Social Structure and Demographics

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

focuses on the function of each component of society and how those c components fit together

Question 2

manifest functions

Answer 2

are deliberate actions that serve to help a given system (like doctors holding annual meetings to share research etc)

Question 3

latent functions

Answer 3

unexpected unintended or unrecognized positive consequences of manifest functions (like doctors t the annual meeting becoming friends after)

Question 4

conflict theory

Answer 4

focuses on how power differentials are created and how these differentials contribute to the maintenance of social order

Question 5

symbolic interactionism

Answer 5

is the study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures and other symbols

Question 6

social constructionsim

Answer 6

explores the ways in which individuals and groups make decisions to agree upon a given social reality

Question 7

rational choice theory

Answer 7

individuals will make decisions that maximize benefits and minimize harm, exchange theory applies rational choice theory within groups

Question 8

feminist theory

Answer 8

explores the ways in which one gender can be subordinates, minimized or devalued compared to the other

Question 9

social institutions

Answer 9

well established social structures that dictate certain patters of behaviour or relationships and are accepted as a fundamental part of culture like family, education, religion, government

Question 10

Ethical tenets of American medicine

Answer 10

1. beneficence: acting in the patient’s best interest
2. nonmaleficence: avoiding treatments for which risk is larger then the benefit
3. respect for autonomy: respecting patients’ rights to make decisions about their own healthcare.
4. justice: treating similar patients similarly and distributing health care resources fairly

Question 11

hidden curriculum of education

Answer 11

transmitting social norms, attitudes and beliefs to students

Question 12

culture

Answer 12

lifestyle of a group of people and includes both material and symbolic elements.

Question 13

material culture

Answer 13

physical items one associated with a given group like artwork, clothing, jewelry, foods, buildings etc

Question 14

symbolic culture

Answer 14

ideas associated with a cultural group

Question 15

symbolic lag

Answer 15

refers to the idea that material culture changes more quickly than symbolic culture

Question 16

demographics

Answer 16

stats of populations and are mathematical applications of sociology

Question 17

demographic transition model

Answer 17

model used to represent drops on birth and death rates as a result of industrialization

Question 18

social movements

Answer 18

organized to either promote (proactive) or resist (reactive) social change

Question 19

racial formation theory

Answer 19

posits that racial identity is fluid and dependant on concurrent political, economic and social factors

Question 20

symbolic ethnicity

Answer 20

a specific connection to one’s ethnicity in which ethnic symbols and identity remain important when when ethnic identity does not play a significant role in everyday life. like like Irish Americans highlighting the fact that they are Irish on st Patrick’s days

Question 21

globalization

Answer 21

process of integrating a global economy with free trade and tapping of foreign labor markets

Question 22

urbanization

Answer 22

process of dense areas of population creating a pull for migration (creating cities)

Question 23

race

Answer 23

social construct based on phenotypic differences between groups of people. can be real or perceived

Question 24

ethnicity

Answer 24

social construct, sorting people based on cultural factors