question

Economy

answer

A social institution that organizes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

question

Market Economy

answer

Decisions about what will be produced, how much will be produced, and what products will cost are made in economic transactions between consumers and producers.

question

Command Economy

answer

The state or central planning authority determines the ice,s that will be produced and their quantities.

question

Tonnies ("Societal Transition") - The central institutions in a "Gesellschaft" Society

answer

-State -Economic

question

State

answer

An arrangement that consists of people who exercise an effective monopoly in the use of physical coercion within a given territory The state rests on force and consists of people who exercise an effective monopoly in the use of physical coercion within a given territory

question

Hobbes and Rousseau's views on the emergence of the state.

answer

-Thomas Hobbes - State is the result of a social contract that provides for a central authority to rid humans of rampant brutality, violence and chaos. -Rousseau - In "state of nature," homo sapiens were noble savages; spontaneous, outgoing, loving, kind and peaceful. Benefits from cooperation.

question

What a society needs before a state can emerge?

answer

A social surplus

question

Social Surplus

answer

Goods and services over and above those necessary for survival

question

Nation-States

answer

A larger social arrangement or system of states

question

Welfare State

answer

A system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.

question

Functionalist Perspective on the State

answer

Depict that state as an essential social institution that evolved as societies moved from traditional to modern ways; contend that there is good reason that the state arose and has assumed a dominant position in contemporary life. The state performs 4 functions 1) Enforcement of norms: Needs laws to replace the informal means of social control 2) Overall social planning and direction: Complex society cannot function on an informal decision making process. Now needs a formal decision making process that is deliberate and coordinates the various segments of the system. 3) Arbitration of conflicting interests: Provides a check on self-interests and keeps conflicts between societal members within "tolerable" limits. 4) Protection of society's members and its interests against outside groups: Centralizes control to mobilize citizens against adversaries.

question

Conflict Perspective on the State

answer

The state is a vehicle by which one or more groups impost their values and stratification system upon other groups; they depict it as an instrument of violence and oppression Instrumental Theorists: Have taken literally the Communist Manifesto's dictum (p. 283); The state is an instrument of the capitalist class. Structural Theorists: Contend that the state apparatus exercises "relative autonomy" in its relationship with the capitalist class; the state is an entity with its own interests and capacities that affect society.

question

Foundation of a sovereign state as seen by both Functional and Conflict Theorists:

answer

Functional and conflict theorists both see force as the foundation for the sovereignty of the state. Functionalists would see consensus, while conflict theorists would not.

question

Legitimacy and Authority

answer

Sociologists distinguish between power that is legitimate and illegitimate. Legitimate power is authority. Power may be legitimized by traditional, legal-rational, and/or charismatic means.

question

Politics

answer

The processes by which people and groups acquire and exercise power

question

Political Power

answer

Power that is organized and wielded by the state.

question

Government

answer

Those political processes that have to do with the authoritative formulating of rules and policies that are binding and pervasive throughout a society

question

Types of Government

answer

1) Totalitarianism 2) Authoritarianism 3) Democracy

question

Totalitarianism

answer

A "total state" in which the government undertakes to control all parts of society and all aspects of social life.

question

Authoritarianism

answer

A political system in which the government tolerates little or no opposition to its rules but permits governmental centers of influence and allows debate on issues of public policy

question

Democracy

answer

A political system in which the powers of government derive from the consent of the governed and in which regular constitutional avenues exist for changing governmental officials.

question

Why did Plato despise a democratic form of government? Authority?

answer

Plato saw democracy as an imperfect form of government -Killed his teacher, Socrates. -He wrote the Republic in order to construct what he believed to be the perfect government.

question

Political Power in the U.S.

answer

A constitutional system of government defines and prescribes the boundaries within which political power is pursued in the U.S. Central to American political processes are: 1) Political parties 2) Popular electoral participation 3) Interest-group lobbying (including political action committees) 4) Mass media

question

Political Parties

answer

An organization designed to gain control of the government by putting its people in public office

question

Interest

answer

Common concerns or points of views

question

Interest-group

answer

Organizations of people who share common concerns or points of view

question

Special-interest Group

answer

Interest groups that primarily seek benefits from which their members would derive more gains than the society as a whole

question

Public-interest Groups

answer

Interest groups that pursue policies that presumably would be of no greater benefit to their members than to the larger society.

question

Political Action Committees (PACs)

answer

Interest groups set up to elect or defeat candidates, but not through the organization of a political party

question

Mass Media

answer

Those organizations - newspapers, magazines, television, radio, motion pictures, and the Internet - that undertake to convey information to a large segment of the public

question

Models of Power in the U.S.

answer

Marxist theory holds that political processes are affected by class interests and conflict. 1) Elitist Model: Depicts major decisions as being made by a power elite. 2) Pluralist Perspective: Says that nobody really runs the government.

question

Comparative Economic Systems:

answer

1) Capitalist Economies: Rely heavily on free markets and privately held property 2) Socialist Economies: Rely primarily on state planning and publicly help property. Most nations are characterized by mixed economies that include elements of both.

question

What is the primary productive role in the U.S. economy?

answer

The government plays an important role, but the primary productive role is played by private businesses.

question

Oligopolies

answer

A market dominated by a few firms

question

Multinational Corporations

answer

Firms that have their central office in one country and subsidiaries in other countries

question

Characteristics of Multinational corporations

answer

-Stateless entities that control production of goods or services in countries other than their home country -Very large corporations -Control the flow of resources from the periphery to the core

question

World Systems Theory

answer

Division of Labor: -Core and periphery nations

question

Core Regions

answer

Geographical areas that dominate the world economy and exploit the rest of the system

question

Periphery Regions

answer

Geographical areas that provide raw materials to the core and that are exploited by it

question

Corporate Interlocks

answer

Networks of individuals who serve on the boards of directors of multiple corporations.

question

Authority

answer

Legitimate power

question

Charismatic Authority

answer

Power that is legitimated by the extraordinary superhuman or supernatural qualities people attribute to a leader.

question

Legal-rational Authority

answer

Power that is legitimated by explicit rules and rational procedures that define the rights and duties of the occupants of given positions.

question

Traditional Authority

answer

Power that is legitimated by the sanctity of age-old customs

question

Civil Society

answer

A social realm of mediating groups, networks, and institutions that sustains public life outside the worlds of the state and the economy.

question

Force

answer

Power whose basis is the threat or application of punishment.

question

Family

answer

Traditionally defined as one social group whose members are related by ancestry, marriage, or adoption and who will live together, cooperate economically, and care for the young.

question

Lifestyle

answer

The overall pattern of living that people evolve to meet their biological, social, and emotional needs.

question

Nuclear Family Arrangement

answer

A family arrangement in which the spouses and their offspring constitute the core relationship; blood relatives are functionally marginal and peripheral.

question

Extended Family Arrangement

answer

A family arrangement in which kin - individuals related by common ancestry - provide the core relationship; spouses are functionally marginal and peripheral.

question

Family of Orientation

answer

A nuclear family that consists of oneself and one's father, mother, and siblings

question

Family of Procreation

answer

A nuclear family that consists of oneself and one's spouse and children

question

Patrilineal

answer

An arrangement based on reckoning descent and inheritance through the father's side of the family.

question

Matrilineal

answer

An arrangement based on reckoning descent and inheritance through the mother's side of the family.

question

Bilineal

answer

An arrangement based on reckoning descent and transmitting property through both the father and the mother.

question

Patrilocal Residence

answer

The residence pattern in which a bride and groom live in the household or community of the husband's family.

question

Matrilocal Residence

answer

The residence pattern in which a bride and groom live in the household or community of the wife's family.

question

Neolocal Residence

answer

The residence pattern in which the newlyweds set up a new place of residence independent of either of their parents or other relatives.

question

Patriarchal Authority

answer

A family arrangement in which power is vested in men. What most societies are

question

Egalitarian Authority

answer

An arrangement in which power and authority are equally distributed between the husband and wife. What some industrialized nations are becoming more of

question

Matriarchal Authority

answer

A family arrangement in which power is vested in women. No societies are known as truly matriarchal

question

Marriage

answer

A social approved sexual union undertaken with some idea of permanence 2 types of marital regulations define the "right" spouse: 1) Endogamy 2) Exogamy American couples with better marital quality are those who share decision making, have non-traditional views on the division of labor, and have close friendships and activities in common.

question

Today, are people marrying earlier or later than in the past?

answer

People in the U.S are marrying later today than in the past.

question

Endogamy

answer

The requirement that marriage occur within a group

question

Exogamy

answer

The requirement that marriage occur outside a group

question

Incest Taboos

answer

Rules that prohibit sexual intercourse with close blood relatives

question

Has incest ever been allowed in certain societies?

answer

-Use to be practiced in Egypt - brothers and sisters would marry to keep power and property consolidated within a family.

question

Monogamy

answer

The marriage of one husband and one wife

question

Polygyny

answer

The marriage of one husband and 2+ wives.

question

Polyandry

answer

The marriage of 2+ husbands and one wife.

question

Group Marriage

answer

The marriage of 2+ husbands and 2+ wives.

question

Societies control "Love" by:

answer

1) Child and arranged marriages 2) Social isolation of young people 3) Close supervision of couples 4) Peer and parental pressures

question

A variety of factors operate in the selection of a mate:

answer

1) Homogamy 2) Physical Attractiveness (the matching hypothesis) 3) Complementary needs

question

Homogamy

answer

The tendency of like to marry like.

question

Heterogamous Marriages

answer

Marriages in which spouses have different characteristics, including race or ethnicity, age, or religion.

question

The Matching Hypothesis

answer

The notion that we typically experience the greatest payoff and the least cost when we select partners who have a degree of physical attractiveness similar to our own.

question

Romantic Love

answer

The strong physical and emotional attraction between a man and a woman.

question

Ancient Greek View of Romantic Love

answer

Diseased Hysteria

question

Complementary Needs

answer

Two different personality traits that are counterparts of each other and that provide a sense of completeness when they are joined

question

Exchange Theory

answer

The view proposing that people involved in a mutually satisfying relationship will exchange behaviors that have low cost and high reward

question

Family Life Course

answer

Changes and realignments related to altered expectations and requirements imposed on a husband and wife as children are born and grow ip.

question

Mothers in the Labor Force

answer

More than 60% of all mothers with children under the age of six are in the paid workforce. Such women also do more of the housework and child care than men.

question

Stepfamilies

answer

Becoming the norm in American society, with stepchildren no longer likely to cause marital conflict or divorce

question

Singlehood

answer

More than 1/4 of America's children live with just 1 parent, the vast majority with their mothers. Single-parent families are more likely than 2 parent families to be living in poverty.

question

Cohabitation

answer

An intimate relationship that involves sharing living quarters with an unrelated adult of the opposite sex. Becoming institutionalized as a step between dating and marriage, although it is not always associated with higher marital satisfaction

question

Gay & Lesbian Couples

answer

Gay marriage is now legal in all 50 states. In 2010, 1 percent of all "couple households" in the U.S. were same-sex households. About 1/5 of those include children.

question

Homosexuality

answer

A preference for an individual of the same sex as a sexual partner

question

Family Violence, Child Abuse, & Incest

answer

Can all have lasting affects. Sexual abuse of a child often leads to behavioral problems, learning difficulties, sexual promiscuity, runaway behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidal behavior.

question

Child Care

answer

The U.S. is one of the few industrialized nations that have no comprehensive day care program, and the quality of child care available is often poor.

question

Divorce

answer

Children raised by single parents are often likely to drop out of high school, to use drugs, to have teen births, to have illegitimate children, and to e poorer than children raised in 2 parent homes. More than 1/2 of adults who remarry undergo a second divorce.

question

The Elderly

answer

The U.S. will soon have a population structure with more over-60s than under-15s. These elderly will be characterized by better health, fewer disabilities, and will continue to lead productive lives well past the traditional retirement age.

question

The Functionalist Perspective on Family

answer

If a society is to survive and operate with some measure of effectiveness, it must guarantee that certain essential tasks are performed - these tasks must not be left to chance. To do so would mean that some activities may not be carried out and society would disintegrate. Functions that Families typically perform: 1) Reproduction 2) Socialization 3) Care 4) Protection 5) Emotional support 6) Assignment of status 7) Regulation of Sexual Behavior Serve the interests of society as a whole

question

Norm of Legitimacy

answer

The rule that children not be born out of wedlock

question

The Conflict Perspective on Family

answer

Seen family as a social arrangement benefiting men more than women. Intimate relationships inevitably involve antagonism as well as love.

question

The Interactionist Perspective on Family

answer

Symbolic interactionists emphasize that families reinforce and rejuvenate their bonds through the symbolic mechanisms of rituals such as family meals and holidays. Families that preserve these rituals often have children that do better in life later down the line. Loss of critical family roles caused by divorce has vast implications for family functioning.

question

According to the text, the high proportion of couples who live together, prior to becoming married, suggests that _______.

answer

Cohabitation may become institutionalized as a new step between dating and marriage

question

_______ is a family structure in which there is one wife and two or more husbands.

answer

Polyandry

question

According to the text, an arrangement that consists of people who exercise an effective monopoly in the use of physical coercion in a given geographical area is known as _______.

answer

The state

question

Multinational corporations _______.

answer

No longer need a geographical center

question

From the functionalist perspective, the primary functions of the state includes:

answer

Enforcing norms, protecting against other societies, planning and directing change; All of the above

question

According to the text, legitimate power is ____.

answer

Authority

question

________________ refers to a socially approved sexual union between two or more individuals that is undertaken with some idea of permanence.

answer

Marriage

question

According to C. Wright Mills, the "Power Elite" in America are ________.

answer

Corporate executives, the military and high-ranking politicians.

question

In the ____________ family, spouses (husband and wife) and their offspring constitute the core relationship.

answer

Nuclear

question

In order for a state to emerge, a society must have a social surplus.

answer

True

question

Marx's ideas about the "Iron Law of Wages"

answer

The iron law of wages is a proposed law of economics that asserts that real wages always tend, in the long run, toward the minimum wage necessary to sustain the life of the worker.

SOC 101 Chap. 9-10 (Political/Economic Power & The Family) – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards