Soc 101 Final Exam part 1

What is Sociology?

Scientific study of human groups and their interactions overtime.

Functionalism

is based on a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures

Conflict theory

It is based on the argument that society is characterized by inequality and conflict that create and generate social change.

Symbolic Interactionism

the sum total of the symbolic social relations its members have with one another.

Three Stage theory

Theological stage, Metaphysical Stage, and positivistic stage

Social Statics

the critical study and evaluation of a society's social structure

Social Dynamics

measuring the changes that occur in the social structure over time.

Auguste Comte

father of sociology introduced the idea of applying the scientific method to the social world, known as "POSITIVISM".

Emile Durkheim

One of the first sociologists to use extensive data collection for his study on suicide

7 steps of the scientific method

select a topic, review the literature, Formulate Hypothesis, Create a research design, collect the data, analyze the data, and Draw conclusion

Independent Variable

the variable that is manipulated by researchers to determine its influence on the outcome of the second set of variables. This is your CAUSE variable.

Dependant variable

the outcome of manipulated variables, which is then measured by researchers to determine its overall significance. This is your EFFECT variable.

Hypothesis

A prediction about the outcome of manipulated variables.

Experiment

the process of scientific analysis in which independent variables are introduced to determine their effect on other variables.

qualitative analysis

the process of gathering more specific and detailed information from the sample being studied.

quantitative analysis

he process of reducing general research data into numbers.

Reliability

the process of ensuring that research findings are consistent if they are to be replicated by other scientists.

validity

the researcher must make sure that their operational definitions measure what they were intended to measure.

causation

occurs when one variable influences the outcome of a second variable.

culture

a design for living. Culture includes both material and non-material elements that help people make sense of their world.

Material Culture

includes the physical and tangible elements that are often identified with all cultures such as; food, clothing, building materials, technology...etc

non material culture

includes the customs and traditions of a people that provides for them an emotional interpretation of the world. Ex. Shaking hands or bowing

norms

the unwritten rules or conventional behaviors one is expected to follow that are governed by a society

values

believed to be concepts that are considered desirable, good and correct.

subculture

part of society that shares a distinctive pattern of customs, rules and traditions that differs from the pattern of the larger society.

Ideal Culture

the values, norms and behaviors many people profess to embrace.

Real Culture

the values, norm and behaviors most people actually embrace or exhibit

Sapir Whorf Hypothesis

argues that language influences what a person should think, act, or talk about. One must always measure their words carefully in order to avoid making "insensitive or offensive" comments.

culture wars

a metaphor used to claim that political conflict is based on a set of conflicting cultural values. The term implies a conflict between those values considered traditional or conservative and those considered progressive or liberal.

culture shock

the feeling of anxiety and disorientation as a result of contact with a different culture.

socialization

the process in which people internalize their culture and become participants in a society

nature v nurture debate

Most biologists focus on the role of heredity in human development (Nature) while most social scientists, including sociologists, underscore the importance of learning, socialization, and culture. (Nurture)

four stages of Jean Piagets research

SENSORIMOTOR STAGE: which lasts from birth to two years in which the level of human development exists only through sensory contact

PREOPERATIONAL STAGE: lasts from two to seven years and focuses on human development through the use of language and other symbols.

CONCRETE OPERATIONAL STAGE: lasts from seven to eleven years old when children develop a logical understanding of their surroundings. Children at this stage can attach meaning to symbols.

FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE: which begins about age twelve and continues to adulthood and focuses on the ability to identify abstract thought and imagine alternatives to reality

What do sociologists feel makes us human?

social interaction between people

looking glass self

a self image based on how we think others see us

stages in George Herbert Mead's What were the three stages model of "taking the role of the other

preparatory stage, play stage, and game stage

crime

Any intentional act or omission of an act that violates any law, for which the STATE is obligated to provide punishment

cultural transmission

the social environment one is raised in will likely determine their potential to commit criminal acts in the future

differential association theory

crime is a learning process involving both communication and interaction with those who choose a criminal lifestyle over that of conformity

modes of adaptation

CONFORMISTS: Those who accept societies (goals as positive + and the means to attain them as positive +.)

INNOVATORS: Those who accept societies (goals as positive + but reject the culturally prescribed means to attain them-.)

RITUALISM: Those who often lose sight of societies (goals - but are over-compulsive to the means +.)

RETREATISM: Those who reject both the cultural goals and the institution's means of achieving them

REBELLION: Those who want to bring dramatic social change

Deterrence

An early modern approach to criminal studies in which deviance is viewed as a social disruption, which society must act to control.

restitution

An early modern approach to criminal studies in which deviance is viewed as a social disruption, which society must act to control.

functionalist theory

crime serves a vital function to the maintenance and stability of a society

victimless crime

crime serves a vital function to the maintenance and stability of a society

white collar crime

These crimes are committed by individuals who are in a position of high responsibility (lawyers or bankers) which often entitles them access to personal or privileged information.

blue collar crime

crime against an individual or their property. Often with the threat of physical or deadly force.

social stratification

the ranking of people within the social structure in terms of valued things

prestige

the ranking of people within the social structure in terms of valued things

Status Consistency

when a person's occupation and social status is a society are roughly EQUAL.

status inconsistency

when a person's occupation and social status is UNEQUAL

open systems

based on achieved statuses in which ability and performance take precedence over family position.

closed systems

based on ascribed statuses that are assigned to people at birth there is little to no chance of upward mobility.

Wealth

refers to income that has been accumulated or invested.

femininization of poverty

disproportionate number of the poor who are women

absolute poverty

not able to afford basic necessities of life

relative poverty

not enough money to afford a average standard of living

gender stratification

a society's unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between the two sexes.

sex

the biological distinction between females and males

gender

refers to the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of what it means to be a male or female.

Three waves of the women's rights movement

During the first wave, the conservative branch dominated.

The goals of this second wave {which continues today} is broad, ranging from changing work roles and compensation {equal pay} to reforming policies that deal with violence against women and sexual harassment in the workplace.

largely focusing on women in the least industrialized nations, values that dominate society and female socialization from a global perspective.

Why are women considered a minority group?

Women are discriminated against on the basis of physical or cultural characteristics, regardless of their numbers

Are the terms Sex and Gender Interchangeable?

No

one is biological while the other is determined by society.

gender socialization

the learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family

race

a biological classification of human groups that share similar physical characteristics.

ethnicity

refers to people who are racially similar to one another; but have distinctive cultural characteristics that distinguish them from their neighboring groups.

dominant group

a category of people whose values, language, customs, and traditions are practiced and enforced in a given society over that of others.

minority group

refers to a category of people who often face differential treatment because they lack POLITICAL and ECONOMIC influence.

prejudice

a positive or negative bias or attitude toward a group or category of people.

How are Stereotypes generated?

have a small amount of truth that becomes greatly distorted and followed with illogical and often negative generalizations about that category of people

How does a group become a Minority?

the expansion of political boundaries and migration

Assimilation

the process in which a minority group is absorbed into the larger society.

Discrimination

an action that disqualifies members of a particular group from social opportunities

Marriage

a socially recognized union between two or more individuals that typically involves sexual and economic rights and duties.

Family

a socially defined relationship among at least two people related by birth, marriage, adoption or cohabitation.

Endogamy

requires a person to marry a person from inside their own race,

group, or tribe

exogamy

requires a person to marry someone from outside his or her own group.

cohabitation

living together; coexistence

developmental theory

the family life cycle: divides the family experience into stages

developmental tasks, or growth responsibilities