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Culture Components

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-Language -Beliefs -Norms -Behaviors -things passed on in the family

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Culture

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Framework of an individual the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and even material objects that are passed from one generation to the next

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Material culture

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includes items that you can taste, touch or feel(food,buildings,cars)

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Nonmaterial culture

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includes the nonphysical products of society (language,values,laws)

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Language

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a system of speech and/or written symbols used to convey meaning and communication

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Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

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says that the structure of a language influences a native speaker's perception and categorization of experience *For example, the US has many words for advanced communication

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Values

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represent cultural standards by which we determine what is good or bad, right or wrong

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Value clusters

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two or more values that support each other

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Norms

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rules developed for appropriate behavior based on specific values that are conditional, they can vary from place to place

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Mores

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norms that represent a community's most important values

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Folkways

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are informal norms. They are based on social expectations

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Symbols

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represent, suggest or stand for something else. Examples of symbols are: national flags Wedding rings

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Sanction

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a prize or punishment you receive when you either abide by a norm or violate it.

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Socialization

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The Process of Fitting into Society a process in which we learn and internalize attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms of our culture and develop a sense of self

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Social interaction

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the process by which people act and react in relation to others.

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Status

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a social position that an individual occupies. Every status is part of our social identity.

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A status set

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all of the statuses a person holds at a given time.

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Ascribed status

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a social position a person receives at birth or assumes involuntarily.

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Achieved status

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a social position a person assumes voluntarily that reflects personal ability

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A master status

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a status that has special importance for social identity.

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Master Status examples

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For most, one's occupation is a master status. Serious illness such as HIV/AID or disability may also operate as a master status

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Role

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behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status.

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Role Set

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a number of roles attached to a single status.

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Role conflict

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conflict between roles corresponding to two or more statuses. When we experience being pulled in several different directions.

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Role strain

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tension between roles connected to a single status. Performing various roles attached to one status feels like a "balancing act."

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Social construction of reality

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the process by which people creatively shape reality through social interaction.

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Dramaturgical analysis

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the study of social interaction in terms of theatrical performance.

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Deviant behavior

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behavior that violates the social norms and values *An act in itself is not deviant; it is how the act is treated which makes it deviant

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Crime:

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a violation of official, written criminal law

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Theories on Deviance

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Essentialist: deviance is innate, biological Constructionist: deviance is product of the social system; depends on time, place, circumstance

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Biological Deviance Theory

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testosterone levels, for example, to explain why some people are deviant

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Psychological Deviance Theory

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-Look at individual development, personality traits to explain deviance -Individualistic explanations

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Sociological Deviance Theory

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-Everything in society exists for a reason -Deviance has purposes: *Teaches proper behavior, defines boundaries *Rewards conformity *Creates jobs

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Strain Theory

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Looks at cultural goals and cultural means To Merton, anomie (or strain)is the gap between means and goals Anomie often leads to deviance

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Anomie

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state of normlessness, alienation

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Functionalist Theories: Strain Theory

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Looks at cultural goals and cultural means To Merton, anomie (or strain)is the gap between means and goals Anomie often leads to deviance

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Conflict Theory

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Norms are defined by those with power

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Conflict Theory:Class

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Deviance is created by dominant class All deviance comes from the capitalist system Two Groups: Crimes of domination: higher classes Crimes of survival/rebellion: lower classes

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Conflict Theories: Race/Class

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Incarcerated population is disproportionately minority/lower class

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social reaction theory

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deviance is concerned with social reaction shifts perspective from the individual to the group or audience looks at the effects of labels stresses relativity of deviance (time, place, circumstance) and how society controls deviance Shift from rule breakers to rule makers

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Labeling Theory

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deviance is concerned with social reaction shifts perspective from the individual to the group or audience looks at the effects of labels stresses relativity of deviance (time, place, circumstance) and how society controls deviance Shift from rule breakers to rule makers

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Deviant career

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as a result of deviant labels, people become forced to limit their contact to non-normal, which in turn becomes normal to the deviant

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Differential Association

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-Criminal Behavior is Learned -Criminal behavior is learned through intimate interactions -Someone becomes deviant because of an excess of definitions -favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of law -Differential Associations vary in frequency, duration, intensity -While deviant behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values

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Conformity

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is an expression of the same needs and values

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Medicalization of Deviance

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Deviant behavior is often classified as medical disorder

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Deviance is...

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-EVERYONE deviates sometimes -Not deviant in itself; instead, it is the reaction. -Rule/norm breaking -Time, place, circumstance -Social, happens in the social context

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Socioeconomic status (SES)

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reflects money (income, wealth & power), occupational prestige and schooling.

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Dimensions of Class

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Income Earning from work or investments Wealth The total value of money and other assets, minus any debt Power The ability to control, even in the face of resistance Occupational prestige Job-related status Schooling Key to better career opportunities

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The difference of class

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Health Amount and type of health care Values and attitudes Vary with class position Politics Conservative or liberal Family and gender Type of parental involvement -Socialization practices Relationships and responsibilities

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Social Mobility

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Upward College degree or higher-paying job Downward Drop out of school, losing a job or divorce Structural social mobility Changes in society or national economic trends Intragenerational mobility Change in social position during a person's lifetime Intergenerational mobility Upward or downward movement that takes place across generations within a family

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Structural social mobility

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Changes in society or national economic trends

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Intragenerational mobility

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Change in social position during a person's lifetime

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Intergenerational mobility

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Upward or downward movement that takes place across generations within a family

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Poverty

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A cultural definition: views poverty not only in terms of how many resources people have, but also in terms of why they failed to achieve a higher economic level. An absolute definition of poverty:establishes a fixed economic level below which people are considered poor, and this level does not necessarily change as society on the whole becomes more or less affluent.

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Income Inequalities The Functionalist Perspective(ECONOMY)

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Normal and sometimes desirable changes in the economy affect the level of poverty, such as inflation and technological innovation. These kinds of changes are necessary for a healthy economy but their cumulative impact is to increase rates of unemployment and poverty, which is called structural unemployment. Benefits: -ensuring that society's "dirty work" will be done -subsidizing many of the activities of the affluent -creating jobs for people who serve the poor -creating a market for inferior goods -using the poor as symbols of the "underdog"

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Benefits to society from poverty

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-ensuring that society's "dirty work" will be done -subsidizing many of the activities of the affluent -creating jobs for people who serve the poor -creating a market for inferior goods -using the poor as symbols of the "underdog"

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Income Inequalities The Conflict Perspective

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Marx viewed society as involving constant struggle between social classes over scarce resources. The affluent are merely using the resources available to protect their own position. Once people become successful they tend to pass on their success to their children and this makes it more difficult for people on the bottom to move up.

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Income Inequalities The Interactionist Perspective and Cultural Analysis

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The cultural analysis of poverty focuses on the psychological orientations that may emerge among groups of people who live under conditions of poverty. *People who live in poverty develop a cultural orientation that helps them adapt to their life circumstances in a way that enables them to feel good. Criticisms of this perspective include "blaming the victim" and its limited applicability.

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Income Inequalities Social Psychological Factors

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Many poor believe that poverty is inevitable Disparagement and Discrimination The non-poor tend to disparage the poor Self-fulfilling prophecies The Ideology of Wealth and Poverty

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body as machine approach

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Biologically‐determinist theories of sex and sexuality reduce it to an effect of biology or nature

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Sociobiology

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argues that there is continuity between human behavior and social organisation and the behavior and organisation of other animals and insects.

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Social Structure:

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the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships. Example: a prison's social structure influences how guards and prisoners interact.

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Sociology

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the scientific study of social behavior and human groups.

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Sociological Theory

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set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior in a comprehensive manner (also events, forces, materials, ideas etc.)

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Social Institutions

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organized patterns of beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needs. Example: preserving order (government)

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Social Groups

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any number of people (more than two), with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis.

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Social Actor(s)/Individual

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Actor means people. Often discussed within the context of human agency (degree of ability to act independently and make choice).

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Social Identity

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One's sense of self in relation to social groups

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Social Interaction

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ways in which people respond to one another

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Microsociology

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focus on small group interaction (everyday life as experienced)

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Macrosociology

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focus on broad social trends (historical changes often outside view of individual)

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POVERTY Functionalism

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functional: when it makes sure that "dirty work" is done dysfunctional: when it intensifies social problems such as crime and health care

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POVERTY Conflict Theory

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focus on how poverty is based on exploitation based on the unequal structure of society (who has power and who doesn't)

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POVERTY Symbolic Interactionism

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focus on how the label of poverty developed into a deviant label

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(Symbolic) Interactionist Perspective

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Includes sociologists such as Charles Horton Cooley, George Herbert Mead, Manford Kuhn, and Herbert Blumer Uses a Micro perspective and looks at how individuals interact Believes that we construct reality by attaching meaning to symbols Essential point: every social relationship can be analyzed in terms of the construction and manipulation of symbols.

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Conflict Perspective

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Critique Focus on conflict makes this theory more dynamic— change occurs due to conflict. Conflict perspective has difficulty explaining consensus and stability (except as false consciousness) Some conflict theorists (Marx) believe that perfect equality will eliminate conflict. Others (Weber) more pessimistic & believe effects of conflict can only be minimized.

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Conflict Perspective

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Draws on theorists such as Karl Marx, Georg Simmel, Max Weber, Lewis Coser, Randall Collins, and Erik Olin Wright A Macro approach to society Believes that conflict occurs between groups as they compete for scarce resources; power determines who wins and loses in these competitions Essential point: social processes must be analyzed in terms of "who decides/who benefits". Focus on Power - the ability to control others' behavior, even against their will (Weber) Society is held together by groups who have enough power to enforce their values institutionally Examples: patriarchy, class, racial dominance, elite dominance.

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Functionalist Perspective

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Critique Useful for describing the larger picture of society and identifying the purpose of structures that make up society. But how do we know how society is "supposed" to work? Tendency to assume that status quo is the "norm". Often accused of being "conservative" Because it assumes social consensus, this perspective cannot explain change very well Fails to see where exploitation may occur Essential point: every social institution must be analyzed in terms of the "good of the whole macro approach

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Functionalist Perspective

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Functionalist Perspective Functions are provided by institutions to maintain social balance. When the consequences of an institution are negative, it provides dysfunctions that hinder the balance of society. Manifest functions - intended consequences (ex: school - to learn) Latent functions - unintended consequences (ex: school - socialization to preferred values) Sometimes latent functions are more important Rain dance, crime.

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The "Big Three"

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Structural-Functional Social-Conflict Interpretive Sociology (Symbolic- Interactionism)

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Theory

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set of assumptions, interrelated concepts, and statements about how various (social) phenomena are related to one another

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Contemporary Sociology

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Critical theory Use of mass culture to indoctrinate & control Feminism Effect of patriarchy Postmodernism Societal shift to importance of imagery Pessimism all knowledge is manipulation

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Social Darwinism:

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"survival of the fittest" institutions and peoples that are "unfit" should be allowed to die out.

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Economic determinism

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ultimate interests defined by control of the "means of production"

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Class Conflict

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Interests of dominant groups vs. interests of the subordinate

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Dialectical Materialism

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History as a dynamic process of struggle and change

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Social Facts

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what happens between individuals

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Verstehen

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need to understand subjective meanings for action

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Ideal Type

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focus on principal characteristics of something in order to compare: i.e., bureaucracy.

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Value-free sociology

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Sociologists should be "neutral"

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Critical theory

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Use of mass culture to indoctrinate & control

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Feminism

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Effect of patriarchy

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Postmodernism

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Societal shift to importance of imagery

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Pessimism

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all knowledge is manipulation

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Control Theory

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both inner and outer controls work against deviant tendencies.

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Historical Materialism

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identifies class conflict as the primary cause of social change

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Interaction (Study and analysis)

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study interactions : seek to understand the larger social forces that bring people together in interaction and that shape the content and direction of that interaction. analyzing interaction : sociologists identify the elements of that interaction and how they structure the interaction of the participating parties.

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Dramaturgy

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Dramaturgy is Impression Management that scenery is divided into two regions, the Front and Back Regions.

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Scenery

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is divided into two regions, the Front and Back Regions.

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Regions

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defined as any place that is bounded to some degree by barriers to perception

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Dramaturgical Approach to the Social World

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the self is divided by perception.

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"Front Stage" and "Back Stage,"

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also known as the Front and Back Regions of Behavior

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Front Region

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This Refers to a place where the performance is given. In this regions the actor engages in, and performs his/hers role for the audience. While the Self is in the Front Region of behavior the performance of the individual embodies certain standards. Standards of the "Matters of Politeness" and "Decorum." "Matters of Politeness" Relates to the way in which the performer treats the audience while engaged in talk or gestural interactions.

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Standards of the "Matters of Politeness" and "Decorum." "Matters of Politeness"

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Relates to the way in which the performer treats the audience while engaged in talk or gestural interactions.

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Decorum

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Refers to a set of behaviors that have to do with the way the performer conducts himself in the visual or audio range of the audience Decorum has two sub-groupings referred too as the "Moral" and the "Instrumental'

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Moral

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Moral Requirements refers to rules regarding non-interference and non-molestation of others. Ex: Sexual Propriety, and rules regarding sacred places etc.

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Instrumental Requirement

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-Refers to duties that are task oriented and secular Ex: An employer might demand his employees to care of property or engage in maintenance within work areas.

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Back Region

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Def: A back region or backstage may be defined as a place, relative to a given performance, where the impression fostered by the performance is knowingly contradicted.

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Back Region(ID)

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This area is where the suppressed facts make an appearance. Here the performer can relax; he can drop his front, relinquish speaking his lines, and step out of character. It is here where illusions and impressions are openly constructed. The back region is a place where the performer can reliably expect that no member of the audience will intrude. The back region or back stage is kept closed from the audience, the entire region is meant to be kept hidden. Ex: Perfect examples of back stage regions are kitchens within restaurants, this area is not meant for customers to enter.

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Transition

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In between the Front and Back Region, there is a phenomenon called the "Zone of Transition" Goffman argues that this is one of the most interesting times to observe impression management At these in between moments one can detect a interesting putting on and taking off of character.

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The Outside

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The Outside region is a residual one, everything that is not covered in the Front or Back Regions are in "The Outside." Those individuals who are on "The Outside" of the social interactions we may call outsiders. If we shift our considerations from the front or back region to the outside, we tend to shift our reference from one performance to another.

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Impression Management

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implies that there are attributes that are required of a performer in successfully staging a character. The Performer must Act with "Expressive Responsibility"

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Expressive Responsibility

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Illustrates the idea that actors must consciously choose the manner in which they behave and interact with others It is Imperative that the audience understand that a performer is "Acting" his part and that is does not necessarily reflect the dispositions an individual may hold privately.

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Unintentional Disruption

answer

are a source of embarrassment and dissonance for the performer, these disruptions are seperated into three catagories, unmeant Gestures, inopportune Intrusion and faux pas.

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Unmeant Gestures

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These are inadvertent acts that convey an impression that is inappropriate at the time. The individual held responsible for contributing an unmeant gesture may chiefly discredit his own performance

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Inopportune Intrusion

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This Occurs when an outsider accidentally enters a region in which a performance is being given or when a member of the audience inadvertently enters the backstage. Ex: An example of this, is when a student walk into the classroom while the professor is giving a lecture. We have Inopportune Intrusion (this coming from the outsider approach) Ex: Another example is when a customer runs into the kitchen of a restaurant where the chefs resides. We have another Inopportune Intrusion (from an audience approach)

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Faux Pas

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Def: As Disruptions in projections of the self These facts may involve well-kept dark secrets or negatively-valued characteristics that everyone can see but no one refers too. Gaffes & Boners Are types of Faux Pas

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Gaffes & Boners

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Are types of Faux Pas where a performer unthinkingly makes an intentional contribution which destroys his own team image

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Bricks

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Here, a performer jeopardizes the image of self projected by the other team.

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White‐collar crime

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committed by high‐status individuals during the course of business, tends not to appear in the Uniform Crime Report. ex: embezzlement, bribery, criminal price‐fixing, insurance fraud, Medicare theft, and so forth.

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victim‐precipitated murder

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the victim even unintentionally prompts the murderer to attack, by making verbal threats, striking the first blow, or trying to use a weapon

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victimless crime

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all parties consent to the exchange of illegal goods and/or services.

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Organized crime

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refers to groups and organizations dedicated solely to criminal activity.

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Social stratification

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refers to the unequal distribution around the world of the three Ps: property, power, and prestige.

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Capitalists (bourgeoisie)

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those who own the methods of production and employ others to work for them.

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Workers(proletariat )

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are those who do not own the means of production, do not hire others, and thus are forced to work for the capitalists.

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Small capitalists (petite bourgeoisie )

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are those who own the means of production but do not employ others. These include self‐employed persons, like doctors, lawyers, and tradesmen. According to Marx, the small capitalists are only a transitional, minor class that is ultimately doomed to becoming members of the proletariat.

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Elite theorists

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argue that a few hundred individuals hold all of the power in the United States.

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Conflict theorists

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hold that only a small number of Americans—the capitalists—hold the vast majority of power in the United States.

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pluralist theorists

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hold that power is not in the hands of the elite or a few, but rather it is widely distributed among assorted competing and diverse groups.

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Patriarchy

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Social system in which men control majority of power and exert authority over women and children

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Matriarchies

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No pure matriarchies exist in the world Some women may seem to have more influence than men

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Feminism

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Philosophy based on political, social, and economic equality of sexes

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Feminism Waves

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First wave started by early feminists: -Protested legal inequality -Led to passage of the 19th Amendment ratified in 1920 Second wave began in the 1960s with rise of women's liberation movement Betty Friedan: The Feminine Mystique Introduced idea that a woman could and should seek personal fulfillment outside home and family Third wave began in early 1990s Branched out to protect rights of minorities and underprivileged women

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