Psychology/Sociology Chapter 11: Social Structures Flashcards
social capital
social connections someone has
Cultural capital
knowledge, skills and education gained from experiencing a specific culture
Economic capital
financial resources of goods and money that someone has available
Assimilation
strategy in which the individual seeks to interact with the new culture and reject the native culture
General strain theory
holds that individuals who have experienced various negative events feel negative emotions, which lead to negative behaviors.
Anomie theory
states that individuals who experience weakened social values are less likely to behave in ways that are helpful to that society
Relative deprivation theory
individuals who perceive themselves as having fewer resources than others will often act in ways to obtain these resources
Functionalism
is a theoretical perspective that views society as a system of interconnected parts working together to maintain stability, order, and social equilibrium. Each part of society—such as institutions, norms, and roles—has a specific function or purpose that contributes to the functioning of the whole.
functionalist theoryofsocial stratification
social stratification serves a purpose for society. power is legitimately distributed.
those who fill the top careers in society do so because they are the most qualified and make the most significant contribution
utilitarian organization
organizations in which members are compensated for their involvement. Employees of a particular company share membership in a utilitarian organization.
coercive organization
organizations in which members are forced to join. Prison is a classic example.
mimetic organization
are ones that attempt to copy another organization
Meritocracy
is a system in which individuals are rewarded, promoted, or given opportunities based on their abilities, achievements, and talents rather than on factors like wealth, social status, or personal connections. The idea is that the most competent and capable individuals should rise to positions of power and influence, ensuring efficiency and fairness in decision-making.
Equal opportunities but not equal outcomes
Functionalism makes a distinction between
manifest, or intended, and latent, or unintended, functions of social practices which sustain social stability
Medicalization
refers to the process in which issues experienced in a society are defined and treated by medical experts
Exchange mobility
refers to a process in which certain individuals experience a decline in their socioeconomic status while others experience an increase, which does not change the ratio of individuals in upper and lower socioeconomic groups
Gender script vs schema
A gender script refers to specific, socially expected behaviors for a gender in a given situation (e.g., “Men should pay on a first date”), while a gender schema is a broader cognitive framework that organizes gender-related knowledge and expectations (e.g., “Men are assertive, women are nurturing”).
Difference between conflict perspective and functionalism
The conflict perspective views society as a struggle between groups for power and resources, emphasizing inequality and dominance, while functionalism sees society as a system of interdependent parts that work together to maintain stability and social order.
