Midterm Sociology Review

Cultural Universals

Values or modes of behavior shared by all human cultures

Material aspects of culture

The physical objects that a society creates that influence the way in which people live (clothes, transportation, food)

Non-material aspects of culture

Comprised of the nonphysical components of cuture. This includes values, norms, symbols, language, speech, and writing

Three Fundamental Components of Culture

Values, symbols, and norms

Language

The most widely used symbol or set of symbols in a society

Multi-culturism

A condition in which ethnic groups exist separately and share equally in economic and political life

Sociobiology

An approach that attempts to explain the behavior of both animals and humans in terms of biological principles

Sociology

The systematic study of relationships between the individual and society and the consequences of difference

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to look at other cultures through the eyes of one’s own culture and thereby misrepresent them

Countercultures

Cultural groups within a wider society that largely reject the values and norms of the majority

Norms

Group held beliefs about how members should behave in a given context

Social Function

An event that allows individuals to gather as a community for sharing a common purpose

Enculturation

The method by which social values are internalized and learned.

Primary Socialization

Occurs in infancy and childhood and is the most intense period of cultural learning. It is the time when children learn language and basic behavior patterns that formthe foundation for later learning

Social Category

People who share a common characteristic (such as gender or occupation) but do not necessarily interact or identify with one another

Socialization

Understanding that it is a life-long processthat continue’s throughout a person’s life

The Relationship between Media and Socialization

Fashion magazines shaping females view on body image, violent tv shows and video games shaping children’s aggressive behavior

Goffman and his example of adopting of “role”

Ex: a student acting like a diligent scholar in front of a professor.

Social Group

A collection of people who regularly interact with one another on the basis of shared expectations concerning behavior and who share a sense of common identity

Bureaucracy

A type of organization marked by a clear hiearchy of authority and the existence of written rules of procedure andd staffed by full-time, salaried officials.

What is the function of a funeral

It provides a narrative of the loss and helps the community move forward

“Adopt a Grandparent” program and it’s focus

To reduce the isolation of elderly individuals by fostering intergenerational relationships

Hopsice movement and the positive impact it has

Encourages families to provide direct care and emotional support to the dying

Example of an unfulfilled expectation

A man who just retired suddenly passes away before him and his wife could go on vacation

A positive of family members giving and receiving motivation

Development of family pride, trust , and open communication

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

(bottom -up) Physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, sel actualization

Self actualization is the highest level of need

Industrialization

Led to the replacement of individual craftinng by mass production methods

Cultural Universal and how it relats to funerals

There is always some form of announncement, body care, and memorialization

Greater life expectancy and its impact on funeral services

People outlive their retirement savings which leads to minimal funeral expenses

Examples of Bureaucratization in funeral service

OSHA, EPA, FTC, ADA

How has technology changed funeral services

Ability to make funeral arrangement completely online

Matriarchal

Mother or female posseses power and right of decision making

Infant mortality rate

The number of infants who die within their first year per 1,000 live births

Dependency Ratio - what is it and why is it important

Shows the ratio of dependent age groups (children and elderly) to working-age adults

Urbanization

The shift of people from rural areas into towns and cities

Second Demographic Transition

Fertility rates continue to fall because of shifts in family structure

Key Influences: delayed marriage, delayed childbearing, rising rates of cohabitation, high steady rates of divorce, and relative ease of obtaining effective means of birth controls

Premodern Cities

self contained entities that stood apart from predominately rural areas

Defining feature of a ghetto

residential zone where certain racial or ethnic groups are forced to live due to social exclusion

Aging in Place

a phenomenon that describes the situation where many older adults remain in rural areas because younger people have moved away

Rural Poverty

linked to issues like chronic illness, disability, and shorter life expectancies

Urban Renewal

the process of renovating deteriorating neighborhoods using public funds for re-development

Human Exceptionalism Paradigm (HEP)

Science, technology, and industrial development would provide limitless opportunities

The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP)

argues that humans and not exempt from the web of nature

What causes a direct threat to Food Security

climate change, extreme weather events, and land degradation

Allen Schnaiberg’s “Treadmill of Production”

will result in ecological destruction and depletion of resources

Hybridity

refers to cultures that constantly borrow from one another and are not entirely distinct

What is a technological factor that has driven globalization

development of information and communicatoins technologies

International Nongovernmental Organization (INGO)

group formed by individuals or private organizations to address global issues

Service Workers

a group of workers who primarily replaced agricultural workers

Post-industrial Society

A society driven by the production of information rather than material goods

Aspects of funerals in highy mobile societies

survivors select services based on personal needs, not the. deceased’s wishes

Supply and Demand

fundamental principle of economics that influences the funeral service industry

What can happen to funeral services expenditures during a recession

Famlies spend less money on funeral services and merchandise.

International Governmental Organization (IGO)

an international organization established bt treaties between governments for conducting business between member nations

Factors to consider when analyzing demographics

age, ethnicity, income

Population Dynamics

goverened by births, deaths, and migrations

Social Mobility

the function of a family from one social class to another

Funeral rites in southern / midwest states

traditional funerals are common

Funeral rites in East / West coast

memorial services with cremation have become more common

Geographic location and it’s affect on merchandise chosen

the region often influences the choice of casket material, such as metal or hardwood

What are funeral homes doing to respond to increasing mobility of families

maintaining an ongoing public relations program

What is the government’s role in funeral rites in the U.S.

the American public is free to select the funeral rite of their choice

Why is cremation on the rise

affordability, simplicity, and growing acceptance