Midterm Flashcards
What is social structure
the way society is set up
Why is social structure important?
its the “rules of the game”
What is the main point of “Eating your friends”
illustrates sudden change in social structure and a new set of norms
What is social construction
meaning is built through interaction with object and others
Give an example of social construction
mask= sick or medical, now mask= democrat
Define Agency
free will
Define Macro-level factors
large scale, society as a whole
Define Meso-level factors
middle ground between macro and micro
Define Micro-level factors
individual level
Describe the conflict theoretical approach
2 groups: powerful and oppressed
battle over material resources
Describe the functionalism theoretical approach
society operates as an organism
everyone is there for a reason
Describe the symbolic interactionism theoretical approach
we create meaning through interaction
Define values in culture and give an example
abstract ideas of what is right and what is wrong
being faithful in marriage
define norms in culture and give an example
rules that specify appropriate behavior in a situation
Muslim women wearing headscarves
define material culture
physical objects
define counterculture
cultural group in a larger society that rejects norms of the majority
define ethnocentrism
tendency to look at other cultures through eyes of your own
define cultural relativism
judging a culture by their perspective
What is social construction of reality
As we interact with things we decide what things mean and what to expect in the future
What are the beliefs of Auguste Comte
Invented sociology
Thought it should model itself after physics
Society is not normal but constructed by individuals
Beliefs of Herbert spencer
Development is a natural outcome of individual achievement
Natural order meaning state should not help lower class
Beliefs of Émile Durkheim
Social structure constraints our activities and therefore what we do as individuals
Beliefs of Karl Marx
Material and economic factors have a prime role in determining historical change
Beliefs is Max Weber
Economics, ideas and values affect social change
Beliefs is WEB DuBois
American society lets African Americans see themselves only through the eyes of others
What is cultural appropriation
When members from one culture borrow elements from another
What is assimilation
Acceptance of minority group group by majority group
Why should we care about culture
Affects all areas of our lives
Constrain and expand life chances
Understand others motives
What is socialization
The interactive processes that teach us what to believe and how to behave in a culture
Define life course
The various transitions and stages people experience during their lives
Define social reproduction
Process of perpetuating values which leads to continuity over time
What are the two phases of socialization
Primary in childhood
Secondary in late childhood and maturity
Define primary socialization
Takes place in childhood
Most intense period
Learn from parents
Define secondary socialization
Late childhood and maturity
Learn from school, peers, media
Define resocialization
Learning new norms and rules after moving to a new social world
Define and give an example of anticipatory socialization
Learning about a role before we enter it
Parenting classes
Define hidden curriculum
In schools there are subtle behaviors and attitudes that we learn
Define social identity
Characteristics that others attribute to an individual
Define identity
People’s understanding of who they are
Define master status
Single identity or status that overpowers the other identities one holds
Define role
A position someone holds
What is the generalized other
When someone believes the whole of society is judging them about something
Demographics of silent generation
1928-1945
75-92 years
6% of US pop
Demographics of Baby Boomers
1946-1964
56-74 years
21% of pop.
Demographics of Gen X
1965-1980
40-55 years
20% of US pop
Demographics of millennials
1981-1996
24-39 years
22%
Demographics of Gen Z
1997-2012
8-23
20%
Characteristics is silent generation
Traditional gender roles
You could get ahead if you worked hard
Must pay their dues
See world of opportunities
Characteristics of baby boomers
Social movements
Less conservative
Mixed economic opportunities
Challenger status quo except in work
Older is more progressive
Characteristics of Gen X
Declining economic opportunities
Church and government scandals
Divorce
Assume things will go wrong
Characteristics of millennials
Social media
Self esteem movement
Great Recession
More acceptance of diversity
Characteristics of Gen Z
Digital natives
Sharp political divisiveness
Social upheaval
High diversity
Social movements
Entitled and fearful
Define looking-glass self
The reactions we elicit in social situations create a mirror in which we see ourselves
Define status
Social prestige a group had according to other members of society
Define social position
Social identity an individual has in a given context
Define civil inattention
Indicating awareness but not intrusiveness
What are the stages of socialization according to Mead
Imitation stage- 0-3- imitate what they see
Play stage- 3-6- role taking
Game stage- 6-school age— learn how roles work together
What are Goffmans 5 main points about the self
Self is formed through interaction
We present ourselves to get desired reactions
We have a front and back stage
We use sign vehicles
There is not true self
Define expressions given
What you want others to see
Define expressions given off
What people actually see about you
What is a democracy
Political system in which the people rule
What is a monarch
Unelected king and queen rule
What are constitutional monarchs
King and queen are simply a face
What is a liberal democracy
Elected president holds power
What is Marxs explanation for why social movements occur
Society is based off of classes
In unstable societies, forces of production change and classes clash
James Davis’ explanation for social movements
More likely when people’s living conditions improve
Define deviance
Non conformity to a set of norms that a significant number of people in a community accept
Define sanctions
Reward or punishment that reinforces socially expected forms of behavior
Define anomie
Situation in which social norms lose their hold over individual behavior
What does Durkheim say about deviance
It is inevitable and necessary
Adaptive
Promotes boundary maintenance
What does Merton say about deviance
It’s a by product of economic inequalities
What are the five types of deviance
Conformists
Innovators
Ritualists
Retreatists
Rebels
What are conformists
Accept generally held values regardless of where they meet with success
What are innovators
Accept socially approved values but use illegitimate means to follow them
What are ritualists
Conform to standards though they lost sight to underlying values
What are retreatists
Abandon the competitive outlook rejecting both dominant values
What are rebels
Reject both dominant values but try to reconstruct the social system
