Social Stratification & Structures Flashcards
What is the difference between a social organization and a formal organization?
Social organization - group comprised of professional relationships, unique culture, and goals of its own
Formal organization - a social system which is organized by clearly laid out rules and a division of labor, with a defined hierarchy of power
Define normative, coercive, and utilitarian organizations
Normative - membership based on shared goals & values
Coercive - membership not freely chosen
Utilitarian - membership driven by compensation
what is red tape?
A term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
What is the iron law of oligarchy?
Created by Robert Michels, it’s a concept which posits that any and all forms of organizations (regardless of how democratic they say they are) inevitably end up being controlled by a powerful few. Which makes true democracy impossible
There is a term coined for the tendency of large organizations to standardize operations, focusing on efficiency, predictability/uniformity, calculability and formalized social control.
Mcdonaldization
Differentiate between manifest and latent functions.
Manifest - intended social outcomes for an institution
(Healthcare is intended to take care of the ill in society)
Latent - unintended social outcomes
(Increasing health disparities based on SES)
What is institutional memory?
Knowledge that is held by members of an organization about the organization’s procedures, rules, facts, etc.
Max Weber’s 5 necessary components of an ideal bureaucracy
- Division of labor and specialization
- Standardization in Management through written rules and regulations
- Hierarchy of authority
- Formal selection based on technical competence
- Impersonality
What are the key ideas of the functionalist approach to sociology?
- Macrosociological approach
- Each part of society works together to maintain dynamic equilibrium (homeostasis).
- Has more positive outlook than conflict theory.
What are the key ideas of the conflict theory in sociology?
Developed by Karl Marx
1. Macrosociological theory
2. Society is made up of a upper and lower class which struggle with each other for limited resources.
3. There is inequality based on social class.
What are the key ideas of social constructionism theory in sociology? (Also known as phenomenology)
- Can be micro or macro theory
- Posits that reality is created through social interactions, resulting in agreed-upon, shared meanings from society
- Different things such as money and race have meaning only because individuals and society as a whole have agreed on that meaning.
- Everything is a social construct created by cooperative construction of realities between people
What are the key ideas of the symbolic interactionist approach in sociology?
- Microsociological theory
- Focus on nonverbal communication and interactions between people on a small scale.
- Suggest that people communicate using symbols.
- Humans act towards things on the basis of the meanings they have assigned them. Meanings of things are changed through social interaction.
- Analyzes: How does reality change from person to person in situations?
Social exchange theory key ideas
Microsociological perspective
1. People act to get what they need by exchanging goods and services with others.
2. People try to maximize rewards and minimize personal costs.
3. If outcomes are positive, relationships continue.
Rational choice theory key ideas
- All actions are rationally motivated w/ a cost/benefit analysis.
- Focus on:
Individualism
Maximization of goals
Self-interest
Attribute the theorists to the following theories:
Functionalism
Conflict theory
Symbolic interactionism
Functionalism - Emile Durkheim & Talcott Parsons
Conflict - Karl Marx, Max Weber
Symbo I - Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead
What is medicalization?
It is the process of defining and characterizing a given condition/behavior as a medical illness or coming from a medical cause, which creates both positive and negative consequences.
Ex: attributing medicalization to pregnancy, allows different expectations and treatment of pregnant women, due to this condition.
What does the medical model of illness and disability support?
-Sees the illness itself as the problem
-Diagnosis & treatment heavy, less focus on pt.
What does the social model of illness and disability support?
-Sees the invisible structures in society as the problem
- Focus on prevention and integration
-Less expensive treatment plans, use of medical professionals other than doctors
What is the sick role theory?
A theory that explains a sick person as having a role in society with both rights and obligations.
Differntiate between illness & disease.
Illness = A person’s subjective experience of a health problem.
Disease = A medical professional’s scientific definition of a health problem based on signs
& symptoms.
Define incidence
of new cases/ # of people at risk for the disease
The number of newly diagnosed cases of a disease.
# of new cases of disease/# of people at risk for the disease
Define prevalence
total cases of disease/total population
The total number of cases of a disease existing in an entire population.
# of total cases existing in a population/ whole population
Differentiate morbidity vs mortality
Morbidity - the state of having an illness
Mortality - # of deaths due to a specific illness
Explain the biopsychosocial perspective on disease
Takes in account interactions among genetics, psychological influences, and social norms/structures in having the disease
Define culture
The ways of thinking, acting and the
material objects that together form a people’s way of life
Name elements of culture
Beliefs (e.g., religion, politics)
Language
Rituals
Symbols
Values
Food
Clothing
What is the difference between cultural transmission and cultural diffusion?
Cultural transmission is the act of passing on cultural information from an older generation to a younger generation within the same culture.
Cultural diffusion is the mutual exchange of cultural information from one cultural group to a different cultural group.
Differentiate between symbolic culture and material culture.
Symbolic culture includes non-material aspects of a society that convey meaning (includes values, laws, folklore, language).
Material culture includes physical items that are valued by society, such as clothing, tools, computers, food).
What is cultural shock and what are some causes of cultural shock?
Cultural shock happens when a person moves and experiences, disorientation, uneasiness, and even fear due to an unfamiliar culture.
Causes of cultural shock include language barriers, unfamiliar symbols, different norms and values, different behaviors.
What are the 4 stages of culture shock
1.Honeymoon phase - new discoveries, interest in new culture
2. Negotiation/ Distress phase - feelings of frustration as one continues to experience events/behavior that seem strange and offensive to one’s culture
3. Adjustment phase - Person grows accustomed to new culture and starts to develop routines
4. Acceptance phase - Person able to comfortably participate in host culture
Cultural transmission occurs within (in-groups/out-groups).
Cultural diffusion occurs within (in-groups/out-groups).
In-groups, out-groups
What is cultural assimilation?
The process by which minorities gradually adopt practices of the dominant
culture.
Compare the multi-culturalism idea and melting pot idea.
What is culture lag?
Changes in material culture occur at a faster rate than changes in nonmaterial culture which create a strain in the two aspects of culture.
Define popular culture
The ideas, attitudes and perspective that are mainstream, including anything the majority of individuals in society believe.
Compare dominant culture, subculture, and counterculture.
Dominant -
Subculture - groups with values that are distinct from mainstream society
Counterculture - subset of society that resists/opposes mainstream values
How does the mass media influence culture?
How are culture and evolution related?
What is the difference between educational stratification and educational segregation?
Educational segregation - students are separated into groups/different schools based on their race, SES, etc., this causes higher SES students to have access to better schools & quality education
Educational stratification - students within schools separated based on a curriculum of unequal difficulty “remedial, basic, honors, AP classes”, students separated based on academic ability
How does UW define educational segregation?
The mechanisms that produce inequality in educational access and outcomes.
Students from higher SES have better school options and classes than those in poverty.
What is teacher expectancy?
The effect when a teacher’s preconceived ideas about a student result in the student’s performance meeting their expectations (whether they are high or low)
What is hidden curriculum?
Implicit, unofficial information that is conveyed through the educational system
Define socioeconomic status
A ranking of people based on various dimensions of social inequality such as occupational prestige, educational attainment, income, generational wealth, etc.
Define social class
The social division resulting from the unequal distribution of resources including wealth, power, and prestige.
What is social stratification and its components?
The hierarchal organization of people in society based on socioeconomic class, social status (prestige), and power.
Define race
A social construct which categorizes people based on shared biologically transmitted traits that present different phenotypes
Define racialization.
The process by which a dominant group (more social power) ascribes a subordinate group with a racial identity.
Define racial formation
Says that racial categories aren’t permanent or easily defined; they are fluid, can be created or destroyed because it is a social construct.
True or false:
Anything that is a social construct, cannot be directly measured.
True; constructs are subjective and theoretical
Define ethnicity
A shared cultural heritage
A son who has doctor parents also matriculates into medical school. What kind of social mobility is this?
1. Intragenerational or inter-generational
2. Horizontal, upward or downward
Intergenerational - happening across generations
Horizontal - son doesn’t change social status from parents, remains within same realm so there is no movement upward or downward
Differentiate vertical vs. horizontal mobility
Vertical - changing your social class either upward or downward
Horizontal - moving within a position in your social class
What is social exclusion?
The systematic blocking of a group of individuals from participating in society economically, socially, and civically.
What is spatial inequality? Give an example.
The unequal distribution of qualities or resources/services depending on the location you live.
Residential segregation
Physical separation of groups by social characteristics such as ethnic/racial/socioeconomic backgrounds
Define the neighborhood effect.
Segregation of the elderly, disabled (other disadvantaged groups) into separate neighborhoods which can lead to social isolation
What does the Social Disorganization theory say?
A theory which posits that crime is most likely to occur in communities w/ weak social ties & an absence of social control. Explains why impoverished neighborhoods have higher rates of crimes.
Class-consciousness
A social condition in which members of a social class are aware of themselves as an existing class, but also share views on how society should be organized legally, socially, etc.
False consciousness
A social condition in which members of a social class are unaware of themselves as a class.
Individuals from lower classes adopt the misleading views of the upper class and accept the status quo.
Ex: People from lower classes blame themselves rather than the system for health outcomes.
Explain social capital & example
Mainly your social network & expected collective or economic benefits/gains derived from being a part of social circles.
Ex: Rich people tend to have rich/successful friends who can help them with career opportunities
Explain cultural capital & give example
All the nonfinancial & nonsocial network assets which confer advantage in society.
Examples include dressing well, having manners, high education level, knowing multiple languages, physically attractive
Define power
The ability to control others, events or resources, to make happen what one wants despite opposition
How is “authority” different from power?
Authority is whether other people perceive the power you have as legitimate
Define prestige
The reputation and esteem associated with one’s position in society
Define privilege
An advantage that a person has which is unearned and socially conferred, it isn’t a material position, rather it is unseen but in effect
What is a social structure?
A set of long-lasting social relationships, practices & institutions that can be difficult to see at work in our daily lives
What is social reproduction?
Term developed by Karl Marx, emphasized the structures & activities that cause transmission of social inequality from one generation to the next
“Rich breed rich and poor breed poor”
“The perpetuation of inequality through social institutions”
Intersectionality
When various forms of oppression, domination, or discrimination interact with one another in a person’s life, which make that person’s experience unique. Each concept such as race, gender, and age can’t be viewed individually.
Compare health disparity and healthcare disparity
Health disparity - the higher burden of illness, injury, disability or mortality experienced
by one population group relative to another. Health care disparity - differences between
groups in health care coverage, access to care, and quality of care.
What is the socioeconomic gradient in health?
This refers to how wealthy people live longer than middle-class and middle-class live longer than poor people. The disparity in health of individuals based on their SES.
What are the three degrees of kinship?
Primary - includes your parents and siblings, spouse and biological children
Secondary - the primary kin of your primary kin: grandparents, aunts & uncles, in-laws, step-family
Tertiary - secondary kin of first degree family members, great-grandparents, first cousins, niece/nephew
3 types of kinship
Differentiate between religious affiliation and religiosity
Religious affiliation - the religion of which a person identifies with
Religiosity - the extent to which religion is incorporated in a person’s life
Define church & its traits
Established formal organizations that are well integrated in society
Define a sect
A division which has split off from a church in pursuit of a more pure or traditional form of faith
Define a cult
Radical groups of believers organized around a charismatic leader
Define modernization
Societal transformation away from traditional, rural society towards a secular, urban society
Define secularization
A societal transformation away from close identification with religious
values or institutions, and toward non-religious, secular values
Define fundamentalism
These are religious movements focused on returning to/ preserving pure, original, or unchanged values. Happens in reaction to modernization.
Fundamentalists are less tolerant of opposing views.
Name a form of government that holds power without consent and one that holds power with consent.
Without - tyranny
With - democratic government
Capitalism
-Private ownership of property
-Pursuit of personal profit
-Competition and consumer choice
Socialism
-Means of production are collectively held, collective ownership
-Pursuit of collective goals
-Gov. control of economy
Monarchy
A political system where a single family rules from generation to generation
Democracy
-Power is held in the hands of the people
-People elected officials
Authoritarianism vs Totalitarianism
Authoritarianism - citizens don’t have a say in government, no free speech (Iran)
Totalitarianism - government regulates everything from economic, political, social and cultural matters; very extreme
Oligarchy
A social system under the control of a small elite
Plutocracy
A social system where people who have wealth have disproportionate influence on political matters; in order words the wealthy rule
Egalitarianism
A social system where equality of all people in political, economic, and social life exists. (Such a gov doesn’t exist)
