sociologija Flashcards
What are life chances and how do they impact social inequalities?
Life chances represent your probability to succeed. Social inequalities comes from different life chances. They can hold us back and possibly harm our personal development.
What is social stratification and what are its characteristics?
Social stratification is a form of social inequality which positions individuals into social layers.
Characteristics:
1)refers to groups
2)hierarchical structure
3)long-lasting&stable
4)justifies itself through ideology
Name and describe the 4 systems of social stratification.
1)slavery - extreme, some people own others as possession
2)caste system - Hinduism, India - 4 castes & 1 untouchable. impossible to interact btwn castes, today prohibited by law but still visible in everyday life
3)estates(feudalism in Europe)-impossible to interact btw estates; nobility, clergy, commoners
4)classes - large groups of people w similar status considering their wealth, income, education&occupation; allowed to change one’s position btwn classes since individuals can influence these criteria; todays universally accepted form of stratification
How does the functionalist perspective justify social stratification?
Functionalist perspective claims that stratification is necessary in order to fulfill different positions in society when individuals are motivated by getting awards; the more special the function-the social award is bigger
How does the conflict perspective explain social stratification?
Conflict perspective claims that class is a group with common relation to the means of production. There are labourers & capitalists. Labourers are workers class in itself, when they become aware of their position & fight for their interests, they are a class for itself
What are the positive and what are the negative effect of stratification?
Positive effect of stratification- different awards serve as motivation
Negative effects of stratification-
1)different awards as a result of discrimination
2)the starting position is different
Name and briefly explain some criteria for social stratification in modern societies.
1)WEALTH is based on ownership, income & living standards. Ownership is divided into assets with real estates and capital with businesses. Income varies based on differently paid jobs. Living standard includes housing, clothing, diet & health.
2)EDUCATION is better in higher strata, since parents pressure their children to do better. In todays world education is available to all, but doesn’t have the same starting position.
3)OCCUPATION are professiones where incomes are different but not the prestige.
4)ESTEEM depends on status, e.g.family ties, education, wealth..
5)POWER is a chance that an individual will achieve their will even agaist the resistance of others
6)
What is social mobility, what types are there and what are causes for it?
Social mobility refers to the possibility of changing positions btwn social strata. There is vertical and horizontal. Causes of mobility are: education, hard work, spouse, unemployment, divorce, addiction.
What is deviance? Name functions it has for the society.
Deviance is a tendency not to accept the norms accepted by the majority of people. It deviates from acceptable, expected & average. It is seen as negative& causes hostile reactions. The functions it has for the society:
1)promotes conformity
2)the norms are strengthened
3)group solidarity is strengthened
4)catalyst of change - which indicates the need for change
What is social control and how is it achieved?
Social control is a set of means used to ensure compliance with norms.
It is achieved by internalization of norms, which causes a feeling that they are our own & by sanctions which is a reaction of society to a certain behaviour.
Explain how anomie theory describes deviant behaviour?
as during fast changes&turbulent circumstances people become uncertain of social norms; it is a state in which people feel lost&disoriented
Explain how conflict perspective describes deviant behaviour?
-behaviour that everyone is prone to, but not all will be sanctioned for it. The more powerful groups control the laws, so norms promote their interests. More severe sanctions are given to less powerful groups.
Explain how learning theory describes deviant behaviour?
-learned the same way other behaviour is learned-through interpersonal communication and social interactions in small intimate groups, it emphasises the process of differential association in which an individual relates to people around him/her
Explain how labelling theory describes deviant behaviour?
-through interactionist perspective. It states that when people are labelled as deviants, they start to act like it. It claims that deviancy is not a quality of the act a person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an ‘offender’.
What are social changes and what are possible causes for them?
-set of behaviour and interpretetation of the world around us.
Possible causes for them:
1)technological innovations
2)economic crises&political changes
3)wars, invasions
4)fight against discrimination
5)pandemic
