Sociology of Family, Identity, and Adult Socialization

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering family residential patterns, theoretical perspectives, authority types, Daniel Levinson's stages of adult socialization, marriage patterns, and social identities.

Matrilocal

A type of residence where the couple lives in the wife’s family home.

Patrilocal

A type of residence where the couple lives in the groom's family home.

Neolocal

A type of residence where a couple moves into their own home.

Structural functionalism

For family life to be stable and in equilibrium, traditional gender roles must be followed.

Conflict Theory

The family operates on power struggles and competition rather than pure consent.

Social Exchange Theory

Stating that if the cost outweighs the benefit, the outcome is worse, and if the benefit outweighs the cost, the outcome is better.

Nuclear family

A traditional household consisting of two parents and their children (biological, adopted, or stepchildren) living together in a single home.

Race

The categorization of humans based on physical or cultural traits.

Ethnicity

A shared identity and heritage based on traits like language and traditions.

Pansexuality

A sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, characterized as attraction to all genders.

Patriarchy

A type of authority where men are in power.

Matriarchy

A type of authority where women are in power.

Egalitarian

A type of authority where individuals are equal in power.

Family of orientation

The family into which an individual was born or adopted.

Family of procreation

A family formed through marriage, partnership, or having children.

Intersectional

How social identities overlap to shape experiences of discrimination or privilege.

Early adult socialization (17-22 yrs)

Transition from teen to adult ends when one sees themselves as an adult; often involves college, workforce, or military.

Early adult socialization (23-28 yrs)

Choosing a career and starting a family (marriage and kids). Prompts self-evaluation: "If I don’t start now, it’ll be too late."

Early adult socialization (33-40 yrs)

Settling down: marriage, family, establishing a home, and pursuing a career for financial stability.

Midlife (40-45 yrs)

Midlife crisis stage: re-evaluation of success and achievement.

Midlife (50-65 yrs)

A stage where a man continues to cope with midlife, goes through retirement, finds that family becomes more important than occupation, and stability returns by age 65.

Gender fluidity

Gender identity that shifts over time, not fixed to traditional male or female.

Homogamy

Marrying individuals with the same characteristics: age, education, and SES status.

Heterogamy

Marrying individuals with different characteristics: age, education, and SES status.

Endogamy

Marrying within racial and cultural similarities, with key traits being cultural heritage, religion, and family.

Exogamy

Marrying outside of a specific group, tribe, or clan, with key traits centering on race and culture.

Conflict-habituated marriage

A marital style where conflict is frequent and fighting is acceptable.

Devitalized marriage

A marital pattern defined by fiances/children/values.

Passive-congenial marriage

A marital style with weak emotions; husband finds happiness in work, wife in children, friends, and job.

Vital marriage

Partners live closely intertwined and experience mutual excitement and satisfaction.

Total marriage

A marriage where spouses are equal participants in each other's lives, with no separation.