Social Structure and Demographics (CH11)

Question 1

The study of the structure and function of each part of society.

Answer 1

Functionalism (AKA Functional Analysis)

Question 2

Harmful consequences of people’s actions as they undermine a social system’s equilibrium (or functionalism).

Answer 2

Dysfunctions

Question 3

Refers to the beneficial consequences of people’s actions.

Answer 3

Function

Question 4

What are two types of functions?

Answer 4

1. Manifest Function

2. Latent Function

Question 5

If an action is intended to help some part of a system.

Answer 5

Manifest Function

Question 6

If an action is unintentionally positive on other parts of society.

Answer 6

Latent Function

Question 7

Based on the works of Karl Marx, focuses on how power differentials are created and how these differentials contribute to the maintenance of social order.

Answer 7

Conflict Theory

Question 8

What are some theoretical appraches in social structure?

Answer 8

• Functionalism
• Conflict Theory
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Social Constructionism
• Rational Choice and Exchange Theory
• Feminist Theory

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Symbolic Interactionism

Question 10

Focuses on how individuals put together their social reality (arise from humans communicating and working together to agree on the significance of a concept or principle; ex. ethics, acceptable dress and gender roles).

Answer 10

Social Constructionism

Question 11

Focuses on decision-making in an individual and attempts to reduce this process to a careful consideration of benefits and harms to the individual (independent).

Answer 11

Rational Choice Theory

Question 12

Posits that an individual will carry out certain behaviors because of anticipated rewards and will avoid certain behaviors because of anticipated punishments.

This is an extension of rational choice theory, except here there is a focus on interactions within a group.

Answer 12

Exchange Theory

Question 13

Attempts to explain social inequalities that exist on the basis of gender.

Answer 13

Feminist Theory

Question 14

Refers to behaviors expected of a given gender.

Answer 14

Gender Roles

Question 15

This is when women are less frequently promoted in the workplace and may have more difficulty attaining top-level administrative positions within a company.

Answer 15

Glass Ceiling

Question 16

Transmitting social norms, attitudes and beliefs to students.

Answer 16

Hidden Curriculum

Question 17

Refers to the idea that teachers tend to get what they expect from students.

Answer 17

Teacher Expectancy

Question 18

When society moves from a world dominated by religion toward rationality and scientific thinking.

Answer 18

Secularizes

Question 19

Maintenence of strict adherence to religious code.

Answer 19

Fundamentalism

Question 20

A system where power is held by religious leaders (many of these leaders have charismatic authority).

Answer 20

Theocracy

Question 21

The physician has a responsibility to act in the patient’s best interest.

Answer 21

Beneficence

Question 22

Do no harm; the physician has a responsibility to avoid treatments or interventions in which the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit.

Answer 22

Nonmaleficence

Question 23

The physician has a responsibility to respect patients’ decisions and choices about their own healthcare.

Answer 23

Patient Autonomy

Question 24

The physician has a responsibility to treat similar patients with similar care, and to distribute healthcare resources fairly.

Answer 24

Justice

Question 25

Refers to the statistics of populations and are the mathematical applications of sociology.

Answer 25

Demographics

Question 26

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age.

Answer 26

Ageism

Question 27

Refers to the definition or establishment of a group as a particular race (ex. Judaism = Jewish Race).

Answer 27

Racialization

Question 28

Posits that racial identity is fluid and dependent on concurrent political, economic, and social factors.

Answer 28

Racial Formation Theory

Question 29

Describes a specific connection to one’s ethnicity in which ethnic symbols and identity remain important, even when ethnic identity does not play a significant role in everyday life.

Answer 29

Symbolic Ethnicity

Question 30

The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime in a population.

Answer 30

Fertility Rate

Question 31

Adjusted to a certain population size over a specific period of time and multiplied by a constant to give a whole number.

Answer 31

Crude Rate

Question 32

Positive attributes of the new location that attract the immigrant.

Answer 32

Pull Factors

Question 33

Negative attributes of the old location that encourage the immigrant to leave.

Answer 33

Push Factors

Question 34

Refers to changes in birth and death rates in a country as it develops from a preindustrial to industrial economic system.

Answer 34

Demographic Transition

Question 35

This theory focuses on how the exponential growth of a population can outpace growth of the food supply and lead to social degradation and disorder.

Answer 35

Malthusian Theory

Question 36

Are organized to promote or to resist social change.

Answer 36

Social Movements

Question 37

The process of integrating the global economy with free trade and the tapping of foreign markets.

Answer 37

Globalization

Question 38

Refers to dense areas of population creating a pull for migration.

Answer 38

Urbanization