Week 4 Reading Sociology

operationalize

the process by which researchers conducting research spell out precisely how a concept will be measured

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

handbook used by health care professionals in the US and much of the world as the authoritative giude to the diagnosis of mental disorders

International Classification of Disease (ICD)

WHO’s organization manual that is the equivalent of the DSM but involves more worldwide participation and focus, using cultural scripts

cultural scripts

the shared social expectations and norms within a culture that influence how people behave and interpret social interactions, differing widely across cultures, shaping how the same social issues/behaviours are perceived

cultural relativism

the idea that behaviours, values and norms should be understood within their own cultural contect rather than judged by another culture’s standard. Crucial for analyzing how the same social phenomenon has different meanings in different societies

Diagnostic Cultural Bias

how countries have varying cultural attitudes towards mental health, influencing how often depression is diagnosed and reported → eg somatization and psychologization

somatization

where emotional distress is expressed through the body

psychologization

where mental suffering is verbalized in psychological terms

Conceptual Equivalence

the idea that a concept or construct has the same meaning and relevance across different cultural, linguistic or national contexts, even if it is expressed differently

baseline stressors

refers to a consistenf or chronic source of stress existing in an individual/population’s envrionment before enay additional stressors occur

Canada’s rank among other countries when it comes to happiness

18

Canada’s happiness score

6.80/10

Relative deprivation

concept used to explain the feeling of being deprived, or lacking in comparison to others, particularly in terms of justice equity and social positions. It arises when there is a gap between one’s expectations due to seeing the lifestyles of the wealthy and the actual improvement in objective living conditions, leading to a sense of discontent and a desire for change

progressive tax system

means that as your taxable income increases, so does the percentage of income you pay in taxes

regressive tax system

means that the tax rate remains the sae regardless of income, meaning that lower-income individuals pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes than higher income individuals → eg sales tax

4 types of happiness

1. affective happiness

2. hedonic happiness

3. evaluative happiness

4. eudaimonic happiness

affective happiness

the amount of positive and negative emotion one tends to feel→ positive mood/the absense of negative negative mood … contentment, satisfaction etc

hedonic happiness

refers to experiences of pleasure or enjoyment that bring feelings of temporary happiness

evaluative happiness

how satisfied one is with their life

eudaimonic happiness

refers to ones sense of meaning and pupose → eg someon who values education works as a teacher in an undervalued community though the work is hard they’re happy bc they’re contributing to something bigger than themselves

happiness

the presence of sustained positive feelings and the sustained absence of negative feelings (Affective), it is fleeting experiences of happiness (Hedonic), it is satisfaction with one's life (Evaluative), and it is having a sense of meaning and purpose (Eudaimonic)

Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs

psychological theory developed by Abraham Maslow, organizing humans into a 5 level pyramid, moving from the most basic survival needs to higher order psychological and self fulfillment needs

5 Main Needs

1. Psychological needs

2. Safety Needs

3. Love and Belonginess needs

4. Esteem Needs

5. Self Actualization Needs

Additional Needs

1. Cognitive Needs

2. Aesthetic Needs

3. Transcendance Needs

Transcendance Needs

helping others achieve self actualization

Aesthetic Needs

appreciation of beauty and order

Cognitive Needs

desire for knowledge and understanding

Self Actualization Needs

represents the need to reach ones full portential, pursue personal growht, creativity and fulfillment

Esteem Needs

The need for self-respect and recognition from others, which includes self-esteem, confidence, achievement, and status

Love and Belongingness Needs

The need for social relationships, including love, friendship, intimacy, and a sense of belonging in groups such as family, friends, and community

Safety Needs

The need for security and stability, including personal safety, financial security, health, and protection from harm or dange

Physiological Needs

fundamental for human survival: food, water, air, sleep, shelter, warmth

Paradox of Choice

by psychologist Barry Schwartz (2004), it suggests that while having some choice is beneficial, having too many options can lead to decision paralysis → leading to choice overload

choice overload

anxiety and effort demands increasing when someone has too many options → leads to opportunity cost

opportunity cost

the cost of not being able to explore the options you didn’t pick

Materialism

tendency to consider physical possesions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values

Consumerism

the relentless pursuit of consumption dirven by the market economy, advertising and mass media

positional goods

goods or status symbols, whose value depends on exclusivity and social comparison rather than intrinsic  utlitilty

pathologized

something is treated or defined as a medical or psychological problem, even if it might otherwise be considered a normal human behaviour, feeling, or experience

Resilience Thoery

focuses on the capacity of individuals to maintain or regain mental health despite experiencing adversity. It emphasizes the development of coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies that enable individuals to navigate challenges effectively

Victimhood Culture

a societal condition where individuals emphasize their victim status to gain social standing or advantages → eg publicly highlighting personal grievances to garner sympathy

Self-Esteem Movement

emerged with the intention of boosting individuals' self-worth through constant positive reinforcement and the avoidance of criticism → eg partcipation trophies

Learned Helplessness

a psychological condition where individuals, after repeated exposure to uncontrollable adverse events, come to believe that they have no control over their circumstances

Labelling Theory

assigning labels to individuals can influence their self-identity and behaviour, often leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy

Disease of Despair

encompasses conditions such as substance abuse, alcoholism, and suicide, which are often linked to feelings of hopelessness and a lack of purpose

Pathologization of Normal Behaviour

refers to the tendency to classify normal variations in behaviour or emotion as medical conditions

Rumination

a repetitive and passive focus on negative thoughts, emotions, or experiences, often without taking action to resolve them. It involves dwelling on past events, personal failures, or distressing situations, typically in a circular, unproductive manner

Easterlin Paradox

first proposed by economist Richard Easterlin in 1974, suggests that while higher income is associated with greater happiness up to a certain point, beyond that point, additional income has little to no effect on subjective well-being

Hedonic Treadmill

People quickly adjust to new levels of wealth and return to a relatively stable level of happiness, reducing the long-term impact of income increases

boiled frogs hypothesis

If you plunge them into boiling water they'll immediately jump out. But if you place them into room temperature water and slowly heat it to boiling, the frog won't notice and will slowly cook to death without noticing

Social Comparison Thoery

Proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, SCT suggests that people determine their own self-worth, abilities, and happiness by comparing themselves to others