Social Interaction & Social Structure

These flashcards cover key concepts, terms, and definitions from the lecture on social interaction, social structure, groups, deviance, crime, social stratification, and social movements.

Social Interaction

The process by which people act toward or respond to others.

Social Structure

The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that shape society.

Ascribed Status

A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life (e.g., race, gender).

Achieved Status

A social position earned through effort, skill, or choice (e.g., student, doctor).

Master Status

the social position that is the most defining characteristic of an individual, overshadowing other statuses and significantly influencing how they are perceived and interact in society. 

Status

A social position.

Role

The behavior expected from a status.

Role Set

All the roles attached to a single status.

Role Strain

the stress or difficulty an individual experiences when struggling to meet the expectations and demands associated with a single social role.

Role Conflict

When roles from different statuses clash (e.g., student and employee responsibilities).

Ferdinand Tönnies

A sociologist who distinguished between Gemeinschaft (community) and Gesellschaft (society).

Gemeinschaft

A close-knit community with strong personal relationships.

Gesellschaft

a type of social relationship characterized by impersonal, formal, and contractual interactions, often driven by self-interest and rationality

Social Exchange Theory

The idea that social behavior is based on cost-benefit analysis.

Dramaturgical Analysis

views social interactions as theatrical performances, where individuals present themselves in different "front stage" roles to manage the impressions they make on others, while "backstage" behavior is reserved for private relaxation and preparation

Group

Two or more people who interact and share a common identity.

Aggregate

collection of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time but do not interact or share a collective identity, unlike a social group or category

Category

People with a shared characteristic but no interaction (e.g., college students).

Primary Group

Small, close-knit groups with deep, personal relationships (e.g., family).

Secondary Group

Larger, impersonal groups formed for a specific purpose (e.g., coworkers).

Reference Group

A group used as a standard for self-evaluation.

In-group

A group one identifies with and feels loyalty toward.

Out-group

A group one does not belong to and may feel competition or opposition toward.

Crime

A violation of formal laws.

Deviant Behavior

Behavior that violates social norms.

White-Collar Crime

Nonviolent crimes committed by people in high-status positions (e.g., fraud).

Blue-Collar Crime

Crimes typically committed by lower-class individuals (e.g., robbery).

Strain Theory

Merton’s theory that deviance occurs when society pressures individuals to achieve culturally approved goals without providing equal means to do so.

Labeling Theory

The idea that deviance is socially constructed through labeling.

Control Theory

The theory that deviance occurs when a person’s social bonds are too weak

Differential Association Theory

The idea that people learn deviance through social interactions.

Five Modes of Adaptation

Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, and Rebellion.

Cultural Transmission Theory

The idea that deviant behavior is learned through culture and socialization.

Emile Durkheim on Crime

He argued that crime is a normal part of society and can be beneficial by reinforcing norms.

Rape Culture

an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture

Stigma

A negative label that alters a person’s social identity.

Crime Control Model

a perspective that prioritizes the swift and efficient suppression of crime and the protection of society, often emphasizing punishment and law enforcement over individual rights

Moral Entrepreneurs

People or groups who influence laws and social norms based on their moral beliefs.

Social Stratification

The ranking of individuals and groups in a society based on resources and social status.

Open Systems

a social structure that allows for movement and interaction between different social strata, where individuals can move up or down based on achievement and merit

Closed Systems

Social systems that do not allow social mobility.

Slave System

A system where people are owned as property.

Estate System

A system based on land ownership and inheritance.

Caste System

a closed social stratification system where individuals are born into a specific social group, or caste, and remain in it for life, with limited social mobility and often with restrictions on occupation, marriage, and social interaction

Structural Mobility

changes in social status or class position that occur due to shifts in the broader societal structure, economy, or political landscape, rather than individual achievements or efforts

Prestige

the level of respect, admiration, and esteem an individual or group receives from others, often based on their achievements, qualities, or social status

Status Consistency

When a person’s social statuses align in rank.

Status Inconsistency

When a person’s social statuses are ranked differently in different areas.

Social Prestige Measurement

Often by occupation, education, and income.

Working Class Today

Many work in low-wage jobs with limited opportunities for upward mobility.

Poverty in the USA

Poverty is persistent, and systemic factors contribute to economic inequality.

Feminization of Poverty

the increasing disproportionate representation of women, particularly single-mother households, among the world's poor, stemming from gender inequalities and systemic issues

Collective Behavior

Spontaneous social action in response to an event influenced by each other, that deviate from established norms and social structures

Social Movement

Organized efforts to create social change.

Censorship

The suppression of information.

Propaganda

Biased or misleading information used to influence public opinion.

Craze

An intense, short-lived enthusiasm.

Fad

new and relatively short lived trend in behavior or style.

Fashion

a social phenomenon that reflects and shapes societal values, identities, and norms, encompassing clothing, accessories, and trends, and serving as a powerful means of communication and self-expression

Rumors

an unverified piece of information or story that spreads rapidly through informal communication channels, often without a clear source or evidence to support its validity, and can influence social behavior and perceptions

Precipitating Event

an occurrence that triggers or causes another event to happen, often serving as a "last straw" or a critical turning point

Urban Riots Causes

Economic inequality, racial tensions, and political unrest.

Goal of Social Movements

to bring about or impede social, political, economic, or cultural change through organized collective action, often involving protests, campaigns, and advocacy