SOCI Exam Flashcards
What is Role Allocation?
Refers to the methods by which individuals are allocated (distributed to) status-roles. It describes how individuals acquire their status-roles, how they become incumbents in status-roles.
What is Status?
It is a position in society. One status is professor; another is a student.
What is a Role?
Is the rights and obligations associated with a status (social position). A professor’s role includes the right to give exams and the obligation to grade fairly.
What is a Status Role?
Is a position in society with rights and obligations attached.
Role Conflict is…?
A situation in which a person occupies two or more social roles that make incompatible demands on that person. Examples are professor and father; CEO and wife.
How are individuals allocated to status- roles?
1.) QUALITIES (race,sex,lineage)
2) PERFORMANCE (high school graduation, number of quarterback sacks)
Allocations to roles by QUALITIES occur how?
System of Ascription.
- Training may begin as soon as qualities are known.
- Allocation at birth or soon thereafter is common.
What are the consequences of early Allocation.
- Less individual flexibility
-Lower status anxiety
-Lower societal productivity
-Less societal flexibility
-Less social disorder
Why are the consequences of early Allocation bad?
People who live in societies that allocate primarily by ascription are relatively satisfied with their lives, particularly if they are unaware of life in other societies.
Allocation to roles by PERFORMANCE occurs how?
In a system of Achievement.
-Training must wait until ability and motivation are known.
-Allocation during late teens and early adulthood is common.
Consequences of later Allocation?
- Higher status anxiety
-Higher productivity
-More individual Flexibility
-More societal flexibility
-Higher level of social disorder.
Why are there consequence to later Allocation?
Because roles are (more or less) rationally allocated by talent (among those who get a chance to perform), so there is some competition (that may be seen as unfair by the “losers,” especially if the losers were not permitted to perform or compete).
Which system of Allocation is used in the United States?
A combination of both
systems of allocation is
used.
A system of Achievement
which is mediated by
Ascription is the system
of role allocation used in
the United States
What are the two classes by Karl Marx?
the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
How many classes are there?
No real number
How many classes did we talk about in class and what are they?
Six.
1.) Upper Upper
2.) Upper Middle
3) Middle
4) Working
5) Lower
6) Lower Lower
Upper Class
-1-3% of the population
-Property orientation
-More than 1/2 million dollars annual income, although income is not the focus.
Upper Middle Class
-5-7% of the population
-Occupation orientation
-$100,000-1,000,000 or more annual income
Middle Class (Middle Middle and Lower)
-30-35% of the population
-Occupation orientation
-white collar and pink collar workers
-$40,000-150,000
Working Class
-30-35% of the population
-Occupation orientation
-Skilled occupations: blue collar workers $25,000-150,000
Lower Class
-15-20% of the population
-Income, poverty orientation
-Often the “working poor ”Semi-skilled workers, unskilled workers, and occasional welfare recipients $35,000 or less
Lower-Lower Class
-5% of the population
-Welfare, poverty orientation
-Characterized by hopelessness
Upper Class socialization/rules?
Value placed on competition, Instrumental Value of Manners, social network, name and lineage,
Concerted Cultivation, Threat of Love Withdrawal, all employed in the socialization process.
“Old Money” versus Nouveau Riche Punishment:
Early in life, threat of love withdrawal; later threat of separation from the family.
Opportunity: Limitless but carries an obligation (old money); limitless and to be used for self-
fulfillment (new money)
Middle Class socialization?
Value placed on Education, Gratification Deferral, Competition and (IVM) manners; Concerted Cultivation employed in the socialization process.
Punishment: Primarily, Threat of love Withdrawal;
Opportunity: Seen as almost limitless with effort and Gratification Deferral
Working class socialization?
Value placed on some Education, Friendship, Independence; Natural Growth all typically employed in the socialization process.
Punishment: Mixture love withdrawal and physical punishment
Opportunity: Seen as limited, but with satisfying possibilities for those who work diligently.
Lower Class socialization?
Value placed on Friendship, Early Independence; Natural Growth typically employed in the socialization process.
Punishment: Tends to be physical, with verbal demands for conformity
Opportunity: Seen as limited, but some possibilities for the lucky
Lower Lower Class socialization?
Value placed on friendship, early independence; Natural growth typically
employed in the socialization process.
Punishment: Tends to be physical, with verbal demands for conformity
Opportunity: Seen as hopeless
What is stratification?
Is the arrangement of society into social classes
All societies must solve the functional prerequisite of
———?
Adaption.
All societies must adapt to the
environment.
How do societies solve the functional prerequisites of adaptation?
By motivating
people to do the work necessary to produce and distribute goods so as to feed, clothe, and provide
shelter.
How can people be motivated to do the work necessary for the production and distribution of goods.
To solve the functional prerequisites of adaptation, members of the society must be motivated to do the work necessary for the society to survive. To solve this problem, rewards must be used, and unequal rewards must be used.
What work is most likely to get the highest rewards?
Work that is difficult, distasteful, and necessary.
How do class differences undermine opportunity?
1) Differences in socialization produce different values of ,education, gratification deferral, friendship and competition, manners and manipulation, and independence at an early age.
(2) Different styles of punishment produce different abilities for acting within the norms and values transmitted. The styles of punishment are emotional punishment (e.g., the threat of love withdrawal), physical punishment, and some combination of these two approaches. These styles of punishment are significantly influenced by class position.
(3) Real differences in opportunity exist and thus significantly influence the possibility of achieving goals. Opportunity is the result of class; the chance to become educated and to work are both significantly influenced by class position.
(4) The presence of successful role models influences achievement motivation. Occupational role models are determined by class position.
