Sociology Quiz Flashcards
Functionalist School
The branch of sociology that studies society as a whole and analyzes how the parts of a society should work to achieve stability (parts of a body and if one part doesn’t work the entire body fails)
Conflict School
The branch of sociology that studies how humans compete for scarce resources (like power and command)
Neo-Marxist
Another name for conflict school
Symbolic interactionist school
Branch of sociology that focuses on the beliefs and actions of individuals and the meanings of these actions and beliefs
Social statics
Study of the forces that give a society stability (customs, laws, institutions)
Social dynamics
The study of the forces that result in a change in a society (revolutions, war, catastrophe)
Equilibrium
Belief that society has a natural tendency to find a balance between forces of change and forces of stability
Positivism
Belief that society can only be understood by rigidly applying the scientific method of analysis
Egoistic suicide
Suicide that is caused by an individual not sharing any of the major values or goals of a society
Altruistic society
Suicide that occurs when people knowingly enter an impossible situation and sacrifice their lives for another
Anomic suicide
Suicide caused by an individual being overwhelmed by a sudden change in society
Class conflict
Struggle between powerful and powerless groups in society
Bourgeoisie
The rich and powerful groups in society who own factories, land and machinery
Proletariat
The poor and powerless groups in a society who survive by selling their labor
Bureaucracies
Large, highly structure organizations that tend to function in a impersonal manner
Universals
Characteristics that can be observed in every human culture and society (ethics, gestures, superstitions)
Gender socialization
The different ways in which girls and boys are socialized, or learn to belong to society
Auguste Comte
Analyzed society in two categories social statics and social dynamics
Society has tendency to find balance
Use of scientific method
Émile Durkheim
Concentrated of changing society
Reform over punishment
3 types of suicide
Founder of functionalism
Karl Marx
Founded conflict school
Concluded uneven distribution of resources in a normal society
Struggle for power and wealth is a driving force behind society
Max Webber
Power differences aren’t just economic
Power could come from anywhere
Favors bureaucracies to provide essential services
Society could be reformed and improved
Talcott Parsons
Recognition of peoples freedom to make choices but the choices we make are to make us fit into society/make the choices were expected to make
George Murdock
Societies share many characteristics (bodily adornments, ethics, gestures, superstitions, etc)
