Sociological Theory Exam 2

According to Gilman, what factor removes people from direct participation in the economy?

Gender

What is social evolution?

The process through which the environment shapes society to be more complex

What is self-preservation?

Success in the struggle for individual survival

What is race-preservation?

Success in the struggle for the species to survive

What is the relationship between self-preservation and race-preservation?

Self-preservation and race-preservation must be kept in balance

What is gynaecocentric theory?

The female is the general race type, while male is a sex type

How did monogamy arise?

Humans need social organization. The basic unit of social connection is between mothers and children. Monogamy arose to incorporate fathers in this relationship.

How did patriarchy arise?

Masculine energy is at odds with social ties. By subjugating women, men obliged themselves to provide for them and be social involved.

What are the functional consequences of patriarchy?

Women are removed from economic production. Men are driven by their masculine energy to produce more and dominate the natural environment.

What happened when women’s economic environment shifted from the natural world to men?

Morbid excess in sex distinctions and nonproductive consumerism

What is morbid excess in sex distinction?

Extreme attention to traits used to attract a mate.

What are the consequences of nonproductive consumerism?

Men make unnecessary commodities and women buy unnecessary commodities. Men are alienated from their work and women are alienated from the commodity.

Why have human institutions and customs become gendered?

In order to legitimate the economy driven by morbid excess in sex distinction

What is the idea of the centered subject?

All marginal perspectives must be experienced to be understood. DuBois intentionally used personal pronouns to capture this idea.

What does the image of the veil mean?

It’s a reference to the birth caul: a rare occurrence that has been given spiritual significance. DuBois uses it to illustrate the special insight African Americans have into American society.

What does the image of the seventh son mean?

This child is said to have special powers. DuBois uses it to illustrate the special insight African Americans have into American society.

What is a grand narrative?

The story nations tell about themselves to create social solidarity. It’s a synonym to collective consciousness.

How is history an ideology?

History legitimates our social structures. It seems objective, but is written from a politicized point of view.

What is representation?

The act of attaching meaning to the world using symbols

What is denotation?

Something’s direct or “dictionary” meaning

What is connotation?

Something’s wider, secondary meaning. Connotation can link ideological messages to primary meanings.

What are stereotypes?

Negative misrepresentations that dominate general culture

What is the looking-glass self?

We perceive ourselves in the way that we imagine others to perceive us.

What is double consciousness?

People in disenfranchised groups have a subjective awareness based on their particular group status and an awareness based on their general group status.

What is exploitation?

Increasing profits by cutting labor costs

What are dark nations?

Nations that are exploited by wealthy nations because their population consists of a “inferior” race.

What is personal whiteness?

The modern, social constructed idea of being white

How can the perspectives of oppressed groups provide the insights for social change?

People who benefit from the system cannot see it clearly.

What does Parson’s consider the problem of social order?

If human nature is to pursue one’s desires as efficiently as possible, how do humans achieve social order?

What is voluntaristic actions?

Humans make choices regarding means and ends within the constraints of our environment.

What is action theory?

A group of theories focused on human action rather than structure.

What does the unit act consist of?

An actor, a goal, conditions, and norm

What are modes of orientation?

What an actor brings with them to a social interaction (motivations and values)

What is value?

Something’s worth in a hierarchy

What are Parson’s value categories?

• Empirical, factual knowledge

• Standards of beauty and art

• Standards of right and wrong

What are Parson’s motivation categories?

• Need for objective knowledge

• Need for emotional attachment

• Need for evaluation

How is culture related to modes of orientation?

Culture is the resource we draw our values and motivation from.

What are Parson’s types of action?

• Strategic

• Expressive

• Moral

How does institutionalization happen?

How does Parsons define roles?

Expected behaviors associated with a status position.

How does Parsons define norms?

Expected behaviors that have positive or negative sanctions attached to them.

How does Parsons define status position?

One’s place in the social hierarchy of esteem and honor

What does AGIL stand for?

Adaptation

Goal Attainment

Integration

Latent pattern management

What is adaptation in a system?

Converting resources into usable elements

What is goal attainment in a system?

Every part is energized and moving towards the same goal.

What is integration in a system?

Many parts forming a larger unit

What is latent pattern management in a system?

Indirect management

What is the cybernetic hierarchy of control?

Parsons’ model for how the systems surrounding human life integrate

What does the cybernetic hierarchy of control look like?

What is the generalized media of exchange?

Facilitates communications/collaboration between/among parts of a system (ex. language, money, power, influence)

What are middle range theories?

Theories that seek to explain a small portion of society with empirical evidence and induction.

What are the assumptions of functionalism that Merton challenges?

• Functional unit of society

• Universal functionalism

• Indispensability

What is the assumption of the functional unit society?

All the parts of a working society work together harmoniously and consistently.

What is the assumption of universal functionalism?

All social activities or cultural items have positive sociological functions.

What is the assumption of indispensability?

Every patterned part of society and culture fulfills a vital function within the society is therefore indispensable.

What are function alternatives?

Various structures could meet the same societal need.

What are manifest functions?

The known contributions of a social structure.

What are latent functions?

The hidden or unacknowledged contribution of a social structure.

What is a dysfunction?

A consequence of a social structure that leads to less adaptation and integration.

What are unanticipated consequences?

The effects of social acts of individuals that were not intended.

What is the structural theory of deviance?

Society values certain goals and means. Every society has people who don’t have equal access to legitimate means of achieving those goals, but are still socialized to pursue them. This leads to structural strain and eventually change in the social structure.

What is conformity?

Accepting goals and means

What is innovation?

Accepting goals, but using different means.

What is ritualism?

Abandoning goals, continuing to perform means.

What is retreatism?

Rejecting goals and means.

What is rebellion?

Creating your own goals and means.

What is sociological ambivalence?

Opposing normative tendencies in the definition of a role.