Soc test 1 revision

What is sociology?

A science of human societies and behavior; the study of human social life, groups, and societies.

What are some subfields of sociology mentioned in the notes?

Sociology of the Family, Medical Sociology, Crime and Deviance, Social Problems.

What does the Sociological Imagination allow sociologists to do?

It enables them to see the general in the particular and the strange in the familiar.

What is Structural Functionalism?

A paradigm that views society as a complex system of interrelated parts working together to promote stability.

What is the Social Conflict Paradigm?

A theoretical framework that sees society as characterized by inequalities and conflict that generate change.

What is the focus of Symbolic Interactionism?

The micro-level interactions and everyday behaviors that shape society and human relationships.

What is an ascribed status in sociology?

A social position a person is born into or involuntarily assumes later in life.

What is an achieved status?

A social position that someone assumes voluntarily, reflecting personal ability and effort.

What is a primary group?

A small social group characterized by personal and enduring relationships.

What distinguishes a secondary group from a primary group?

A secondary group is larger, more formal, and typically impersonal, focused on specific interests or activities.

What are the three types of formal organizations identified by Etzioni?

Normative Organizations, Coercive Organizations, Utilitarian Organizations.

What are the key characteristics of bureaucracy according to Max Weber?

Specialization, Hierarchy of Offices, Written rules and regulations, Technical competence, Impersonality, and Formal, written communication.

What is bureaucratic alienation?

The potential for bureaucracy to dehumanize individuals and reduce them to mere parts of a system.

What is the life course of a typical family as recognized by sociologists?

Courtship, Settling in, Childrearing, and Family in later life.

What is family violence?

Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of one family member by another.

What is the definition of marriage forms like polygyny and polyandry?

Polygyny is marriage that unites one male with more than one female; polyandry is marriage that unites one female with two or more males.

What is a reference group?

A social group that serves as a point of reference for individuals making evaluations and decisions.

What does role conflict refer to?

Incompatibility among roles corresponding to two or more different statuses.