UCSP Reviewer: Cultural Symbols, Socialization, and Social Organization

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cultural, social, political, and economic symbols, socialization stages and types, and social organizations for UCSP Weeks 4 to 6.

Cultural symbol

A physical manifestation that signifies the ideology of a particular culture, or that merely has meaning within a culture.

Symbol

An object, word, or action that stands for something else with no natural relationship and is culturally defined.

Symbolism

The practice of using something to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

First function of a social symbol

To facilitate the transmission of culture from group to group.

Crucifix

A cross with corpus used by the Catholic Church, Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Anglicanism.

Chi Rho

One of the earliest cruciform symbols used by Christians, formed by superimposing the first two letters of "Christ" in Greek (chi = ch, rho = r).

Ichthys (ichthus)

A Greek word meaning "fish," whose five Greek letters stand for the words meaning "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."

Dove

The Christian symbol of the Holy Ghost, used especially in representations of the Lord's Baptism and the Pentecost.

Political symbolism

Symbolism used to represent a political standpoint.

Purpose of party symbols on ballot papers

To facilitate voting by illiterate people who cannot read parties' names on ballot papers.

Economics

The study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people.

Two key ideas of economics

Goods are scarce and society must use its resources efficiently.

Socialization

A process that introduces people to social norms and customs, helping individuals function well in society and helping society run smoothly.

Context of socialization

The aspect that defines socialization the most, referring to culture, language, social structures, rank, history, and past institutional roles.

"The talk"

A socialization practice used by parents of color teaching their children to remain calm, compliant, and safe around law enforcement.

Primary socialization

Socialization occurring from birth through adolescence, guided by caregivers, teachers, coaches, religious figures, and peers.

Secondary socialization

Socialization that occurs throughout life in groups and situations outside primary socialization, such as college, the workplace, or unfamiliar places.

Group socialization

Socialization occurring across all life stages where peer groups influence individual behaviors such as speech and dress.

Organizational socialization

Socialization within an institution or organization that familiarizes a person with its norms, values, and practices.

Anticipatory socialization

Largely self-directed socialization steps taken by an individual to prepare for a new role, position, or occupation.

Forced socialization

The use of coercion to re-socialize people within institutions such as prisons, mental hospitals, military units, and some boarding schools.

Results of socialization

The outcomes of socialization that describe the way a person thinks and behaves after undergoing the process.

Social organization

A pattern of relationships between and among individuals and social groups, forming a collectivity established for the pursuit of specific aims or goals.

Formal groups

Deliberately formed groups with explicitly defined purposes, clearly stated goals, and a division of labor based on member ability or merit.

Informal groups

Unplanned groups that arise spontaneously out of the interactions of two or more persons, lacking explicit membership rules or specific objectives.

Relationship groups

Groups organized specifically to fulfill the feeling of companionship.

Special interest groups

Groups organized to meet the specific interests of their members.

Task group

A group formed to accomplish jobs that cannot be done by one person.

Influence / pressure groups

Groups organized to support or influence social actions.

In-group

A social unit in which individuals feel at home and with which they identify.

Out-group

A social unit to which individuals do not belong due to differences in social categories and with which they do not identify.

Reference / psychological group

A group to which individuals consciously or unconsciously refer when evaluating their life situations and behavior, serving comparison and normative functions.

Primary group

The most fundamental, long-lasting unit of human society characterized by strong ties of love and affection where behavioral norms are learned.

Secondary group

Impersonal, contractual, and formal groups that individuals meet later in life to satisfy complex needs, characterized by limited and less enduring relationships.