Social structure Flashcards
Sociological theories: The functionalist theory
What is functionalism?
the theory that a society is much like an organism with multiple organs contributing to the growth and sustainment of that organism.
The belief is that healthy societies reach a dynamic equilibrium where many different parts work interdependently to maintain stability.
Sociological theories: The functionalist theory
Who was the father of sociology (and a functionalist)
Emile Durkheim
Sociological theories: The functionalist theory
what are manifest functions and latent functions of a structure.
note a social “structure” to a society is a organ to an organism
manifest functions are the clear functions and consequences of structure. (e.g. a hospital strives for public health)
latent functions are secondary functions (often unintended) that can helpful harmful or neutral. E.g. hospitals open job opportunities
Sociological theories: The functionalist theory
what is social dysfunction
Unlike manifest functions and latent functions of a social structure in functionalism, a social dysfunction is a process that has undesirable consequences such as a hospital can create a bad wage gap.
manifest - fast food place provides quick reliable food
latent - fast food provides jobs
social dysfunction - makes society fat
Sociological theories: The conflict theory
what is conflict theory?
it is in essence, the opposite of functionalism. It focuses on how societies are sources of competition over limited resources.
Conflict theory states their will be inequality in resources and therefore competition over political power, social power, and material resources.
it often considers discrepancies between dominant and minority groups
Sociological theories: The conflict theory
true or false, Karl Marx and Max Weber were also said to be fathers of sociology along with Emile.
true, Marx and Weber proposed conflict theory
Sociological theories: The symbolic interactionism
What is symbolic interactionism theory?
functionalism and conflict theory are very macroscopic (look at society as the whole). Symbolic interactionism views society based on the relationships between individuals and society primarily focusing on communication
Sociological theories: The symbolic interactionism
Explain symbols people use that contribute to values and beliefs.
symbolic interactionism is particularly interested in how people communicate and use symbols to express belief. For example dress code implies formal vs. casual.
Sociological theories: The symbolic interactionism
symbolic interactionism has a principle of “meaning” that includes 1. ascribing meaning 2. language 3. thought
explain this.
people behave by what they believe to be true not what is actually true. SI focuses on subjective meaning, implying society is constructed through human interpretation
society
- ascribes meaning to things and then treats those things based o their meaning.
- uses language to generate meaning
- uses thought to modify and understand meaning
Sociological theories: The Feminist Theory
What is the feminist theory?
Evaluates male and female experiences in society
Sociological theories: The Feminist Theory
What is the glass ceiling?
An invisible barrier in the work place that limits opportunity and progression. This effects woman which is why there is a wage gap (men aren’t typically affected by the glass ceiling)
Rational choice and social exchange theory of socialism both consider Cost-benefit analysis. What is this?
Cost-benefit analysis is a decision making model that assess the pro’s and cons of each decision. We try to maximize benefit and minimize cost
Explain the Rational Choice Theory of sociolism
Rational choice explains that people assign different values to different courses of action and we make decisions (courses of action) between actions based on those values.
The key idea is that the decision we choose maximizes greatest satisfaction by maximizing benefit and minimizing cost.
What is the Social Exchange Theory?
Social exchange theory is more concerned with social interaction. We evaluate the benefits and costs of a interaction and then decide whether or not it will happen.
we assign punishments and awards to different interactions.
Rational Choice Theory is typically more economic whereas Social Exchange is much more social.
rewards in social exchange theory may be economic but they can also be social such as a physical, psychological, etc.
Rational Choice Theory is said to posses methodological individualism. What does this mean?
Methodological individualism explains that all social realities are a result of individual actions and interactions. It fails to consider macro perception of reality
Sociological theories: Explain Social constructionism
it states that people actively shape their realities through social interaction. As a result, their interactions and reality are not inherent but rather a construct of their decisions.
social constructionism evaluates how individuals and groups participate in the construction of societal norms and social reality.
it differs with symbolic interactionism which evaluates communication and interactions between people with less distortion of reality.
true or false, social construction essentially evaluates the jointly constructed understandings of the world which form the basis of shared assumptions about reality
true, shared reality through joint constructs.
note: a social construct is something everbody agree’s on in society and assigns meaning to it regardless of its inherent value
Money is just paper with almost no value. The social construct of money permits it to have value to society.
true or false functionalism and conflict theory are the only macro theories, the rest are micro.
true although feminist theory exhibits both micro and macro
true or false, part of socialization is the passing down of norms and values of society to younger offspring
true, it is the maintenance of society
what is the difference between nuclear and extended family
nuclear –> immediate blood relations
extended –> removed by one blood connection (grandparents, aunts, etc)
what is polygyny and polyandry?
polygyny refers to a man with multiple wives
polyandry = woman with multiple husbands
when children are given a choice of people to marry (not free of choice but no arranged marriage) what are the terms endogamy and exogamy
endogamy –> must marry within a particular group (i.e. aristocrats)
exogamy –> must not marry within that particular group
(anything but..)
true or false, kinship is blood related + marriage related.
false, it is anyone considered very close
what is bilateral descent?
if the kin group is equally shared among maternal and paternal parents it is called bilateral descent
what is an egalitarian family?
a family in which the mom and dad have equal authority. Patriarchy is male dominant and matriarchy is woman dominant.
what is educational segregation?
educational segregation is the widening disparity between children from rich families and children from less wealthy families.
what is educational stratification?
A social arrangement (such as living in different area’s, coming from parents with different levels of involvement, etc.) that becomes entrenched (stuck) in educational segregation in which the educational aspirations of offspring mirror that of their parents
educational stratification explains that the education system has an effect on the poverty cycle.
Religion: 4 religious organizations: explain the Ecclesia
An Ecclesia religion is a dominant religion that contains most members of society. Additionally it is often highly integrated into political institutions. You do not choose to enter the religion but rather are always born into it.
Ecclesia are considered the national religion such as islam in Iran.
Religion: 4 religious organizations: explain the Church
The Church is a religion that is well-integrated into a large part of society and can be tied to politics (state church) but is not always.
you can be born into this or choose to join.
Religion: 4 religious organizations: explain the Sect
The sect is the less integrated religion in society which falls beneath the church. Again, you can be born into this or choose to join.
Religion: 4 religious organizations: explain the Cult
religious organizations that are well outside the realm of societal norms
Religion: modernization has effects on religion, what is secularization?
secularization is the process of a state loosing its religious social significance in replace for more rational thinking due to modernization
Religion: modernization has effects on religion, what is fundamentalism?
fundamentalism explains during modernization there is a strong attachment to religion (therefore it is preserved)
both fundamentalism and secularization occur in different groups.
Religion: true or false, the fundamentalist is highly attached to their religion and exhibits the most religiosity.
true
What is rational-legal authority, traditional authority, and charismatic authority?
different means to derive power
rational-legal –> acquire power through documentation and rule regulation
traditional –> through set customs and traditions
charismatic –> through persuasion and social influence
what is a aristocratic government and an autocratic government?
Aristocratic –> ruled by an elite few elected due to specific qualifications
autocratic –> ruled by one person (dictator) or an elite few (fascism) with complete decision power
Explain planned economies, market economies, mixed economies, and traditional economies.
planned - everything state owned or mostly everything state owned
market - everything private, supply and demand governs it
mixed - public and private sectors
traditional - concerns itself with social customs. bartering is often in it.
explain capitalism, socialism, and communism.
Capitalism is an economy in which most things are privately owned and run. There is little government intervention. it allows for market competition.
welfare capitalism and state capitalism include capitalist ideas with some socialist aspects
Socialism is the idea that the government intervenes a lot and serves to meet peoples needs. Things are produced for profit but rather for direct use and needs.
Communism is an extreme form of socialism in which nothing is privately owned (much like planned aka command economy)
what is division of labour?
the concept that people within a community have different roles to aid in survival / productivity of that community. Division of labour increases interdependence but increases social segregation
what is mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity
mechanical solidarity –> the idea that people share a collective conscience. Individuals have common beliefs and everyone experiences the same fundamental expeirence
organic –> division of labour whereby everyone experiences their own experience.
What is the medical model of disease?
this model emphasizes physical or medical factors as being the cause of disease. This concept uses empirical scientific evidence to expose underlying causes of disease.
the process in which a condition becomes reconceptualized into a disease with medical diagnosis and treatment is called ?
medicalization
What is the social model of disease?
The medical model concerns itself with physical reason for disease whereas the social model of disease concerns itself with how social factors such as work place stress, economic stress, social relationships etc. can expose somebody or predispose them to acquiring a disease.
the social model considers risk factors that increase disease and not so much what literally causes it.
stomach ulcer is caused by a bacterium - medical
stomach ulcers are more prevalent when highly stressed - social
true or false, social epidemiology is the study of how social organization contributes to the prevalence and distribution of disease
true
What is a food desert?
an area / region where there is no access to healthy fresh food. This is typically of area’s with no proper grocery stores in place. This leads to investment of fast food and increased calorie intake
What is the Sick role? What expectations does it place?
the sick role explains that someone who is ill cannot continue to be a functional member of society. In this role people shall not attribute the persons illness to the fault of the sick person. (can’t blame them) Additionally the sick person must try their best to get well fast.