Exam Review Flashcards
what is natural science?
it focuses on the study of natural world and our physical surroundings. Branches of research include: geology, biology and chemistry
What are the humanities?
focuses on the study of products of human culture. It would involve the study of literature, art and music.
What are the social sciences?
Uses research and analysis to explain human behaviour. Social science is concerned with the way people act individually and in groups. Branches would include: Economics, History, Political Science, Human Geography, Anthropology, Family studies, psychology and sociology
What is Anthropology?
The development of the human species and human culture throughout the world. Research methods include living with the cultural group for extended periods observing rituals and groups behaviours.
What is psychology?
Studies individual behaviour to discover the underlying triggers or causes of human behaviour. Methods of research include studying peoples feelings, thoughts, and personality development through interviews to determine past influential experiences; conducting animal experiments, believing these will lead to a greater understanding of the human mind
What is Sociology?
How people act in group situations; the development and structure of human society and how it works. Methods of research include conducting statistical analysis and observation
What are the three anthropological schools of thoughts?
- Functionalism
- Structuralism
- Cultural Materialism
What is functionalism?
~cultures are set up to try and meet the physical and psychological needs of its members
~All laws, customs, and practices within a society (institutions) serve a purpose in providing stability to the culture/society
~In order to understand a culture, it is necessary to investigate and understand the function of its institutions
~Society is in itself a logical institution that functions in the best interest of the majority
What are the criticisms of Functionalism?
~critics claim that functionalists present culture as being more stable than it is. It may downplay the effect of negative practices in a culture.
What are the three psychological schools of thoughts?
- Psychoanalytical Theory
- Behaviourism
- Learning Theory
What is psychoanalytical theory?
*The mind is divided into two separate parts, the conscious (the part we are aware of), and the unconscious (the part we are not aware of)
*The unconscious mind is divided further into three parts
~Id: seeks out physical satisfaction (may be impulsive)
~Superego: prompts us to do the moral thing
~Ego: acts as the referee between the Id and Superego
Does the conscious or unconscious mind have more of an influence on our personality?
The unconscious mind has more influence in the development of our personality than the conscious mind. Personal development and behaviour are governed by how the three parts of the unconscious mind interact.
Who was the founder of the psychoanalytic theory?
Sigmund Freud was the founder. He developed the theory that our early childhood experiences (i.e. family relationships) are stored in our unconscious memories and influence the way we function. Treatment would focus on treating the unconscious mind to unlock and/or purge deep-seated frustrations in order to correct conscious behaviour
What are the criticisms of the psychoanalytic theory?
Freud emphasized that individual sexual frustration or satisfaction was the key element in personal development. Critics argued that the sexual component was only one among many important factors in human personality development.
What is behaviourism?
~behaviour can be predicted or modified by identifying the factors that motivate or deter certain behaviours
FAMOUS PRACTIONERS:
*John B. Watson: children should be brought up using a scientific, strictly scheduled, rule-based model
*Benjamin Spock: A permissive approach to child rearing, rather than a strict one, would result in successful, well-adjusted adults
What are the criticisms of behaviourism?
Every child is unique, and methods used in children’s upbringing should be tailored to meet individual needs. Spock and Watson were also criticized for not placing enough emphasis on hereditary or human development
What is the Learning Theory?
*Most human behaviour is learned, especially in childhood and youth
*By controlling the way humans learn behaviour, society can have a great influence on personality development
FAMOUS PRACTITIONERS:
Ivan Pavlov/B.F. Skinner/Albert Bandura:
Learning was a stimulus-response effect. If a subject was correctly stimulated it will give the appropriate response.
Consistent expectations for good behavoiur and swift consequences for improper behaviour would produce the appropriate response
What are the criticisms of the Learning Theory?
Critics argued that learning was more complicated than stimulus-response. Learning was more of a modeling experience. When humans observe behaviour, either acceptable or unacceptable, they are more likely to practice it
What are the five sociological schools of thoughts?
- Structural Functionalism
- Neo-Marxism
- Symbolic Interactionism
- Feminist Theory
- Inclusionism
What is structural functionalism?
- Each society should provide its members means for satisfying its member’s needs (i.e. material, socialization and education of the young, means for regulating reproduction, etc.)
- Society functions best when its members pass and share all values
- Harmony among people is a more natural condition
What are the criticisms of structural functionalism?
It places too much emphasis on stability and not enough on change and the focuses that divide people in society
What is Neo-Marxism?
- Originally proposed by Karl Marx, who argued that economic power leads to political power and the key to understanding society
- to understand society we must understand the economic system that creates a rich and poor class of owners and workers
- Poor people are alienated because they do not share in society’s wealth
- Neo-Marxists call for a more equitable distribution of society’s wealth and the dismantling of classes among people
What are the criticisms to Neo-Marxism?
Neo-Marxism’s view is limited and ignores the redeeming qualities of many people living in capitalist societies.
What is symbolic interactionalism?
- Symbolic interactionalists emphasize the freedom of people to be able to make choices. People have complex brains and can interpret for themselves the daily stimuli they are exposed to. They interpret and react to stimuli in a manner that provides meaning for them
- How our brains interpret what we observe will translate into what action we will respond with.
What are the criticisms to symbolic interactionalism?
Critics suggest that symbolic interactionalism ignores the role of societal institutions in moulding the way individuals interpret their experiences.
What is the Feminist Theory?
Women have been disadvantaged in society because they have traditionally been discriminated against. Most decisions made in society have served the interest of men.
What are the criticisms to the feminist theory?
Feminist theories over-emphasize the role that gender plays as a key determinant in society.
What is Inclusionism?
- Ethnic and cultural conflicts could be reduced by “assimilation”. The culture of the majority would gradually absorb ethnic and cultural minorities (Melting Pot theory).
- As the members of visible minorities grow, it was believed that individuals could retain their ethnic identities while participating fully in the life of their country (Mosaic theory).
What are the criticisms to inclusionism?
Despite claims of acceptance of ethnic differences, minorities earned less than the majority regardless of what their educational qualifications could demand.
What are experiments? (SSRM)
They are the research methods where variables are manipulated to determine cause and effect. May be used to predict or determine certain behaviours in various situations.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to experiments? (SSRM)
Advantages: They are an effective method for proving cause and effect. Methods of experiments can be repeated to test accuracy.
Disadvantages: Laboratory conditions may not always simulate real life conditions.
What is a sample survey? (SSRM)
It is a small, randomly selected group that can be used to represent larger groups. The method usually relies on simple questionnaires and multiple choice response.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to a sample survey? (SSRM)
Advantages: Useful when wanting to sample larger groups.
Disadvantages: Questionnaires are not in depth enough and may not yield detailed results.
What is an interview? (SSRM)
A limited number of people are presented with a list of prepared questions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to an interview? (SSRM)
Advantages: They are better suited for obtaining in depth answers to create a clearer picture.
Disadvantages: Usually expensive to administer and limits the number of people that can be interviewed.
What is a case study? (SSRM)
It involves repeated observation of an individual or group or situation over a period of time to determine changes or discrepancies.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to a case study? (SSRM)
Advantages: They can provide a detailed account of one particular situation.
Disadvantages: Cannot assume results apply to all.
What is an observational (Social Science Research Method)?
Involves unstructured observations with no particular goal in mind. Participants usually live among those being observed.
What are the advantages or disadvantages to an observational? (SSRM)
Advantages: Good for detailed information.
Disadvantages: Can observe but can’t determine cause. Observers bias may affect results.
What are correlational techniques? (SSRM)
They measure the association between two events.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to correlational techniques? (SSRM)
Advantages: Can determine relations
Disadvantages: Can’t determine cause and effect.
What is a historical analysis? (SSRM)
It is the use of census and historical documents to gather information about culture.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a historical analysis? (SSRM)
Advantages: Can get a true picture of life.
Disadvantages: They are easy to misinterpret.
What is a content analysis? (SSRM)
They use written material, conversations, art, media etc., to gather information about culture/society.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of content analysis? (SSRM)
Advantages: Can get a true picture of life.
Disadvantages: Easy to misinterpret.
What are the four variations of the Feminist theory?
- Liberal
- Marxian
- Radical
- Social
What is a Liberal Feminist?
Society needs to be more welcoming to women and accessible to women’s influence
What is a Marxian Feminist?
Undervalued and underpaid women’s work had made it possible to lower men’s wages and make industrialists more wealthy
What is a Radical Feminist?
Men have exploited women because of their natural child-rearing role. As a result, society is Patriarchy in which men dominate
What is a Social Feminist?
The issues of oppression that result from capitalism and patriarchy should be separated and not common concerns.
What are the consequences of conformity?
- Conformity has a tendency to discourage social change. The desire to conform can act like inertia - people tend to do the same thing year after year and resist the temptation to change.
- It may encourage people to accept practices that they know or suspect are wrong, and make them afraid to speak out
- Alienation can lead people to give up and accept living in poverty. It can also lead to crime, substance abuse, and even suicide.
What factors contribute to an increase of women in the work force?
Higher divorce rates, subsidized daycare, women are waiting longer to have children and focusing more on their careers
What is the Employment Equity Act?
The purpose of the Employment Equity Act was to tackle systematic discrimination. Systematic discrimination is when the system favours some groups over others in terms of hiring. For example, women, aboriginal people, members of visual minorities, and people with mental or physical disabilities.
What is the Low Income Cut-Off Rate (LICO)?
A complex statistical measure by Stats Canada; the amount of income necessary to maintain a decent life. If a family is spending more than 56% of their total income on maintaining necessities, they are living in poverty.
What is Psychoanalytic theory in one sentence?
A certain way of picturing the mind and how it works
What is Behaviourism in one sentence?
When psychologists predict and control or modify human behaviour by identifying the factors that motivate it in the first place
What is Learning Theory in one sentence?
A theory that humans are born with little instinct but a lot of learning potential and that most human behaviour is learned, especially in childhood and youth.