Sociology Midterm 2

3 reasons public education became mandatory

1. provided training for jobs to help buisnesses

2. created population that was more compatible for democracy

3. helped reduce class difference

ideal type

describing something by its common features, not details

structural functionalism

belief, society is stable, structuredm abased on shared values

1st main point of structural functionalism 

human behavior is governed by relatively stable patterns of social relations, or social structures 

2nd main point of structual functionalism 

how social structures maintain or undetermine social stability 

3rd main point of structural functionalism

social structures are based on shared values or preferences 

4th main point of structural functionalism

reestablishing equalibrium can best solve msot social problems

davis-moore hypothesis

inequality is necessary and a universal feature of all societies because it motivates qualified individuals to fill vital roles requiring talent and excessive training

macro theory

a theory that looks at the big picture

3 functions of the education system

1. selecting and sorting

2. socialization

3. job training

meritocracy 

system of rewards based on ones own merits within their personal control 

manifest functions

to sort people according to fair and open competition

grade inflation

a rise in the average grade assigned to students

Human Capital Theory

education is neccesary to improve the economic or productive capital of a population

bourgeoisie 

the wealthy who owns the means of the production

proletariat

those who sell their labor to survive

4 tenants of conflict theory

1. focus on macro- structures

2. Inequalities produce stability/change

3. privileged group maintain advantages, disadvantaged struggle

4. reducing privilege: less conflict, more human welfare

equality of condition 

difference in material conditions that makes one more or less likely to succeed in completion 

equality of opportunity

equal access/ opportunity to competition

equality

state of being equal

equity

state of being fair and impartial

overt disadvantage

very clear, direct (eg. racism, sexism, discrimiation)

subtle diadvantage

difficult to analyze and describe

systemic disadvantage

related to structures and system of society

economic capital

economic resources (money, wealth, property)

social capital 

ones social norms and shared values 

cultural capital

skills, tastes/ preferences, habits that reflects ones class

habitus

deeply engrainded habits than one acquires from their social environments

Latent effect

unintended consequences

hidden consequences

unintended effects of a decision or action (children being told to obey authority)