Psychology and Sociology: Chapter 11 Flashcards
Sociology
the study of society; how we create society, how we interact within and change society, and how we define what is normal and abnormal in society
Micro level of sociology
consists of family groups and local communities
Meso level of sociology
consists of organizations, institutions and ethnic subcultures
Macro level of sociology
consists of national and international systems
Symbol
any object, image, sound, or action that carries meaning
Symbolic interactionism
is an approach to sociology pioneered by influential sociologist Georgy Herbert Mead that attempts to understand human action and interaction by studying the symbols we use to communicate
3 assumptions symbolic interactionism makes about human behavior
-Humans act toward symbols based on the meanings that these symbols carry
-The meanings symbols carry come from social interaction
-Humans interpret the meaning of symbols, and this interpretation influences action
Social construct
any idea that has been created and accepted by the people in a society
Social constructionism
the attempt to understand a society through the study of the society’s social constructs
Rational choice theory
-focuses on individual decision making; humans will make rational choices to further their own self-interests
-people weigh the costs and benefits when making choices, ranking their options based on maximizing perceived benefit
- social exchange theory or exchange theory: whether there is reciprocity and balance in social relationships
-People stay in relationships because they get something from the exchange
Conflict theory
attempts to understand society by examining the inevitable conflicts between groups in society
Capitalism
an economic system which individuals and corporations, rather than governments, own and control what Marx called the means of production meaning property, machinery, factories, or any other means of creating a saleable good or service
Capitalist (bourgeoisie) class
small, wealthy class who control the means of production
Worker (proletariat) class
lower class that performs manual labor
Interest groups
individuals that organize into a group to use tools such as protesting or voting to enact change and equalize power
Structural functionalism
Interested in how large societies survive over long time periods, and is therefore concerned with social cohesion and stability
-inverse of conflict theory
Teacher expectancy
refers to the idea that teachers tend to get what they expect from students
Religiosity
refers to how religious one considers him- or herself to be, and includes strength of religious beliefs, engagement in religious practices, and attitudes about religion itself
Denominations/sects
members of a religion that group because they share certain beliefs or practices but no the others
Cult
a religious sect may take on extreme or deviant philosophies
Fundamentalism
maintenance of strict adherence to religious code