Sociology Final Review- 2024

society

A group of people who live in a defined geographic area, who interact with one another, and who share a common culture.

sociological perspective

never focuses on the individual, social background influences our attitudes, behavior, and chances.

sociological imagination

awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experiences and the wider culture that shaped the person’s choices and perceptions.

Functionalism

sees society as a structure of interrelated parts

Latent and Manifest Functions

Manifest- (intended) intentional actions meant to fulfill a goal

Latent- (unintended)

Conflict Theory

: conflict, competition, change, and constraint 

Symbolic Interactionism

focus on the interaction among people within a society 

Culture Shock

When adapting to a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration.

Cultural Universals

commonalities that almost all cultures share. There are differences in how they are expressed by different cultures, but they are all present in some way or another. EXAMPLES: marriage, funeral rites, family structure.

Folkways

 socially approved and traditional norms or standards or everyday behavior 

EXAMPLE: dressing a certain way depending on the event such as wearing black to a funeral

Mores

Socially approved norms or standards of moral and ethical behavior 

EXAMPLE: Lying

Taboos

An act considered so offensive to norms

EXAMPLE: In America, not tipping at a restaurant 

Laws

norms that are formally defined and enforced by officials. 

Example: no smoking in restaurants in the US

socialization

The process of preparing individuals to be part of a group

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature- the people shaped primarily by genetics and biology

Nurture- our participation in social life is the most important determinant of who we are and how we behave.

Group

is composed of people who share several features including:

 regular contact with each other

Share some way of thinking, feeling, or behaving

Take one another’s behavior into account

Have one or more interests or goals in common

Aggregate

NOT a group

A collection of people who are in the same place at the same time but who otherwise have nothing in common.

EX: people on an airplane.

social category

Category- NOT the same as a group 

People who share social characteristics EX: women, citizens, minorities 

Often people will attach stereotypes or stigmas to people based on social category. 

Primary vs Secondary group

Primary group- the group that you have the most contact and investment with over long periods of time. EX: family 

Functions: emotional support 

Socialization

Encourage conformity 

Secondary group- you have less contact with or only for a period of time. Usually, a group is geared towards completing a specific goal or task. Ex: math students have a common goal of completing the class. 

Have much less investment and less in common with other members than the Primary group.

Nuclear family

is composed of parents or parents and children.

Extended Family

consists of two or more adult generations of the same family whose members share economic resources and live in the same household. They also may contain close relatives like grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Traditional Families vs Contemporary Families

1980s was the start of chosen families. Breakdown of nuclear families and are now choosing to have a chosen family. It can happen when you lose contact with one or both parents. When people don’t have immediate family they become family together. 

Role of Education in society

Education impacts society by teaching people and the ways of the world and knowledge. The different forms of education help shape people in different ways. Education has evolved over time and has changed to help be more inclusive for everyone. It is important for everyone to have a good education and know basic skills. 

Hidden Curriculum

Teaching kids things that they don’t know they are learning. EXAMPLE: doing a game in math about math facts but you are also teaching kids about competitions and winning and losing.

Religion in Socialization

 Religion is an important avenue of socialization for many people. Many religious institutions also uphold gender norms and contribute to their enforcement through socialization. From ceremonial rites of passage that reinforce the family unit to power dynamics that reinforce gender roles, organized religion fosters a shared set of socialized values that are passed on through society.

Definition Deviance

• a violation of contextual, cultural, or social norms

  • A behavior, trait, belief, or other characteristic that violates a norm and causes a negative reaction.