Sociology Exam 2

social group

2 or more people who interact on a regular basis

aggregate example

Alex & Dr. Ahmed waiting for the bus

social category

people who share same status

social category example

Dr. Ahmed is married so her status is spouse

primary group

intimate, small, cares about you

primary group example

spouse, family, close friends

secondary group

formal, impersonal

secondary group example

schoolmates, coworker, therapist, client, study group

in-group

member expresses loyalty, pride, & respect

aggregate

people who are in the same place but have NO CONNECTION

out-group

competition, rivalry

in-group example

my in-group is Duquesne and Dr.Ahmed’s in-group is Pitt

Who came up with reference group

Stouffer

Reference group

using someone else to make a decision

Reference group example

interview with Bill Gates vs going to a bar

dyad

• two people

• unstable

triad

• three people

conformity

• willing to go along with others decisions

• fitting in

group polarization

one person WILL NOT ENGAGE in RISKY behaviors but will in a group setting

group polarization example

• Dr. Ahmed is a bad teacher

• One person won’t go on their own to report her to a board member

• scared of the risk

group think

harmony, solidarity, unity

instrumental leader

• TASK oriented

• focuses on getting job done immediately and effectively

expressive leader

• PEOPLE oriented

• GROUP WELL-BEING most important

authoritarian leadership

leaders make decisions by themselves & others obey

democratic leadership

leaders seek INPUT/ feedback in decision making process

laissez-fair leadership

• avoid intervention

• waits for problems to resolve themselves over time

formal organization

high structure group formed for a specific goal

coercive

• forced to join

• cannot easily leave

coercive example

military, prison, mental hospitals

Utilitarian

organization that joins because material gains

normative/ voluntary example

Red Cross, PTA, volunteering

utilitarian example

joins for money

types of formal organizations

• coercive

• voluntary/ normative

• Utilitarian

• Bureaucracy

max weber

bureaucracy

bureaucracy

formal organization based on written rules, hierarchy, impersonality, and specialization

technical competence

• reward/ promotion based

• recruited because of certain criteria

containment theory

people who lack positive self-concept

deviance

any behavior that violates significant societal norms

social controls

• two types

• mechanisms that monitor behavior and penalize violation of norms

internal social norms

• located within individual

• learned through individualization

external social norms

rely on social mechanisms to prevent deviance

external social norms example

police, court, authorities

biological perspectives

Cesare Lambroso

Cesare Lambroso said that

criminals

• have distinctive physical traits/ body structure

• some people are genetically destined to be criminal

• less biologically evolved than noncriminals

Charles Goring disagreed with

Cesare Lambroso

Charles Goring said that

there is no difference in body structure when comparing criminals vs noncriminals

William Sheldon said that

• body structure is linked to primal behavior

• (this was HIGHLY CRITICIZED by other researchers)

medicalization of deviance

transformation of moral & legal issues into medical matters

personality

responsible

deviance is the

product of “unsuccessful” socialization

who created containment theory

W. Reckless

creator of strain theory

merton

strain theory

• people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals

• unable to obtain because of social location

conformity

accepting goals and means

innovation

accept goals, reject means

ritualism

accept means but NOT goals

retreatism

reject BOTH goals and means

retreatism examples

drug addicts & the homeless

rebellion

• reject both means and goals

• !!!!! advocate an alternative !!!!!

differential association theory was created by

Sutherland

differential association theory

deviance learned through SOCIALIZATION

differential association theory examples

• Liam is a good boy

• Eric is a bad boy & persuades Liam

• Liam & Eric both go drinking

Labeling theory

PROCESS rather than cause

stigma

negative label radically changes person self-concept & identity

Primary Deviance

mild/ no reaction

secondary deviance

strong reaction

social control theory was made by

Hirschi

social control theory

bonds:

• attachment

• belief

• commitment

• involvement

conflict theory was created by

Karl Marx

conflict theory

• powerful people have resources to resist a label

• capitalism

Capitalists

• creates large class of unemployed workers called marginal surplus populations

misdemeanor

• less serious crime

• less than 1 year in prison

felony

• serious crime

• at LEAST one year in prison

index crimes

• against person

• against property

index crime-against person example

violence like

• rape

• murder

• assault

index crime-against property example

• theft

• arson

• vandalism

• destruction

non index crimes

• victimless

• white collar crime

victimless crimes

“ crimes without complaint”

ex: gambling

criminal justice system

formal response to crime

retribution

seeking revenge on behalf of victim

Deterrence

• scared off

• instilling fear by punishment

societal protection

• execution

• incarceration

rehabilitation

• reforming for offense

• rehab

social stratification

a system which society ranks people in a hierarchy

caste system

system determined by birth

class system

status based on individual achievement- stratification

status consistency

• degree of consistency of a person’s social standing across dimension of inequality

• greater in caste than class system

estate system

• ownership of property & exercise of power is monopolized by an elite

• total control of resources

the three types of estate systems

• nobles- controlled most of land

• priest, military, other professionals

• commoners- serfs, peasants, artisans

max weber has ___ dimensions of social stratification

3

the 3 dimensions of social stratification

• income/wealth

• status (prestige)

• power

income/ wealth

• material component

• financial standing

• determined by income & other assets

status

• prestige component

• recognition given by others

power

• decision-making component

• ability to exercise his/her will over others

Functionalist Theory

• social inequality serves 2 functions (Davis& Moore)

• motivates people to work hard

• ensures the most important position is filled by the most qualified

Functionalist Theory examples

doctors, surgeons

Davis-Moore Thesis

• some positions are more important

• require talent & training

• spend time, energy, money & should be rewarded

Conflict Theory (Marxist)

• social inequality- not necessary

• social stratification is domination

Capitalists

own & control production

proletariat

• sells labor for wages

• false consciousness

• fails to recognize what is best interest

• will have class struggle