Sociology Flashcards
1
Q
What is sociology?
A
The systematic study of human social life, groups, and societies.
2
Q
What do sociologists study?
A
A: How groups and societies shape individuals and how individuals’ actions affect society
3
Q
What is a society?
A
A group of people who live in a defined territory and share the same culture, including people, institutions, shared beliefs, and cultural ideas.
4
Q
Who is considered the father of sociology?
A
Auguste Comte.
5
Q
What did Auguste Comte contribute to sociology?
A
Defined sociology as the systematic study of society, believed in constant social change, and developed theories on social inequality.
6
Q
What is positivism?
A
The application of the scientific method to obtain concrete, measurable, and testable data to understand society.
7
Q
What do sociologists do?
A
Study interactions, actions, beliefs, and behaviors in societies to understand and compare them, and use research results to solve social problems and promote social change.
8
Q
What are some areas sociologists study?
A
Behavior, religion, family interaction, politics, statistics, power hierarchies, crime, media, gender and sex, environment, and social class.
9
Q
What is the aim of sociology?
A
To take personal experiences and show their relation to larger social issues.
10
Q
How do sociologists use their research?
A
To solve social problems and bring about social change.
11
Q
What are social institutions?
A
Organizations or social frameworks that meet the basic needs of society’s members by providing direction and operating principles.
12
Q
Name the five social institutions found in all cultures.
A
Family, religion, education, government, and economy
13
Q
What are the three central purposes of social institutions?
A
to socialize and teach appropriate behavior, provide order and stability, and ensure safety and security.
14
Q
What is social structure?
A
A system of social relations occurring between social institutions or groups, determining social interactions.
15
Q
What is macro sociology?
A
The analysis of societies, social systems, and populations on a large scale, focusing on larger social systems rather than individuals.
16
Q
What is micro sociology?
A
Focuses on individual social activities, emphasizing social status and roles based on empirical observation.
17
Q
What is structural functionalism?
A
A theory that focuses on how social structures function within society, viewing institutions as interdependent parts that work together to meet individual needs.
18
Q
How does structural functionalism view society?
A
As stable when social institutions meet the needs of its citizens, with institutions modeling social norms and providing positive reinforcement.
19
Q
Who is Emile Durkheim and what did he contribute to sociology?
A
A French sociologist who originated structural functionalism and observed that humans define themselves by social interactions.
20
Q
How did Durkheim view suicide?
A
As a result of social disorganization or lack of social integration and solidarity, rather than a purely individual act.
21
Q
What is the importance of status and roles within society?
A
They ensure that individuals fill specific positions and demonstrate expected behaviors, making institutions and society function smoothly.
22
Q
What are norms and values in structural functionalism?
A
Norms are the most prevalent behaviors and expectations in society, while values are social principles accepted by society or groups within it.
23
Q
What is role specialization?
A
The process where individuals in society perform specific roles, increasing efficiency within institutions like families
24
Q
How do individuals learn the roles they are expected to play in society?
A
Through the process of socialization, where they are taught the appropriate behaviors for various roles.
24
What does conflict theory focus on?
Economic and political power, and the competition between different groups due to inequalities in power.
25
What is role strain?
The stress experienced when a person has multiple roles to play at the same time, such as a teacher juggling teaching, grading, and mentoring.
26
How does conflict theory view power in society?
As a force that holds society together, but also as a source of conflict between different groups.
27
Who was Karl Marx and what was his contribution to conflict theory?
A leading conflict sociologist who described capitalism, class divisions, and the concept that "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer."
28
What is social stratification?
The processes that define certain occupations and goods as socially desirable, leading to unequal resource distribution.
29
How does conflict theory apply to socioeconomic status?
By examining how education, money, and occupation contribute to social class differences and inequalities.
30
What is achieved status?
A social position obtained through personal effort and accomplishment.
30
What is ascribed status?
A social position assigned at birth, such as race, sex, or inherited wealth.
31
Who are the bourgeoisie according to Marx?
The wealthy owners of businesses and factories who control the means of production and the livelihood of working people.
32
What is the focus of George Dei's research?
Racial inequality and anti-racism in schools, examining power imbalances from a conflict theory perspective.
33
What are some principles of anti-racism according to George Dei?
Holistic education, strong community relationships, fighting oppression and racism, diverse representations in learning materials, and societal transformation.
34
How does conflict theory explain inequality?
As a result of some people exploiting others for personal gain.
35
What does feminist theory examine?
Gender inequality and how men control women's lives in terms of jobs, finances, and bodies.
35
How would structural functionalists explain social stratification?
As necessary for society to function.
36
What is social feminism?
A theory that views women's status and social inequality as rooted in the sexual division of paid and unpaid labor.
37
What did Dorothy Smith contribute to feminist theory?
She argued that women have been marginalized in a society constructed to favor men, leading to gender inequality.
38
What is propinquity?
he tendency to marry someone within a five-mile radius of where you live or go to school.
39
Who are the proletariats?
the workers who work hard to make the bourgeoisie rich
40
Who are the bourgeoisie?
The top 1 percent who control everyone else, typically the owners of businesses and factories.
41
What is symbolic interactionism?
A theory that focuses on how individuals learn about their culture and shape their behavior through interaction and the use of symbols.
41
What are symbols in symbolic interactionism?
Gender, facial expressions, words, sign language, and other forms of communication.
42
What is interaction in symbolic interactionism?
The action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another.
43
How do humans interact according to symbolic interactionism?
Through symbols such as words, gestures, and facial expressions, modifying behavior based on others' reactions.
44
What is the "looking glass theory" by Charles Cooley?
The concept that an individual's self-perception is based on how they believe others perceive them.
45
What was Phillip Zimbardo's experiment, and what did it demonstrate?
The mock prison experiment, which showed that individuals put on different "masks" and behave according to their roles in society.
46
How did George Herbert Mead expand on Cooley's ideas?
By suggesting that individuals understand their social roles and act according to how they interpret others' expectations.
47
What is socialization?
The process where someone learns the attitudes, values, and behaviors necessary for their society.
47
How would a symbolic interactionist interpret the experiences of immigrants adjusting to a new society?
By noting that immigrants must learn and interpret new symbols, change their interactions, and adapt to new cultural norms and laws.
48
When does socialization start and how long does it continue?
It starts at infancy and continues throughout a person's life.
49
What does socialization teach individuals?
Basic skills, socially accepted goals, roles, and behaviors.
50
Why is socialization important?
It helps individuals learn how to function in their roles within society.
51
What are agents of socialization?
People and institutions that shape an individual's social development.
52
What is the primary agent of socialization?
family
53
Why is the family considered the primary agent of socialization?
It has the greatest impact on socialization, teaching values, acceptable behaviors, and meeting basic needs.
54
What is social referencing?
The process where individuals observe and adjust their behavior based on the reactions and behaviors of others.
55
What is a nuclear family?
A family consisting of two parents and their children.
56
What is a dual income family (DINK)?
A family where both parents are employed and have no children
57
What is a blended family?
A family where parents have divorced their previous spouses and remarried, combining children from previous relationships.
58
What is a single parent family?
A family with one adult raising children.
59
What is an extended family?
A family including parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other blood relations.
60
What are some functions of the family?
Physical maintenance, addition of new members, socialization of children, social control, production and consumption of goods and services, and affective nurturance (love).
61
What is the significance of the family as an institution?
It nurtures and provides emotional support, shaping a child's life and behavior.
62
What is abnormal socialization?
Situations where children are not raised in a nurturing environment, leading to potential emotional and social deficits.
63
What are some foundational behaviors taught by the family?
Language abilities, body control, emotional control, rules of public conduct, and moral values.
64
What are feral children?
Children deserted at a young age and raised by animals, learning the behaviors of the species that raised them.
64
Who is Genie Wiley, and why is she significant to sociologists?
An isolated child who provided sociologists with an opportunity to study the effects of improper or lack of socialization.
65
How do family interactions influence social behavior?
Through conscious efforts to shape behavior and by observing and reacting to each other's actions.
66
What can result from cases of child abuse or neglect?
Children may not learn normal and healthy behaviors, leading to serious emotional and social consequences later in life.
67
How do different types of families affect socialization?
They vary in structure and roles but all perform essential socialization functions, impacting the way individuals learn to function in society.
68
Who was Genie Wiley?
A girl discovered in the 1970s who had lived in severe isolation for 13 years, leading to significant developmental delays.
68
What is the critical period of learning?
the specific times during development when the brain needs to make connections to learn certain skills.
69
Why is Genie's case referred to as the "forbidden experiment"?
Because it provided insight into human development under extreme isolation, which is unethical to replicate.
70
What are secondary agents of socialization?
Non-family people and institutions that teach individual social behaviors and norms, such as schools, peer groups, workplaces, mass media, and religion.
71
Why is school considered an agent of socialization?
It teaches life lessons, communication, behavior, respect for authority, time management, and problem-solving skills.
72
What is the manifest function of school?
The obvious purpose of school: to socialize children in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to help them function as adults in society.
73
What is the latent function of school?
The hidden curriculum: attitudes, values, and habits such as organization, reliability, promptness, cooperation, and respect for authority.
74
How do peer groups function as an agent of socialization?
They teach communication, collaboration, compromise, expose different personality types, and build awareness of one's appearance to others.
75
Why is the media considered an agent of socialization?
It shapes behavior and attitudes by exposing young people to images of how to think and behave.
76
Why is media literacy important?
It helps individuals critically analyze media content and understand its influence on behavior and attitudes.
77
How does religion act as an agent of socialization?
It provides moral codes, sets behavior standards, and teaches responsibility and the importance of charity.
78
What role does the workplace play as an agent of socialization?
It socializes adults by developing new specialized skills, values, and norms, and involves anticipatory socialization.
79
What is anticipatory socialization?
The process of learning how to plan the way to behave in new situations.
80
What are the functions of family as an agent of socialization?
Physical maintenance, addition of new members, socialization of children, social control, production and distribution of goods and services, and affective nurturance.
81
What are some foundational behaviors taught by the family?
Language abilities, body control, emotional control, rules of public conduct, and moral values.
82
What can result from abnormal socialization such as child abuse or neglect?
Emotional and social deficits later in life.
83
What are feral children?
Children deserted at a young age and raised by animals, learning the behaviors of the species that raised them.
84
Who are isolated children, and what can be the impact of their isolation?
Children raised in near isolation within human households, often resulting in severe developmental delays and social deficits.
85
What is mass media?
Technology intended to reach a mass audience, such as news, radio, television, internet, film, video, audio recording, and print
86
What is the primary purpose of mass media?
To shape public opinion on culture and national identity, often through a one-way form of communication.
87
What is cultural diffusion?
The spread of cultural items like ideas, styles, religions, technologies, and languages between individuals or cultures.
88
How does mass media influence culture and national identity?
By selecting and depicting certain stories, images, and language that shape people's views about culture and national identity.
89
What is cultural familiarity in the context of mass media?
The exposure of people to various aspects of culture and national identity, creating a common culture or threatening local cultures if one culture is more dominant.
90
What is the global village concept?
An international community where people are connected by mass media, popular culture, and telecommunications.
91
What are some advantages and disadvantages of the global village?
Advantages: Increases knowledge about lives in different places.
Disadvantages: Industrial countries can export their culture, potentially overwhelming local cultures.
92
How does mass media impact children?
It depends on how much they watch, their age, personality, whether they watch alone or with adults, and if parents discuss the content with them.
93
What are the major concerns regarding media's impact on children?
Violence, increased fear, desensitization to real-life violence, and increased aggressive behavior.
94
Who conducted the Bobo Doll Experiment, and what did it demonstrate?
Albert Bandura; it showed that children who observed violence were more likely to exhibit violent behavior themselves.
95
How can television negatively affect healthy child development?
By reducing physical activity, increasing obesity, and exposing children to unhealthy food advertisements.
96
What are the concerns related to sexual content in the media?
Media often portrays explicit but misleading sexual messages, with insufficient information about safe and responsible sex.
97
What is the importance of being media literate?
to understand the sources of information, cross-check facts, and recognize bias, misinformation, and disinformation.
97
What is media literacy?
The ability to sift through and analyze the messages in media, asking questions about what's present and noticing what's absent.
98
What is social media?
Websites and applications enabling users to create and share content or participate in social networking.
99
Why do governments and corporations desire to control media?
To push their messages or increase sales, which can lead to biased media and propaganda
100
How can we ensure the information we get from media is trustworthy?
By knowing the source of information, cross-checking multiple sources, and understanding the origin of the sources.
101
What are the potential benefits of online media?
Increased interconnectedness, making online friends, exposure to new things, accessibility, financial opportunities, and potentially an educational resource.
102
What are the potential harms of online media?
Cyber-bullying, misinformation & disinformation, divisiveness, exploitation by companies and influencers, personal data sharing without consent, limited privacy (doxing & swatting), and dangerous messaging.
103
What is algorithm bias in social media?
Unfairness in algorithm-generated outputs that disadvantage certain groups, impacting areas like healthcare, criminal justice, and credit scoring.
104
What is cancel culture?
The public rejection or boycott of individuals or groups due to socially or morally unacceptable views or actions.
105
What are some examples of online movements?
#MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter are examples of online movements that have had significant real-world impacts.
106
What is social identity theory?
A theory proposing that a person's self-concept and self-esteem are influenced by the groups they belong to.
106
What is social belonging?
The subjective feeling of inclusion or acceptance into a group, satisfying a basic human need for identity, physical well-being, and mental health.
107
What are social groups?
Groups of two or more people who interact, share a common identity, and have informal or formal social structures with shared values, behavior, and goals.
108
What are mores and folkways in social groups?
Mores are societal rules based on morality (e.g., cheating, killing), while folkways are general social norms (e.g., saying thank you).
109
What are sanctions in social groups?
Punishments or rewards (formal or informal) used to enforce social norms and behaviors within a group.
110
What is the bystander effect in casual crowds?
A phenomenon where individuals in a crowd may not intervene or act due to diffusion of responsibility.
111
What are the primary forms of collective behavior?
The crowd, the mass, and the public.
112
What is collective behavior?
Group behavior not regulated by institutions, often spontaneous, with no clear social boundaries, and involving limited interactions.
113
What are conventional crowds?
Crowds that gather for scheduled events like religious services, adhering to appropriate norms for the situation.
114
What is rational decision theory in collective behaviour?
A theory suggests people decide to participate in collective behaviour based on rational self-interest and the actions of others.
114
What are expressive crowds?
groups formed to express emotion, such as at weddings, funerals, or political protests.
115
How does conflict theory explain collective behaviour?
It suggests that social change is resisted by those in power, leading to conflict when groups challenge established norms or power structures.
