SOC 202 Final

social epidemiology

the study of how health and disease are distributed throughout a society's population

disease model focuses on

treating the illnesses; more common approach in US

prevention model

focuses on prevention; health over illness

affordable care act

aimed to address the problem of too many uninsured Americans

benefits of obamacare

minimize number of uninsured people

critics of obamacare

insurance cost rises for companies

sick role

a socially recognized set of behaviors and obligations linked with illness (requires legitimation by physician)

contested illnesses

illnesses that are questioned or considered questionable by some medical professionals

medicalization of disease

process that changes "bad behavior" to "sick behavior"

shifts in production following WW2

withdrawls: modern factories required; greater resources = energy, raw materials

additions: increased population

3 most important components of demography

fertility, mortality, migration

Matlhusian Theory

3 factors control human population that exceeded the earths carrying capacity: war, disease, famine

zero population growth (Ehlrich)

\# of people entering a population through birth plus immigration = # of people leaving

cornucopian theory

Earth has an abundance of resources; can never be used up

demographic transition theory

a thesis that links population patterns to a society's level of technological development; 4 stages

stage 1: high fertility and mortality

stage 4: postindustrial: low fertility and mortality

environmental sociology

the study of the interaction between society and the natural environment

highest life expectancy

Japan

Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy

1. clear division of labor
2. hierarchy of authority
3. written rules and regulations
4. impersonality

weber's critics against bureaucracy

dehumanize + alienation

McDonaldization of Society (Ritzer) Principles

1. efficiency
2. predictability
3. control
4. uniformity

collective behavior

behavior that follows from the formation of a group or crowd of people who take action together toward a shared goal

Value-added theory (Smelser) - 6

based on the assumption that certain conditions are necessary for the development of a social movement.


1. structural conditions (oppurt to gather)
2. presence of structural strain (i.e a grievance)
3. a generalized belief (identification of problems + attribution of blame)
4. precipitating trigger
5. mobilization for action (leaders emerge)
6. failure social control

reformative movements

a type of social movement that aims to make limited but specific changes in society rather than just in individuals; for example

revolutionary movements

seek to completely change every aspect of society

resource mobilization theory

explains movement success in terms of ability to acquire resources

what creates social change; changes to...

1. technology
2. social instituions
3. population
4. the environment