Sociology of Family, Religion, Politics, and Social Change: Key Concepts and Theories

What is the sociological definition of family?

A group of people joined by blood, marriage, or cohabitation.

What is the difference between social networks and kinship?

Social networks are connections achieved through repeated interaction for mutual benefit, while kinship is socially sanctioned and culturally ascribed familial relations.

What is homophily?

When people interact with others who have similar interests.

What is homogamy?

When people date others of similar status, usually because they live in the same area.

What is habitus?

A subconscious set of dispositions, attitudes, and values that dictate how people see and interact with the world.

What are the three ways that family contributes to the reproduction of cultural norms?

Socialization, resource transmission, boundary maintenance.

What is the sociological definition of religion?

A system of spiritual beliefs, values, and rituals that bind people to a community.

What are spiritual beliefs?

Beliefs held by a person or group about the way the universe works that cannot be scientifically proved.

What is the difference between sacred and profane?

Sacred aspects are considered otherworldly and respected, while profane aspects are regular occurrences within human control.

What is the process of secularization?

The shift of the social system from spiritual beliefs to scientific evidence.

What is collective conscious?

Shared values, attitudes, or beliefs that create a basis for moral unity in society.

What is collective effervescence?

A shared emotional state felt among members of a social group when gathered for a common purpose.

What is a new religious movement (NRM)?

A small organization that creates new beliefs and practices, often centered around a single leader.

How is a sect different from an NRM?

A sect is a branch of a religion, while an NRM creates new beliefs and practices.

What is the sociological definition of government?

A central administrative body that creates, implements, and enforces formal rules for a nation.

What does 'the state has a legitimate monopoly of force' mean?

It refers to the state's exclusive right to use or authorize the use of physical force.

What is social control?

The ways that groups regulate behavior through formal or informal norms.

What are the different models of political participation?

Manifest participation includes voting and protests, while latent participation includes discussions and education.

What is political polarization?

The increasing division between people on opposing sides of a political argument.

What is the sociological definition of the economy?

The domain of life concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

What is technology in sociological terms?

Any set of material or symbolic tools used to solve problems or enhance human livelihood.

What is the division of labor?

The process of assigning different tasks and roles among individuals and groups to work towards a common goal.

What is World Systems Theory?

A theory that describes global society structured around unequal exchanges of resources among countries.

What are the types of countries in World Systems Theory?

Core countries, semi-peripheral countries, and peripheral countries.

What are some consequences of technological evolution?

Changes in labor dynamics, social interactions, and economic structures.

What is cultural lag?

Human principles of ethics and morals evolve slower than technology, leading to harm before society figures out how to use it.

What is the digital divide?

Wealthier individuals access technology faster than less fortunate individuals.

What is surveillance capitalism?

An economic model where companies offer technology as a free service to profit from it.

What does cultural neoliberalism mean in the U.S.?

People control their own lives and can move up or down the social ladder through their actions.

What is collective action?

Any behavior performed by numerous people in response to the larger social environment.

What is Expectancy Value Theory?

Individual behavior is based on the belief that they can perform a task despite perceived external constraints.

What is a crowd?

An intentional but temporary physical gathering of people for a common purpose.

Can collective action be spontaneous?

Yes, collective action can be spontaneous.

What are free riders?

People who find it less beneficial to do work that others do and choose to relax instead.

What is equity theory?

People reduce their effort in a group when they feel they are contributing more for the same reward.

What are the different models of social change?

Evolutionary, cyclical, and equilibrium.

What is the evolutionary model of social change?

Communities move through stages of development that improve capabilities and quality of life.

What is the cyclical model of social change?

Communities go through stages of rise, decline, and fall without natural improvement.

What is the equilibrium model of social change?

Changes occur in response to disruptions to maintain stability.

How does cyclical differ from equilibrium?

Cyclical recognizes rise and fall, while equilibrium argues changes maintain the same societal state.

What facilitates change in resource competition?

Outcomes of various interest groups fighting over scarce resources.

What is the sociological definition of social change?

When a community or society moves towards a new way of thinking or acting.

What is a threshold cascade?

Individuals adopt new technology only after a certain number have already done so.

What are feedback loops?

Inputs in a system influence outputs cyclically, reinforcing stability or facilitating change.

What is moral reframing?

Presenting arguments based on others' beliefs to reduce defensive responses and create shared understanding.

How do social networks relate to social change?

More connections allow greater influence over others.

What is a street-level bureaucrat?

Frontline public service workers who interact with citizens in their daily work.

What is the sociological definition of education?

The domain where people are taught knowledge, skills, and cultural values to participate in society.

What are feeling rules?

Norms around appropriate emotional behaviors within formal institutional contexts.

What is rationalization?

The shift of society towards efficiency, predictability, calculation, and control.

What is the hidden curriculum?

A set of skills expected to be known in the educational system and life.

What is emotional work?

Effort to manage psychological state in informal contexts.

What is emotional labor?

Effort to manage psychological state in formal contexts to perform expected roles.

What are the different approaches to education?

Formal and informal approaches to teaching knowledge, skills, and values.

What is the technical instrumentalist approach to education?

Education should provide knowledge and skills translatable to the job market.