Social Structures Flashcards
Functionalism
understanding structures and institutions based on functions, context is essential
Conflict Theory
a sociological theory that focuses on competition for resources between structures or groups
What is the main tenant of Functionalism?
the stability of a society is grounded in the interdependent coordination of different elements of society
Symbolic Interactionism
requires interaction, ex. hand shakes
Symbol
something we assign meaning to
Social Constructionism
the meaning of social structures/concepts emerges from how we think and communicate about them, how we construct symbols
Rational Choice Theory
choose actions to maximize the likelihood of accomplishing certain goals
Social Exchange Theory
views social interactions as exchanges with cost and reward
Feminist Theory
the goal of understanding and remedying gender injustices through a focus on lived experiences and objective data
Segregation
putting different things in different places
Stratification
arranging things in layers
Primary Kinship
related through close bonds
Secondary Kinship
primary kin of your primary kin (siblings husband/wife)
Tertiary Kinship
primary kin of your secondary kin (sibling’s husband or wife’s sister) or secondary kin of your primary kin (siblings husband or wife’s siblings)
Monarchy
rulership is passed down in a defined succession, usually through family
Authoritarianism
citizens have little to no input in how the government is run
Totalitarianism
government rules every aspect of life including citizens communication
Democracy
government controlled by voting citizens
Direct Democracy
citizens vote for laws themselves
Indirect Democracy (Democratic Republic)
citizens vote for representatives who then make the laws
Capitalism
private ownership of property and companies
Socialism
collective ownership and distribution, generally relies on state regulation, recognizes private proerty
Communism
more extreme version of socialism, no sectors of the economy under private ownership
