The Biopsychosocial Model, Society, and Culture Flashcards
social constructionism
human actors construct or create “reality,” rather than discovering a reality that has inherent validity. The beliefs and shared understandings of individuals create social realities.
symbolic interactionism
Like social constructionism, this perspective allows for social determination of shared realities. But symbolic interactionism focuses on a smaller scale of interaction between individuals and in small groups.
functionalism
factions of society work together to maintain stability
conflict theory
views society in terms of competing groups that act according to their own self-interests.
**Different from functionalism b/c functionalism views societal institutions working together to maintain harmony
feminist theory
considered a particular type of conflict theory b/c it examines societal inequalities between men and women
macrosociological perspectives
social constructionism, functionalism conflict theory, and feminist theory
microsociological perspectives
symbolic interactionism
rational choice theory
people’s actions are dictated by a rational consideration and individuals choose the action that is most likely to bring some type of profit.
Exchange theory
Behaviors within relationships are determined by individuals’ expectations of reward or punishment.
Rational choice theory and exchange theory are useful for considering how people make decisions and how such decisions contribute to the structure of society, but they cannot explain why people sometimes choose to do things that are not in their own best interest and appear to be irrational.
folkways
norms governing casual interactions. ex: A glare directed toward someone who cuts in front of a line
mores
norms enforcing the moral standards of a society. A person who commits murder has violated a social more.
taboo
the most extreme end of disapproval. This is considered immoral AND repulsive. ex: cannibalism
power vs. authority
power allows individuals or groups to exert their will even when they are opposed by others. Authority is a type of power that is viewed as legitimate by the population
sect vs. cult
A sect is a more radical group of a religious organization that forms by breaking away from the established norms or beliefs of a mainstream church. a cult has views or practices that situate it fully outside the traditions of mainstream society and, unlike a sect, tends to form outside of any pre-existing religion.
sick role vs illness experience
The sick role is when individuals diagnosed with illness exhibit the expected behaviors for an ill person. The sick role refers to outward behaviors, but the term illness experience describes how an individual adjusts to interruptions to their health.
