Sociology Flashcards
Social capital
The expected benefits that individuals receive from their social network; receiving more benefits from a social network translates into greater social capital
Human capital
Focuses on an individual skills, knowledge, and experiences that are considered valuable to society
Cultural capital
The non-financial resources that can help an individual’s social mobility, such as appearance, language, and dress
Symbolic capital
The resources given to an individual due to power or prestige, and which can be seen as valuable in societies culture
Social constructionism
When traditional norms are created by the consensus of a particular society. Example if the social support norm changed to a different type of support
Symbolic interactionisum
Explains the way people interact and respond to others based on individuals interpretation of the interaction.
Concerned with the symbolic meaning behind social interaction
Conflict theory
The idea that inequality occurs when an uneven distribution of power and resources is present in society’s
A macrosociological perspective, so is social constructionism
Deviance
When a social norm is violated
Discrimination
Defined as behavior, usually negative, directed towards a specific social group ( based on a demographic characteristics such as race sex and/or social class). It is an act against a social group. The implementation of a law against interracial marriage for example
Privilege
Defined as advantage provided to dominant or majority group members, often the expense of target or minority group members
Stereotype
Defined as a single belief, usually distorted, which is applied to all individuals of a social class
Prejudice
Defined as an unjustified attitude, usually negative, toward a social group. Prejudiced thoughts can lead to discrimination. It is an attitude against a social group
Webers three component theory of stratification
Includes the components of class power and status.
Power
Defined as the ability to implement one’s decisions despite opposition. Ex: a politician can get their way even though there are activists
Class
Defined as one’s economic position in society
Status
Defined as one’s reputation, often associated with their class
Structural functionalism
Is concerned with the relationship between the individual parts of society, which function together to promote social order
Globalization
The communication and integration of cultures around the world
Gentrification
Refers to the “flipping” of a neighborhood to conform to middle or upper class preference
Social stratification
Is the separation of groups usually based on income level but may refer to separation based on gender, race, or other demographics
Longitudinal study
Follow the same group of people over time
Cross-sectional study
Looks at the same variables and characteristics, in different groups of subjects, who are at different ages
Are only concerned with data at a specific point of time
Gerontology
Is the study of aging and the life course
Case report
Is an in-depth analysis of a single subject or series of subjects
cohort study
Are utilized to observe population samples over time.
Age cohort- Is defined as groups of people characterized by age range
Meta-analysis study
Is one that combines the findings for multiple studies
Microsociology
Focuses on individual, face-to-face, everyday social interactions
Macrosociology
Focuses on broad social structures that affect society
Rational choice theory
Assumes that peoples‘s actions are dictated by a rational consideration of alternatives. Individuals choose the action that is most likely to bring some type of profit.
This is neither a microsociological nor macrosociological approach