6308 - Sociocultural dimension and trauma

Social Solidarity

Social ties within a group

Structural Functionalism (Functionalism)

Sees society as a structure with interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of individuals in society

Social Facts

Laws, morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashion, rituals, and all of the cultural rules that govern social life

What level of social work does structuralism functionalism look at?

Macro or mezzo

Conflict Theory

Looks at competition for limited resources, the way inequalities contribute to social differences and perpetuate differences in power

What theory does critical theory expand on?

Conflict Theory

Critical Theory

Attempts to address structural issues causing inequalities

What level of social work does conflict theory look at

Macro Level

Symbolic Interactionist Theory

Focuses on Relationships among individuals within a society

What are the basic premises of symbolic Interactionism?

• Humans interact with things based on the meanings ascribed to those things

• Meanings of things come from our interaction with others and society

• The meaning of things are interpreted by a person when dealing with things in specific circumstances

What level of social work does the symbolic interactionist theory look at?

The Micro-level

Critical Practice Theory

States Social problems are caused by oppressive systems and are maintained by a dominant group

Feminist Theory

Based on the advocacy of social, economic, and political equality between both sexes and is often expanded to apply equal rights to all minority groups

Sociocultural Perspective

States that much of your behavior and feelings are dictated by the culture you live in (Example: Waving, eating, individualistic or collectivistic)

Cultural Relativism

The idea that different cultures should be treated equally and not judged against the criteria of another

Ethnic Identity

How people form their identity / Sense of belonging in relation to their ancestors and cultural heritage

Ethnicity

How people associate themselves with a group that has a common national or cultural tradition

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s ethnic group or culture is superior to another and is the standard of how all cultures should be evaluated

Ethos

The sets of beliefs, morals, ethics, and values a person or community lives by

Ideology

A person’s principal ideas of what is correct and the way things should be

Social Class

A division of society based on social and economic status

Worldview

A particular philosophy of life or conception of the world - How you look at the world or your personal relationship

Culture

The symbols, language, beliefs, values, and artifacts that are part of any society

What two categories can culture be broken into

Material and nonmaterial culture

Nonmaterial Culture

Includes values, beliefs, symbols, and language

Material Culture

Includes all physical objects, such as tools and technology, clothing, utensils, and means of transportation

Symbols

Things that stand for something else that often evoke various reactions and emotions

Gestures

Nonverbal symbols

Norms

Standards and expectations for behaving

What two categories can norms be broken into?

Formal and Informal

Formal Norms

Standard of behavior considered the most important in society

Informal Norms

Behavior or standards that are less important but still influence how we behave

Rituals

Established procedures and ceremonies that often mark transitions in the life course

Values

Involve judgements of what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable

Artifacts

Material objects, constitutes a society’s material culture