Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions

Flashcards focused on key vocabulary terms and definitions related to cultural, social, and political institutions as discussed in the lecture notes.

Kinship

A social institution that refers to the relations formed between members of society, explaining the types of bonds that exist.

Unilineal descent

Descent traced through either the maternal or paternal line only.

Matrilineal descent

Descent that is traced through the female line.

Patrilineal descent

Descent that is traced through the male line.

Bilateral descent

Descent that is traced through both the mother and father.

Monogamy

The practice of being married to one spouse.

Polygamy

The practice of having more than one spouse.

Endogamy

Compulsory marriage within a specific group, community, or social class.

Exogamy

Marriage required to be outside of one's own group or community.

Nuclear family

A family unit consisting of two adults and their socially recognized children.

Extended family

A family unit that includes additional relatives beyond the nuclear family.

Transnational families

Families characterized by members living across national borders but maintaining close relationships.

Band

A simple political organization often found in foraging societies, based on kinship and common interest.

Tribe

An acephalous political system organized through kinship ties, often led by councils or elders.

Chiefdom

A more formalized political organization where leadership and authority rest in a select family.

Legitimacy

The moral and ethical concept that bestows the right to exercise power.

Charismatic authority

Authority derived from the extraordinary characteristics or inspirational qualities of an individual.

Rational-legal authority

Authority derived from legal principles and rules rather than individual leaders.

Matrifocal residence

A household structure consisting of a woman and her children without co-resident adult males.

Neolocal residence

A post-marital residence rule where each spouse forms a new household independent of their origin family.

Reconstituted families

Families formed when parents with children from previous relationships come together to form a new family unit.