Social Patterns and Trends

Demography

Demography

Study of human populations

Fertility Rate

Births per 1,000 Women (15-44)

Total Fertility Rate

Children a hypothetical women would have if she lived to 44

Replacement Level

The amount of fertility needed to keep the population the same from generation to generation

Replacement Rate

The number of births necessary to replace the loss of those who died during the year

Immigration Rate

People per 1,000 immigrating (coming into) a country

Emigration Rate

People per 1,000 emigrating (leaving) a country

Net Migration

The difference between immigration into and emigration out of a country

Mortality Rate

Deaths per 1,000

Internal migration

Migration within a country

Growth Rate

birth rate + death rate + migration

Constrictive Population Pyramid

Shows less young people and older people living longer, indicative of a rich country

Expansive Population Pyramid

Shows more young people and older people living shorter lives, indicative of a poor country

Cohorts

A group sharing a defining characteristic

Why research generational cohorts?

Looking at people by their place in life and by membership in a cohort born at the same time. Observes change over time, understanding how experiences impact/differences in attitudes

What are markers of the transition to adulthood?

• Finishing school

• Leaving home

• Full time work

• Conjugal union

• Children

Why is the pace of transition to adulthood slower each decade?

• Women postponing childbearing to focus on careers

• Housing crisis/rising cost of living

• Less social pressure/desire to have a family/

• Emphasis on education (staying in school longer)/career growth

• Access to birth control/contraceptives

The Impact of Baby Boomers

• Adapting institutions to account for the size of the generation (schools, housing etc)

• Big voting block

• New, bigger target audience for products/media

• Effects on workforce/needed social institutions

• Social change: women’s/gay/civil rights

Dr. Spock

Behaviourist who published a parenting book valuing permissiveness, urging parents to respect their children and allow them to grow at their own pace. Critics say he created an egotistical and disrespectful generation.

How do demographics shape trends and patterns?

• More diversity

• Women in the workforce

• Voting habits

• Evolution of family

• Class divides

• Lack of religion

• Aging population

• More education

What is adolescence?

The transitional period between childhood and adulthood, from the onset of puberty to 18/24.

What was Stanley Hall’s theory on adolescence?

• Studied emotional development among teenagers

• Stated adolescent youth exhibit contradictory tendencies

• These divergences contributed to a period of “storm and stress” that marks adolescence

• Extreme swings of behaviour help determine personality and the ability to sort them out leads to stability of character/maturity

What was Margaret Mead’s theory on adolescence?

• Studied adolescent girls in Samoa (participant observation)

• Argued cultural factors, rather than biological ones caused emotional and psychological stress of adolescence

What defines Millennials?

• 1981-1996

• 9/11

• Wars in the Middle East

• Obama’s 2008 election

• Diversity

• Recession

• Internet

What defines Gen X?

• 1965-1980

• “computer revolution”

What defines Gen Z

• 1997 - 2012

• Internet/social media shifting behaviour/lifestyle

• Diversity - most diverse in U.S so far

What is Canada’s dependency load?

52.1% - the number of dependants in relation to the total working population

What are the implications of Canada’s low fertility rate?

The population is decreasing. This is because of less importance placed on marriage, less desire for children, housing crisis/cost of living, staying in school longer, contraceptives/birth control/abortion etc. It indicates that Canada is a rich country.

Why is immigration important in Canada?

• Diversity

• Filling gaps in labour force

• Paying taxes/spending money

• Contributing to economy and social services (health care)

Is gentle parenting helpful or harmful to society?

What is the slow start for Millennials and its impact?

• Life choices/earnings/entrance to adulthood was shaped by the recession, slowing the start to adulthood

• This created a lack of economic stability/homeownership, debt

Technological Determinism

Vebeln

The invention of a tool taking on a life of its own after its release, with the society reacting and adapting.

What is technological lag?

Technology introduces change that temporarily destabilizes society and a period of transition occurs until society adapts

What is Anomie?

Loss of direction felt in society when the social control of individual behaviour has become ineffective. Norms are weak, conflicting or absent (Durkheim)

What is the Strain Theory?

Deviance is more likely to occur when a gap exists between cultural goals and the culturally approved means of achieving them (Merton)

Strain Typology includes Conformists, Ritualists, Innovators, Retreatists and Rebels

Conformists

Strain Theory Typology: Accept the cultural goals of their society and the means by which to attain them

Ritualists

Strain Theory Typology: Accept the means or standards necessary to attain the end goals, but may not accept the cultural goal. They will work to provide for a certain lifestyle, but won’t strive to be industry leaders.

Innovators

Strain Theory Typology: Goals are in line with those of society, but will not accomplish them through acceptable/traditional means

Retreatists

Strain Theory Typology: Chose to disengage from mainstream culture altogether

Rebels

Strain Theory Typology: Openly reject cultural goals of society and the means by which to attain them. They attempt to change the society in which they live and their rebellions may be violent.

Control Theory

• Hirschi

• Conformity to social norms depends on the presence of strong bonds between individuals and society.

• If bonds are weak/broken, deviance occurs

• Social bonds control the behaviour of people

Differential Association Theory

• Sutherland

• People learn the necessary techniques, motives, rationalizations and attitudes of deviant behaviour from people with whom they associate

• People have a greater tendency to deviate when associated with those who favour deviance

Labeling Theory and Primary and Secondary Deviance

• Becker

• Deviants are people who have been successfully labeled as such by others

  • Lemert

  • Primary Deviance: norm or rule breaking behaviour one engages in

  • Secondary Deviance: a reaction to having been labeled as deviant, with life and identity organized around deviance

Conflict Theory of Deviance

• The criminal justice system protects the power and privilege of the upper class

• System defines deviance differently based on class: activities of lower class are more likely to be labeled criminal/deviant

What is Ogburn’s stages of cultural lag?

1. Invention: material or social

2. Discovery: a new way of viewing reality

3. Diffusion: spread/acceptance

What are McLuhan’s Four Laws of Media

1. any major medium enhances/accelerates a process/thing (ex money enhances trade)

2. new medium tends to render obsolete another thing (ex money made barter obsolete)

3. major medium retrieves some process/thing that had been previously obsolete (ex money retrieved conspicuous consumption)

4. major medium, when pushed to extreme, flips into something new (ex money to credit cards)

What are the problems associated with a rise in hate crimes?

• Many officers are unclear on what constitutes a hate crimes

• Police have poor relationships with radicalized, religious and LGBTQ communities

Why are police unsuccessful in securing prosecutions of hate crimes?

• There exists a difficulty in determining hate motivation

• There is a low priority placed on hate crimes

• Hate crimes have low margins of success and officers often face a high bar in securing approvals for prosecution

What measures of social control can be used to curb hate crimes?

• Legislation

• Establishment of trust

• Action in police/justice system : deterrence