Ch. 11 - Social Structure and Demographics

13% of MCAT P/S content

What do theoretical approaches provide?

provide frameworks for understanding interactions within society.

What is functionalism?

focuses on the function of each component of society and how those components fit together.

What are manifest and latent functions?

• Manifest functions: Deliberate actions that help a system.

• Latent functions: Unexpected, unintended, or unrecognized positive consequences of manifest functions.

What does conflict theory focus on?

focuses on how power differentials are created and how they maintain social order.

What is symbolic interactionism?

the study of how individuals interact through shared understanding of words, gestures, and symbols.

What does social constructionism explore?

explores how individuals and groups make decisions to agree upon a given social reality.

What is rational choice theory?

states that individuals make decisions to maximize benefit and minimize harm.

How does exchange theory apply rational choice theory?

applies it within social groups.

What does feminist theory critique?

critiques institutional power structures that disadvantage women in society.

What are social institutions?

well-established structures that dictate patterns of behavior or relationships and are fundamental to culture.

What are common examples of social institutions?

Family, education, religion, government, economy, and health and medicine.

What are the four key ethical tenets of American medicine?

1. Beneficence: Acting in the patient’s best interest.

2. Nonmaleficence: Avoiding treatments where risk outweighs benefit.

3. Respect for Autonomy: Respecting patients' rights to make healthcare decisions.

4. Justice: Treating similar patients similarly and distributing resources fairly.

What does culture encompass?

the lifestyle of a group of people, including both material and symbolic elements.

What is material culture?

includes physical items associated with a group, such as artwork, emblems, clothing, jewelry, foods, buildings, and tools.

What is symbolic culture?

includes the ideas and beliefs associated with a cultural group.

What is cultural lag?

the idea that material culture changes more quickly than symbolic culture.

What is a cultural barrier?

A social difference that impedes interaction.

What is language?

consists of spoken, signed, or written symbols combined into a system governed by rules.

What are values?

what a person deems important in life.

What are beliefs?

things a person considers to be true.

What are rituals?

Formalized ceremonial behaviors in which group members regularly engage, governed by specific rules and order.

What are norms?

Societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

How are culture and evolution related?

There is evidence that culture flows from evolutionary principles and can also influence evolution.

What are demographics?

statistics of populations and the mathematical applications of sociology.

What are some common demographic variables?

Age, gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and immigration status.

What is ageism?

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age.

What is gender?

A set of behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with a biological sex.

What is gender inequality?

The intentional or unintentional empowerment of one gender to the detriment of the other.

What is race?

A social construct based on phenotypic differences between groups of people, either real or perceived.

What is ethnicity?

A social construct that sorts people by cultural factors such as language, nationality, and religion.

What is symbolic ethnicity?

Recognition of an ethnic identity relevant only on special occasions or in specific circumstances, with little impact on daily life.

How is sexual orientation defined?

By one’s sexual interest toward members of the same or different genders.

What is the difference between immigration and emigration?

Immigration is moving into a new geographic area

Emigration is moving away from a geographic area.

What is a fertility rate?

The average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime in a population.

What is a birth rate?

The number of births per 1000 people per year.

What is a mortality rate?

The number of deaths per 1000 people per year.

What does migration refer to?

The movement of people from one geographic location to another.

What is demographic transition?

A model representing drops in birth and death rates due to industrialization.

What are social movements?

Organized efforts to promote (proactive) or resist (reactive) social change.

What is globalization?

The process of integrating a global economy with free trade and tapping into foreign labor markets.

What is urbanization?

The process of dense populations creating a pull for migration and forming cities.