Psychology and Sociology: Chapter 12 Flashcards
Social class
A category of people who share a similar socioeconomic position in society, and can be identified by looking at the economic opportunities, job positions, lifestyles, attitudes, and behaviors of a given slice of society
Social cohesion
the solidarity and sense of connectedness among different social groups and social class in society
Social stratification
focuses on social inequalities and studies the basic question of who gets what and why
Ascribed status (socioeconomic status)
-derives from clearly identifiable characteristics, such as age, gender, and skin color
-involuntary
Achieved status (socioeconomic status)
-acquired via direct, individual efforts
-An important factor is educational attainment
-obtained through merit
Socioeconomic gradient
the proportional improvement in healthcare as one moves up in socioeconomic status
Class consciousness
the organization of the working class around shared goals and recognition of a need for collective political action
False consciousness
a misperception of one’s actual position within society
Anomie
refers to a lack of widely accepted social norms and the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and society
Strain theory
-focuses on how anomic conditions can lead to deviance
-Anomic conditions include excessive individualism, social inequality, and isolation
Social capital
The investment people make in their society in return for economic or collective rewards; the greater the investment, the higher the level of social integration
Social integration
the movement of a new or minority population into a larger culture while maintaining ethnic identities
Intersectionality
the compounding of disadvantage seen in individuals who belong to more than one undeserved group
Social mobility
typically the result of an economic and occupational structure that allows one to acquire higher-level employment opportunities given proper credentials and experience requirements
Intragenerational mobility
refers to changes in social status that happen within a person’s lifetime
Intergenerational mobility
refers to changes in social status from parents to children
Meritocracy
A social structure in which intellectual talent and achievement are means for a person to advance up the social ladder
Vertical mobility
movement from one social class to another
Upward mobility
a positive change in a person’s social status, resulting in a higher position
Downward mobility
a negative change in a person’s social status, wherein they fall to a lower position
Horizontal mobility
A change in occupation or lifestyle by an individual that keeps that individual within the same social class
Absolute level (poverty)
poverty is a socioeconomic condition in which people do not have enough money or resources to maintain a quality of living that induces basic life necessities such as shelter, food, clothing, and water
Relative level (poverty)
people are poor in comparison to the larger population in which they live
Poverty line
derived from the government’s calculation of the minimum income requirements for families to acquire the minimum necessities of life
