Sociology 101 (Exam 1) – Flashcards

- Individuals are social beings - Individuals are socially determined - Individuals create, sustain, and change social forms within which they conduct their lives.

The task of sociology was to realize that individual circumstances are inextricably linked to the structure of society. It is stimulated by a willingness to view the social world from the perspective of others. The view that individual troubles are inextricably linked to social forces.

The sociological perspective is based one research and observation. Conventional wisdoms are based on what already exists.

The prisoners only saw reality through their perspective, not knowing that there was more to life outside of the cave. Sociology releases you from that cave.

political system: organization and legitimation of the system of governance economy: production and distribution of goods and services, ownership, division of labor religion: source of meaning and values marriage and family: socialization, identity, procreation, sexuality education: socialization, knowledge and skills other: mass media, law/police, military, health care

Social role: the behavior expected of a person occupying a status in a social organization is the role. Our position in a institution/society. (i.e. student, parent, worker) The experiment that demonstrated the power in roles is the Zimbardo mock prison at Stanford university. He studied the impact of prison life on guards and prisoners. People were chosen to take part in the experiment and were assigned a duty/ role to partake in. In just a few days, the students who were playing the role of guards and prisoners actually became the guards and inmates in a few days. believed it was their true role.

Culture is the shared beliefs of group members that unite them and guide their behavior shaped through experience. Nonmaterial: language, values. Material: the physical objects created by a culture - the buildings, tools.

Socialization is the process of learning cultural values, norms and expectations. Conflict theory and socialization: The view of society is based on conflict and competition. Conflict is normal feature and influences distribution of power Order theory (Functionalism) and socialization: The view of society - social systems in integrated parts Social integration: High sharing of culture/values, unity among the member.

Attributes to societies the characteristics of cohesion, consensus, cooperation, reciprocity, stability, and persistence. The parts of the system are in harmony.

The basic form of interaction is not cooperation but competition, which often leads to conflict. Social change results from the conflict among competing groups and therefore tends to be drastic and revolutionary.

He noted that punishment of a crime has the manifest consequence(intended) of punishing and deterring the criminal. Latent consequence(unintended) of punishment is the societal reaffirmation of what is considered moral.

Caste: hierarchal arrangement by birth, no upward movement, ascribed status. Class: social organization based on economic rank, social mobility, hierarchy.

Order model is supportive of inequality because the unequal distribution of rewards is assumed to be not only inevitable but also necessary. Stratification serves the useful function of societal maintenance by providing a mechanisms to ensure all slots in the division of labor are filled. Conflict model claims assumes that stratification reflects the distribution of power in society and is therefore a major source of discord and coercion. Stratification is unjust, divisive, and a source of social instability or change.

Type: Class system Conventional wisdoms: equal opportunity, america is the greatest nation, we value human life.

- "We value human life" No, we value money. - The affluent and powerful benefit from poverty.

Function:production and distribution of goods and services for a society and also determines the division of labor (types of jobs). Capitalism: The economic system based on private ownership of property, guided by the pursuit of maximum profits (greed). Socialism: the economic system in which the means of production are owned by the people for their collective benefit. Public ownership of means of production for their collective benefit.

multinational corporations: large corporations controlling economy instead of more companies controlling it. the large corporations control demand rather than respond to the demands of the market concentration of ownership: less companies in control of economy.. shifted to the corporations shared monopolies: when 4 or fewer firms supply 50% or more of a particular market interlocking directorates: the linkage between corporations that result when an individual serves on the board of directors of two companies ( direct interlock) or when two companies each have a director on the board of a third company (an indirect interlock) "persons" within meaning of the law legal obligation to maximize profit...don't care about consumers. "Wealthfare' or socialism for the rich: tax breaks : work opportunity tax credit, subsidies, direct money, research and development( this goes towards the university colleges), low or no interest loans, bailouts ( large companies are bailed out by government when they are in trouble) .

1. mergers: benefits are diminished (ex: supporting schools, the arts, development of research and training potential workers reduces number of jobs. Increases corporate debt (ex: US corps spend half of earnings on interest payments.) Nonproductive (ex: no new plants products or jobs, rather creates profits for lawyers, accountants, brokers and big investors. 2. acquisitions: companies buying smaller companies 3. failure to enforce laws: fraud, Sherman Anti-trust Law 4. lack of regulation

Wealth in the business community is centralized in a relatively few corporations, and this concentration is increasing.

Power over the economy: own means of production, eliminate competition, control supply, create demand. Power over Workers: downsizing, offshoring, outsourcing (eliminating jobs and getting a temporary agency), automation (replacing workers with machines to save money). Power over communities: Race to bottom Power over political system: attacks on organized labor: Only 7-8% unionized.

Causes: Decline in manufacturing, cut in jobs, loss of significant tax revenue to federal, state, and local government. Crisis and Consequences: National government lost a great deal of tax revenues, causing them to face serious shortfalls. Reducing jobs --> unemployment increase. The American Dream stayed a dream.