MCAT Social Structure and Demographics Flashcards
Sociology
The study of society and the interactions within society. Can be broken into 3 different levels:
- Micro level - family and local communities.
- Meso level- organizations, ethnic community, and institutions.
- Macro level- national and international levels.
Symbolic interactionism
Created by George Mead. States that we communicate through symbols ( things that have meaning) that have shared meanings between people in our community.
These symbols can have different shared meanings between communities.
Social constructionism
Things have meaning in society because we agreed on them having meaning.
There referred to as social constructs because society gave them a meaning ( ie. race).
Rational choice ( exchange) theory
Note: Also called exchange theory or social exchange theory)
People act rationally and pick the option that benefits themselves the most.
Conflict Theory
Proposed by Marx. States that the working class ( proletariat) will be oppressed by the wealthy ( beourgeosie) due to owning the means of production.
Capitalism is a society in which individuals and corporations control the means of production and not the government.
Modern Conflict Theory
Theory that brings Marx’s conflict theory into into modern society.
States that some people hold power and work to maintain that power. Groups that has less power organize interest groups to take away some of that power ( through means of voting or protesting)
Structural functionalism
Proposed by Durkheim.
The different groups of society unconsiously work together for the functioning of society.
Manifest functions v. Latent functions v. Dysfunctions
The group’s intended function is the manifest functions.
The group’s latent functions is unintended positive benefits that comes from the groups.
Dysfunctions are negative consequences of the group.
Feminist Theory
Criticisms of the structures of society that put women at a disadvantage.
Focuses on the patriarchial system in which men holds power over women.
Glass ceiling v. Glass escalator
Pertaining to feminist theory.
- Glass ceiling - invisible social forces that makes it hard for women to achieve high positions in the workplace.
- Glass escalator- the invisible social forces that pushes men in higher positions in the workplace.
Social institutions
Structures in society that govern peoples action and behaviors.
Include family, education, religion, government and economy, healthcare.
The family institution
The most basic institution that provides a person’s basic needs.
The definitions of the family differ from culture to culture.
The education institution
Institution that provides the skills necessary to function in society.
The hidden curriculum
The transmitting of social norms, values, and beliefs. A latent function.
Teacher expectancy
The idea that teachers get what out of the students what they expect of them.
True/ False: Education varies across socioeconomic classes and even linked to better healthcare.
True
The religion institution
Beliefs that are centered around the meaning of our existence.
Religiosity
How religious someone else
What are the 5 major religions?
Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism
Different groups within these religions are referred to as denominations.
The church is the group and the physical location of worship.
Secularization v. Fundamentalism
Secularization is the moving of an organization away from religion to scientific thinking.
Fundamentalism- holding on their traditional religious beliefs
The institution of government and economy. Describe the types of governments:
- Democracy
- Monarchies
- Dictatorships
-Theocracy
Institution that governs the rule making of our society.
- Democracy- everyone has a voice by electing officials.
- Monarchies- One person rules but their power can be limited by other bodies in government.
- Dictatorship- single person holds power.
- Theocracy- ruling by a religious leader, usually with a charismatic authority.
Socialist economies
Industries that are controlled by the government and the profits are distributed equally among the working class
Institution of healthcare/ medicine
Institution that serves to improve the health of society
Life course approach to health
Each stage of life influences the next and social aspects influences health.
The sick role
States that patient’s illness it not their fault and therefore gives them an excuse to get out of social duties. However they must have the desire to get back into health.
Now it’s a shift to patients taking a more proactive rule in preventing disease.
Medicalization
Making behaviors a medical condition
Illness experience
People’s attitudes about their health.
-Disease is the condition while illness is an experience. A person can have a disease but not be ill.
Social epidemiology
How institutions influence the health of a society
What are the 4 tenets of medical ethics that physicians must follow?
- Beneficence - Physician has a responsibility to act in the patient’s best interest.
- Nonmaleficence - do no harm to the patient.
- Respect to patient’s autonomy
- Justice - Treat all patients with quality care
Culture. What are the two categories?
The lifestyle of a group of people.
- Material culture - material objects that symbolize a culture.
- Symbolize culture- ideas that symbolize a culture.
Cultural lag
Happens when symbolic culture follows behind the changing material culture.
