Psych/Soc Memorization Flashcards
1
Q
Symbolic Interactionism
A
- Small-scale perspective of interactions between individuals
- George Herbert Mead / Herbert Bloomer
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Bloomer’s Tenets:
- we act based on the meaning be have given something
- different peopel assign different meanings to things (based on social interaction)
- the meaning we give something can change
- Sometimes considered supplemental because it is restricted to small-scale interactions
- Important because it gives individual perspectives
2
Q
Social Constructionism
A
- People develop understandings and knowledge of the world through interactions with other people, and that the mediating force in this interaction is primarily language
- Ideas are not inherent in the nature of reality itself, but are socially constructed and transmitted every day through countless language-based interactions between members of society
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Social Constructs:
- books, money, nations, etc.
- Typically a larger view of society that deals with how society creates and defines its constructs
- Criticism: doesn’t consider the effect of natural phenomena on society
3
Q
Social Conflict Theory
A
- Focuses on inequalities of different groups in society
- Based on Marx: society evolves through different phases
- Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie
- working class creates class consciouness and creates antithesis to overthrow the thesis (status quo)
- struggle eventually leads to compromise and creation of new state
- synthesis of thesis and anithesis creates a new thesis
- Criticism: doesn’t take into account stability of the status quo
4
Q
Functionalism
A
- Emile Durkheim
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Large-scale view of structures that make of society
- institutions
- social facts
-
Structures of society work together to maintain eqilibrium
- manifest functions (intended effects of structures)
- latent functions (indirect effects)
5
Q
Rational Choice-Exchange Theory
A
- Individuals make decisions for social interactions or other courses of action based on earning the greatest reward at the lowest cost
- Opporutunities for profit motivate us to behave and interact in certain ways
- Cost-benefit analysis (subjective)
- Rational Choice: focuses on measurable resources/profits/costs
- Social Exchange: focuses on decisions regarding interactions with costs/benefits that can be tangible or intangible
6
Q
James-Lange Theory of Emotion
A
- phsysiological → cognitive perception of emotion
- a stimulus triggers a physiological response, which then leads to the subjective, conscious experience of emotion. For example, if you are watching a scary movie, your heart rate may become elevated, and that leads to the perception of fear. However, this theory is limited, since certain physiological states may be experienced as different emotions depending on context (fear vs. excitement).
7
Q
Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
A
- simultaneous cognitive and physiological response → behavioral response
- cognitive and physiological responses to a stimulus occur simultaneously and independently of one another, with a behavioral response following them. However, this theory still lacks any element of cognitive appraisal, or conscious thought about how one’s situation may impact the emotion(s) felt.
8
Q
Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
A
- physiological response → cognitive interpretation of situation → perception of emotion
- a stimulus first leads to physiological arousal, then a cognitive interpretation of the circumstances, and finally a perception of emotion. This resembles the James-Lange theory, but adds the element of cognitive appraisal, which helps explain how (for example) an elevated breathing rate can be interpreted as multiple different emotions based on context.
9
Q
Lazarus Theory of Emotion
A
- cognitive appraisal → physiological changes and experience of emotion
- a thought must come before any emotion or physiological arousal. In other words, you must first think about your situation before you can experience an emotion.
