Psychology 2 - Lesson 12: Society and Culture Part III

Psychology 2 Lesson 12

Lesson 12: Society and Culture Part III

Lesson 12: Society and Culture Part III

Give an example of a Social Movement. Why would this be considered a Social Movement?

The Civil Rights Movement is an example in which people of Color fought against the status quo in order to bring about social change that favored equality. This is an example of a Social Movement because it is a grouping of people focused on a social issue and they carried out social change.

CRB Compare Proactive and Reactive Social Movements.

Proactive Social Movements are promoting the social change at issue, whereas Reactive Social Movements are resisting social change.

Hannah writes an essay on Social Movements. In her essay she paints a dark picture of Social Movements, seeing them as dangerous and only useful as a refuge for those who felt they didn't belong elsewhere. Hannah's Essay lends support to which theory of Social Movements?

(A) Mass Society Theory

(B) Resource Mobilization Theory

(C) Relative Deprivation Theory

(D) Rational Choice Theory

(A) Mass Society Theory

Mass Society Theory has a similar view to the one taken by Hannah in her essay, seeing them as dark, dangerous, and irrational.

Marge writes an article for her school newspaper entitled, "10 Things You Need to Start a Social Movement." Marge's Essay most likely lends support to which theory of Social Movements?

(A) Mass Society Theory

(B) Resource Mobilization Theory

(C) Relative Deprivation Theory

(D) Rational Choice Theory

(B) Resource Mobilization Theory

Resource Mobilization Theory suggests that starting a Social Movement requires various resources such as time, money, and a charismatic leader. Perhaps Marge will mention these things in her article.

CRB True or false? Resource Mobilization theory forms the basis of Social Mobility.

False. Resource Mobilization Theory and Social Mobility are not related terms.

CRB In terms of Social Mobility, compare Intergenerational and Intragenerational Mobility.

Intergenerational mobility would happen between generations, like between parents and children. For example, a first generation college student would exhibit intergenerational mobility.

Intragenerational mobility occurs within a person's lifetime, like a mechanic who goes back to school to become a researcher.

CRB Fill in the blanks: ___________ Mobility is the movement from one social class to another, whereas __________ Mobility is a change of occupation or lifestyle that stays in the same social class.

(A) Upward, Neutral

(B) Vertical, Neutral

(C) Upward, Horizontal

(D) Vertical, Horizontal

(D) Vertical, Horizontal

Vertical Mobility is the movement from one social class to another, whereas Horizontal Mobility is a change of occupation or lifestyle that stays in the same social class.

CRB True or false? Upward Vertical Mobility can increase life expectancy, as described by Howard Waitzkin and his theory of Second Sickness.

True. Upward Vertical Mobility can increase life expectancy, as described by Howard Waitzkin and his theory of Second Sickness.

Second Sickness is based off of the idea that health outcomes can be exaggerated by social injustice, and that professionals will have longer life expectancies than the working class.

CRB Compare a Meritocracy and a Plutocracy, including Vertical Mobility.

A Meritocracy is based solely upon the intellectual talent and achievement, giving opportunities for lots of Vertical Mobility.

A Plutocracy is a society ruled by the upper classes. This gives less opportunities for Vertical Mobility.

True or False? According to Relative Deprivation Theory, if Jimmy makes $20,000 per year and feels good about his income, Mary, his next door neighbor must share similar feelings.

False. According to Relative Deprivation Theory, if Jimmy makes $20,000 per year and feels good about his income, Mary, his next door neighbor might be feeling something entirely different depending on who she is comparing herself to. This theory suggests that people join a social movement when they have a sense of RELATIVE deprivation and feel like they can't get what they want through conventional means.

CRB True or false? Social Reproduction suggests that social inequalities can be passed down from one generation to the next, and can create a "culture of poverty".

True. Social Reproduction suggests that social inequalities can be passed down from one generation to the next, and can create a "culture of poverty".

CRB Compare Absolute and Relative Poverty. Which would the Poverty Line fall under?

Absolute Poverty is when people do not have enough resources (including but not limited to money) to afford all of the minimum necessities of life. Relative poverty is simply having less resources than the surrounding neighborhood.

The Poverty Line is based off of a government calculation on the minimum income needed to afford the minimum necessities of life (regardless of geography or neighborhood), so it is an Absolute Poverty mechanism.

CRB Which of the following does NOT make up the basic necessities of life?

(A) Shelter

(B) Food

(C) Water

(D) Happiness

(D) Happiness

The four basic necessities of life are considered to be:

I. Shelter

II. Food

III. Water

IV. Clothing

How can McDonalds be considered a part of American Culture?

McDonalds comes with its own objects and beliefs, which contribute to the overall culture of our society. For instance, McDonalds is all about convenience, which has become a value in our society. Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society.

How does Culture relate to Society?

Society is the structure. It is a group of people that share a culture. It is like a canvas.

Culture consists of what the people of a society value, their believes, objects, and behaviors. It is like the paint on a canvas. Each society is unique in that it has a different culture just as each canvas is unique in that it has a different painting on it.

Describe how the culture of America may compare to the culture of Japan (or another country of your choice).

In America, we sleep on beds, speak English, are individualistic, shake hands, and eat hamburgers. In Japan, they sleep on futons, speak Japanese, are collectivists, bow to one another (although this is fading in some ways), and eat ramen and rice. I lived in Japan for two years, which was a blast! :)

Compare Subculture and Counterculture. Give examples of each.

Subculture is a subset of the Dominant Culture (i.e. college sorority, religious community, boy scout troup, boarding school, sports team, etc).

Counterculture is a subset of the Dominant Culture that goes counter to the main culture (i.e. motorcycle gang, cults, teenage gang, etc).

Note: Mormons DO NOT practice Polygamy and would more likely be considered a Subculture. I would know because I am one. ;)

Compare Material Culture and Non-material Culture. Give an example of each.

Material Culture for Americans may include the American Flag, McDonalds, Hamburgers, etc.

Non-material Culture may include a belief in the importance of freedom, independence, and capitalism.

CRB True or false? Artifacts are a key part of Material Culture, and are the material items that must be imported or come from ancient cultures through tradition.

False. Artifacts are a key part of Material Culture, and are the material items that can be made, possessed and valued.

Describe Cultural Lag and how it relates to the concepts of Material and Non-material Culture. Give an example of Cultural Lag.

Cultural Lag refers to the idea that Material Culture (technology) tends to advance and change faster than Non-material Culture, creating some issues. For instance, the technology for Genetic Engineering is advancing at a fast pace, but we are still trying to figure out our beliefs and thoughts on the ethics of this.

I spent a summer living in Mexico. How do you think I experienced Culture Shock?

I felt a little out of place at first as I've never been there and spent most of my life in America. I was "shocked" by the buildings being close together without large yards and open spaces. I was "shocked" by everyone speaking Spanish instead of English. I also was "shocked" by the fact that they put Chili powder on everything, even candy! It actually tastes pretty good!

CRB The next time I went to Mexico, I brought my little sister. She did not know Spanish and had many issues trying to order food. Could these be considered Cultural Barriers?

Because of cultural differences, like language and the food traditionally served, were impairing how my sister could interact with the Mexicans, these would be considered Cultural Barriers.

Give a few examples of Mass Media?

Mass Media includes things such as books, newspapers, the internet, television, movies, music, and magazines.

The Functionalist Perspective thinks of Mass Media as an Agent of Socialization. How might this be so?

Mass Media teaches us the values and culture of the society we belong to. You may watch The Simpsons and think that it is part of American Culture for dads to be lazy, boys to be wild, and girls to be smart and pretentious. It's not true by any means, but it may socialize you to believe it is.

The Functionalist Perspective thinks of Mass Media as an enforcer of Social Norms. How might this be so?

Mass Media will show criminals being punished, telling us what norms should be obeyed to avoid punishment. Mass Media will also glorify "good" behavior such as winning sport's competitions.

Conflict Perspective believes that the Mass Media enhances divisions within society, particularly through Gate Keeping. How might this be so?

Gate Keeping refers to the idea that certain individuals in charge will determine what media gets aired and which media doesn't. It might reject media that portrays blacks as having equal rights to whites, which would reinforce inequality.

You see a billboard at the local grocery store advertising for new employees. On the billboard, there is a great diversity of employees modeled, from blacks, hispanics, asians, and whites. Inside the store, however, you notice that there is only one asian and tons of whites working there. Which concept does this example best relate to?

(A) Gate Keeping

(B) Cultural Universals

(C) Tokenism

(D) Agent of Socialization

(C) Tokenism

This is an example of Tokenism in which is the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to do a particular thing, especially by recruiting a small number of people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of sexual or racial equality within a workforce as is the case in this example.

In almost every country in the world, there is a ceremony that is associated with marriage/partnership. Which concept does this example best relate to?

(A) Gate Keeping

(B) Cultural Universals

(C) Tokenism

(D) Agent of Socialization

(B) Cultural Universals

Cultural Universals are elements, patterns, traits, or institutions that are common among ALL human cultures as in the case here with marriage/partnership ceremonies. See this wikipedia article for hundreds more examples of Cultural Universals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_universal

How might Cultural Universals relate to the Theory of Evolution?

The Theory of Evolutions states that physical traits that are selected for/are favorable to a species will become more common/prominent over time. It is the same with culture. Aspects of culture that are favored in a society will become more prevalent over time. Perhaps these Cultural Universals were selected for over time.

Give an example of how Culture might shape Evolution?

If we all start doing desk jobs, different physical characteristics and strengths such as a strong back might be favored and become more prevalent over time through natural selection.

CRB A major part of culture that holds society together can be social norms. Which of the following terms refers to lacking social norms and the breakdown of bonds between people and society, and can help accelerate social inequality?

(A) Strain Theory

(B) Anomie

(C) Anarchy

(D) Dissociation

(B) Anomie

Anomie is the lacking social norms and the breakdown of bonds between people and society, and can help accelerate social inequality.

CRB Describe how Anomie plays a role in Strain Theory.

Strain theory focuses on how anomic conditions can lead to deviance, because they are eroding social solidarity as one community of people. People will feel isolated and too much like an individual, as in not feeling like part of a larger society.

CRB Social Stratification suggests that people can be categorized by a variety of factors. Which of the following is not one of the main factors associated with Social Stratification?

(A) Sex

(B) Race

(C) Education

(D) Wealth and Income

(A) Sex

According to Social Stratification Theory, people can be categorized based on their level of resources available. These can be influenced by Race, Education, Wealth and Income.

CRB Fill in the blanks: In a ________ system, there is closed stratification, so people could not change classes even if they tried. In a _______ system, however, social variables and individual initiative are considered, and it is possible to change classes.

(A) Collective, Individual

(B) Stereotyping, Individual

(C) Fixed, Variable

(D) Caste, Class

(D) Caste, Class

In a Caste system, there is closed stratification, so people could not change classes even if they tried. In a Class system, however, social variables and individual initiative are considered, and it is possible to change classes.