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Sociology for the MCAT :) > Social Structure & Demographics > Flashcards

Social Structure & Demographics Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Sociology

A

The study of society; how er create it, interact within it, define it and institutionalize those ideas

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2
Q

Macro-Sociology

A

Focuses on large groups and social structures

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3
Q

Micro-Sociology

A

Focuses on small groups and the individual

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4
Q

Social Structure

A

System of people within a society organized by characteristic patterns of relationships

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5
Q

Functionalism

A

Study of the structure and function of each part of society which must work in harmony; if they do not fulfill their function society is put in an abnormal / pathological state

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6
Q

Function

A

Beneficial consequence of people’s actions (keep society in balance)

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7
Q

Dysfunction

A

Harmful consequences of people’s actions (disrupt society’s equilibrium)

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8
Q

Manifest Function

A

Action is intended to help

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9
Q

Latent Function

A

Unintended + consequence to other parts of society

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10
Q

Conflict Theory

- (Karl Marx)

A

Power differentials are created and contribute to the maintenance of social order
- Can lead to the dominance of a particular group

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11
Q

Power

A

Influence over other people

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12
Q

Symbolic Interactionism

A

Study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures and symbols

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13
Q

Symbols

A

Things to which we attach meaning; they key to understanding how we view the world and communicated with one another

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14
Q

Social Constructionism

A

How individuals put together their social reality; social constructs that arise from human communication and working together to agrees on the significance of a concept / principle

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15
Q

Social Institutions

A

Well established social structures that dictate certain patterns of behavior and are accepted as fundamental parts of culture that regulate behaviors of individuals in core areas of society

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16
Q

Family

A

Encourages learning of acceptable behavior, socialization, bonding and regulates reproduction and protection

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17
Q

Education

A

Transmit knowledge / skills across generations

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18
Q

Religion

A

Pattern of social activities organized around a set of beliefs / practices that seek to address the meaning of life / death, suffering, loss and a desire to connect with a creator
- Persists over time and a structure which re-socializes members

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19
Q

Government

A
  • Maintain social order
  • Enforce law and order

*Impact all other institutions

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20
Q

Economy

A

Organize goods, services & money

*Impact all other institutions

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21
Q

Medicine

A

Maintaining / improving health of individuals, families and societies

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22
Q

United States Goals in Medicine

A
  • Increased access to health care
  • Decreased cost
  • Prevention of disease
  • Patients have a PCP
  • Increased education for the public
  • Decrease the “doctor knows best” mentality
  • Decrease economic conflicts of interest to doctors
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23
Q

4 Tenets of Ethics

A
  1. Beneficence - act in patients best interest
  2. Non-Maleficent - do no harm
  3. Respect patient autonomy - patient choices must be respected
  4. Justice - treated similar patients with similar care; distribute resources fairly
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24
Q

Culture

A

Encompassing the entire lifestyle of a given group; what makes human societies unique from one another

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25
Q

Material Culture

A
  • Explore the meaning of objects in a given society

- A tangible embodiment of underlying ideas in symbolic culture

26
Q

Artifacts

A

Material items one makes that possess value; create a sense of shared identity, loyalty and belonging

27
Q

Symbolic Culture

A

Both cognitive / behavioral components; Ideas that represent a group of people; themes

28
Q

Language

A
  • Spoken, written or signed symbols which are regulated according to certain rules of grammar and syntax.
  • Enables us to share ideas, thoughts, experiences,f ears, plans, desires, etc… with others
29
Q

Values

A

What a person deems important / dictates ones ethical principles and standards

30
Q

Belief

A

Something that an individual accepts as truth

31
Q

Cultural Barriers

A

Cultural difference impedes interaction with others

32
Q

Cultural Sensitivity

A

The recognition and respect of difference between cultures and research ethics

33
Q

Norms

A

Societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior and provide a sense of social control

34
Q

Ritual

A

Formalized ceremony that usually involves specific material objects, symbolism and additional mandates on acceptable behavior

35
Q

Demographics

A

Statistics of a population

*Mathematical application of Sociology

36
Q

Ageism

A

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

37
Q

Gender

A

Behavioral, cultural or psychological traits associated with biological sex

38
Q

Gender Inequality

A

(un)intentional empowerment of one gender that is detriment to the other

39
Q

Sex

A

Biologically determined by X or Y chromosomes

40
Q

Race

A

Social Construct based on phenotypic differences (real or perceived) between groups; NOT genetic but based on superficial traits

41
Q

Ethnicity

A

Social construct that sorts people by cultural factors like nationality, language and religion

42
Q

Symbolic Ethnicity

A

Specific connection to ones ethnicity in which ethnic symbols / identity remain important even when not playing a role in everyday life

43
Q

Sexual Orientation

A

Direction of one’s sexual interest toward members of same, opposite or both sexes

44
Q

Heterosexual

A

Attraction to the opposite sex

45
Q

Homosexual

A

Attraction to the same sex

46
Q

Bisexual

A

Attraction to both sexes

47
Q

LGBT

A

Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered

48
Q

Kinsey Scale

A 
0 = Heterosexual
6 = Homosexual

**most people fall someone in between these two extremes

49
Q

Demographic Shifts

A

Changes in the makeup of the population over time

50
Q

Fertility Rate

A

Children born to women per lifetime

*Decreased in the US; we have a larger population

51
Q

Mortality Rate

A

Deaths (in 1000 people per year)

*Decreased in the US; we have an older population

52
Q

Immigration

A

Movement INTO geographic area

*Increased in the US; we have a more diverse / larger population

53
Q

Emmigration

A

Movement OUT OF geographic area

*Decreased in the US

54
Q

Demographic Transition

A

Changes in birth and death rates in a country as it develops from pre-industrial (birth and death rates both high) —-to—-> an industrial economic system (birth and death rates both low)

55
Q

Social Movements

A

Resist OR promote social change

56
Q

Proactive Social Movement

A

Good social change is promoted

57
Q

Reactive Social Movement

A

Resist social change

58
Q

Globalization

A

Process of integrating the global economy with free trade and the tapping of foreign trade markets; leads to a decrease in geographical constraints on exchanges (both social & cultural)

59
Q

Urbanization

A

Dense areas of population creating a pull for migration

60
Q

Ghettos

A

Areas where specific racial, ethnic or religion minorities are concentrated; usually due to social or economic inequities

61
Q

Slum

A

Extremely dense populated areas of a city with low-quality, often informal housing and poor sanitation

Sociology for the MCAT :) (5 decks)

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