Sociology Theoretical Perspectives and Culture Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering theoretical perspectives, elements of culture, mechanisms of cultural change, and comparative cultural studies.

Sociological Imagination

Defined by C. Wright Mills as 'the capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote to the most intimate features of the human self- to see the relationship between the two,' requiring one to go beyond the obvious to find hidden meanings behind human actions.

Symbolic Interactionism

A theoretical perspective associated with Herbert Blumber that focuses on interactions among individuals, communication, and how people construct societal roles through interactions.

Exchange Theory

A theoretical perspective associated with Beccaria, Bethem, and Smith centered on how people weigh benefits and disadvantages ('give to take') when deciding whether to continue or stop communication.

Structural Functionalism

A theoretical perspective supported by Emile Durkhien, Robhert Merton, and Collins stating that society's parts function together to contribute to the whole, with social institutions performing key functions to ensure stability.

Conflict Theory

A theoretical perspective supported by Karl Marx and Engles holding that different groups in society have different worldviews leading to conflict, power inequalities, and competition over money.

Ethnocentrism

A belief centered on one's own race or group characterized by pride, self-confidence, believing 'you are the best,' hatred of others, and discrimination.

Cultural Universals

Cultural features or practices found everywhere across societies, such as cooking, music, and art.

Subcultures

Groups under a larger culture that agree with the overarching culture, such as teens and children.

Countercultures

Groups that operate against larger cultures, such as the KKK, Nazis, and cults.

Discovery

The process of using existing tools for new things.

Invention

The process of taking existing items and making new objects with them.

Cultural Lag

A situation where two different sides engage in a 'tug of war' causing resistance to change so that nothing changes.

Vested Interest

A cause for resisting change where individuals have an investment in keeping things the same due to factors like cost, time, and people.

Society

A group of people located in a specific region that shares a common culture.

Culture

A learned and shared way of life encompassing both material culture and nonmaterial culture.

Material Culture

Tangible components of a culture, such as food and clothing.

Nonmaterial Culture

Abstract components of a culture, such as ideas, philosophies, and values.

Folkways

Social norms or rules of conduct that are not critical to society, such as manners.

Morés

Critical values and essential social norms within a culture.

Laws

Formalized morés that are written out.

Traits (Levels of Culture)

Individual ideas or concepts that build into a larger idea.

Complexes (Levels of Culture)

Interrelated traits grouped together, such as class, sports, teachers, and students within schools.

Pattern (Levels of Culture)

Interrelated complexes, such as high schools in Henrico including Freeman, Deep Run, and Glen Allen.

San

A hunter/gatherer society in Southern Africa living in groups of 25 with a strong sense of community and arranged marriages who do not grow crops.

Yanomamo

A society of slash/burn farmers in the Amazon rainforest living in villages of 200 people with ongoing warring against other Yanomamo within one village.

Arapesh

A mountain-dwelling society in Northern Guinea where parents treat children gently, practice one-to-one loving marriage, and arrange marriages when children are 8 years old.

Mundugumor

A River Valley society in Northern Guinea characterized by hostility between father and son, high competition, procreation-based marriage, and a system where having more wives is preferred.

Margaret Mead

The famous anthropologist who conducted comparative studies on the Arapesh and Mundugumor cultures.

Cultural Discontinuity in Native American School Children

A condition where Native American students experience high rates of educational failure because they do not have education that relates to them.