavior and the audience’s reactions contribute to the stability of society.
Who said, “Imagine a community of Saint’s in an exemplary and perfect monastery… ordinary consciences”?
Emile Durkheim
What did Durkheim criticize?
The theory that those who commit suicide are mentally deranged.
According to Durkheim, what are the three types of suicide?
- Egoistic
- Anomic
- Altruistic
What is Egoistic Suicide?
Occurs when people feel totally detached from society.
-lack of social integration
What is Anomic Suicide?
Committed by people when the disintegrating forces in the society make the individuals feel lost or alone.
- Anomie relative formlessness caused by the breakdown of social influences.
What is Altruistic Suicide?
When there is excessive regulation of individuals by social forces.
- Commit suicide for good of others.
What does Durkheim say about Deviance?
- Deviance affirms cultural values and norms.
- there can be no good without evil and no justice without crime.
- responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries.
- boundary between right and wrong.
Who developed the Stain (Anomie) theory of Deviance?
Robert Merton
What did Merton’s theory of Strain (Anomie) propose?
proposed that people conform to the social expectation when the goals, “American dream” and the means of reaching them are in balance.
What is Hirschi’s social control theory?
Examines the culture’s value systems and people’s attachment - or lack-thereof- to those values.
Who said, “Control theories assume that delinquent acts…. aberrant or unusual behavior”?
Hirschi
What are the bonds of Hirschi’s “Social Control Theory”?
- Attachment
- Commitment
- Involvement
- Belief
What is the conflict perspective?
Argues that the economic structure of capitalism produces deviance and crime.
What is Elite Deviance?
Refers to the wrongdoing of wealthy and powerful individuals and organizations.
- white collar crime: wealthy elite always exploit the poor and working class.
What do Conflict theorists believe?
- people in power make rules which govern our society.
- tax and campaign laws are designed to favor interests of rich and powerful.
- those with little power or wealthy more like to come in contact with social control agent. Ex: courts,
What did W. I. Thomas say?
- Normal response to the condition people find themselves.
- Social disorganization theory and Chicago school.
Who said, “the decay of existing societal rules of behavior and institutions”?
Thomas and Znaniecki
Who said, “refers to the inability of a community structure to realize the common values…. maintain effective social controls?”
Sampson and Groves
Who created the Differential Association Theory?
Sutherland.
What does Sutherland’s “Differential Association Theory” say?
people become criminals when they are more strongly socialized to break the law than to obey it.
- ONE LEARNS TO BECOME A DEVIANT.
How does one learn to become a deviant?
Our primary group associations and interactions influence over our actions.
Ex: hang out in a bar too long likely to become alcoholic.
What is Labeling Theory?
interprets the responses of others as the most significant factor in understanding how deviant behavior is both created and sustained.
What is a Label?
When a person is assigned a deviant identity by others.
- arguably an act is not deviant until someone says it is.
What is a Stigma?
Discredited Attribute.
What are Deviant Communities?
are similar to subgroups or countercultures.
What do Deviant Communities maintain?
own values, norms, and rewards for behavior.
- joining a deviant community, closes one off from conventional society.
What is Crime?
Deviant behavior that violates law.
What is criminology?
The scientific study of crime and criminal behavior.
What are the Uniform Crime Reports?
are based on actual and national incident reports made by the police.
What are index crimes?
are crimes of murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, plus property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.
What is Hate Crimes?
Crime that is motivated by bias against race, religion, ethnic origin, etc.
What is Human Trafficking?
Coercion to force someone to engage in labor, service or commercial sex
What is organized Crime?
