Sociology Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-5) – Flashcards

The scientific study of human social life, groups and societies.

The aspects of social life that shape our actions as individuals

The social cohesion that results from the various parts of a society functioning as an integrated whole.

The conditioning influence on our behavior of the groups and societies of which we are members

referring to a situation in which social norms lose their hold over individual behavior..... When an individual goes astray

develped by Karl Marx, according to which material or economic factors have a prime role in determining historical change.

An economic system based on private ownership of wealth, which is invested and reinvested in order to produce profit.

The application of imagnative thought to the asking and answering of sociological questions

The two way process by which we shape our social world through individual actions and by which we are reshaped by society

Study of physical features, nature and the ways they interact and change

The study of social features of humans and the ways they interact and change.

set of statements that seek to explain problems, actions or behaviors.

(G.H Mead) emphasizes the role of symbols and language as core elements of all human interaction.

One item used to stand for or represent another.

the notion that social events can best be explained in terms of the functions they perform- that is the contributions they make to the community of a society.

the functions of a particular social activity that are known to and intended by the individuals involved in the activity

Functional consequences that are not intended or recognized by the members of a social system in which they occur

A body of thought deriving its main elements from Karl Marx's ideas

system of ideas characteristic of a group or culture

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of the experience of women. There are many strands of feminist theory, but they all share the desire to explain gender inequalities in society and to work to overcome them.

the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.

The belief that society is no longer governed by history or progress. Postmodern society is highly pluralistic and diverse, with no "grand narrative" guiding its development.

The study of human behavior in contexts of face-to-face interaction

The study of large-scale groups, organizations, or social systems

factual inquiries carried out in any area of sociological study

questions that raise issues concerning matters of fact (rather than theoretical or moral issues)

Questions concerned with drawing comparisons between different human societies for the purposes of sociological theory or research.

Questions that sociologists pose when looking at the origins and path of development of social institutions from the past to the present.

Questions posed by sociologists when seeking to explain a particular range of observed events. The asking of theoretical questions is crucial to allowing us to generalize about the nature of social life.

the study of an entire social setting through extended systematic observation

a research method in which investigators systematically observe people while joining them in their routine activities

A trial run in survey research.

studying a part in order to gain information about the whole

sample carefully chosen so that the characteristics of the participants correspond closely to the characteristics of the larger population

A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected

Interviews with people about events they witnessed or experienced at some point earlier in their lives.

The use of multiple research methods as a way of producing more reliable empirical data than is available from any single method.

Informing research participants of what is involved in a study before asking them to participate

giving participants in a research study a complete explanation of the study after the study is completed

the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about what is important that help guide the way you live

shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned

A theoretical approach that explores ways in which human biology affects how we create culture.

the values and related behaviors of a group that distinguish its members from the larger culture; a world within a world

Process by which people of one culture merge into and become part of another culture

the view that cultural diversity is a positive value and makes an important contribution to contemporary societies

tendency to view one's own culture and group as superior to all other cultures and groups

The practice of judging a culture by its own standards

values or modes of behavior shared by all human cultures

whorf's hypothesis that language determines the way we think

any vehicle of meaning and communication

The study of the ways in which linguistic and nonlinguistic phenomena can generate meaning.

societies whose subsistence derives from the rearing of domesticated animals.

societies whose means of subsistence are based on agricultural production (crop growing).

the development of industries for the machine production of goods

the process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations

developing countries that over the past two or three decades have begun to develop a strong industrial base, such as Singapore or Hong Kong

the aspiration for national independence felt by people under foreign domination

the process of learning the rules of behavior of the culture within which an individual is born and will live

The process whereby societies have structural continuity over time

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

The basis of self-consciousness in human individuals, according to the theory of G. H. Mead. The social self is the identity conferred upon an individual by the reactions of others. A person achieves self-consciousness by becoming aware of this social identity.

Awareness of one's distinct social identity as a person separate from others. Human beings are not born with self-consciousness but acquire an awareness of self as a result of early socialization. The learning of language is of vital importance to the processes by which the child learns to become a self-conscious being.

A concept in the theory of George Herbert Mead, according to which the individual takes over the general values of a given group or society during the socialization process.

according to Piaget, the stage during which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities

The second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, during which children think symbolically about objects, but reason is based on appearance rather than logic.

A young child's inability to understand another person's perspective.

According to Piaget, the stage of cognitive development during which children acquire the ability to think logically

According to Piaget, the stage of cognitive development during which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

groups or social contexts within which processes of socialization take place

a family consisting of parents and their children and grandparents of a marital partner

a friendship group composed of individuals of similar age and social status

The system found in small traditional cultures by which people belonging to a similar age-group are categorized together and hold similar rights and obligations.

Socially defined behaviors considered appropriate for individuals occupying certain positions within a given group.

The ongoing process of self-development and definition of our personal identity through which we formulate a unique sense of ourselves and our relationship to the world around us.

The various transitions people experience during their lives.

the combination of biological, psychological, and social processes that affect people as they grow older

those who study aging and the elderly

a theory of aging that suggests that society and the aging individual mutually sever many of their relationships

theory of adjustment to aging that assumes older people are happier if they remain active in some way, such as volunteering or developing a hobby

arguments that emphasize the ways in which the larger social structure helps to shape the opportunities available to the elderly. Unequal opportunities are seen as creating the potential for conflict

ages 65-74

ages 75-84

85+

discrimination against people solely on the basis of their age

recurrent patterned predictable relationships example: college/university (what role does the institution play in the social structure?)

process by which we act and react to those around us. (The ways in which people respond to one another, computer, face to face, on the phone ect

communication between individuals based on expression or bodily gestures rather than on language.

the expected behavior of a person occupying a particular social position.

the social identity in individual has in a given group or society.

interaction occurring among people present in a particular setting and not engaged in direct face to face communication.

interaction between individuals engaged in a common activity or direct conversation with one another.

the study of how people make sense of what others say and do in the course of day-to-day interaction.

the deliberate subversion of the tacit rules of conversation

the division of social life into different regional settings or zones.

people need to interact with others in their presence.

a specialized position in a group: (we can hold multiple statuses at one time).

the things that are optional, things you can obtain in a life time.(Can be negative, ex. Drug addict, Prostitute)

fixed by birth or inheritance and is usually unalterable in a life time. (Gender, Race, Royal Family)

is a status that dominates others and there by determines a person's general position in society. (ex: race) (master status can change because it is conceptualized)

sets of norms specifying the rights and obligations associated with status -people occupy statuses but play roles

when incompatible role demands develop within a single status(ex: students during midterms exam week, want to do well in all of the demanded areas)

when incompatible role demands develop because of multiple statuses (ex: working and going to school conflict between your status of being a student and a employee)

an enduring social structure that meets basic human needs.

1.Family, 2.economy, 3.government, 4.education, 5.religion

A horticultural society is a social system based on horticulture, a mode of production in which digging sticks are used to cultivate small gardens. This type of society emerged around 7000 BC in Asia and it was the first type of society to actually grow their own food rather than simply gather existing food and hunt animals

also known as agrarian societies whose means of substance are based on agricultural production.

highly developed nation states in which the majority of the population worked in factories or offices rather than in agriculture, and most people live in urban areas

an approach, pioneered by Erving Goffman, in which social life is analyzed in terms of drama or the stage; also called dramaturgical analysis

identity and its consequent behavior dependent upon frame.

day to day maintenance performed through conversation that constructs identity

founder of sociology began to analyze the bases of social order. stressed the scientific method should be applied, he did not apply it himself

the belief that knowledge should be derived from scientific observation

English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

Emile Durkheim believed that solidarity and social control had a lot to do with whether or not one committed suicide. She also contributed to the growth and development of the functionalist theory.

German socialist who saw history as a class struggle between groups out of power and those controlling the means of production; preached the inevitability of social revolution and the creation of a proletarian dictatorship.

German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot. to comprehend behavior, one must learn subjective people attach to actions.

a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources (Marx!)

a sample in which respondents are asked to identify additional members of a population

suggests something through the very existence of the question.

respondent chooses from list of possible answers

questions a person is to answer in his or her own words

researcher participates in research setting while observing what is happening.

analyze data that someone else has already collected (GSS) documents-books, newspapers, bank records, immigration files, tax report.

use of control and experimental groups and dependent and independent variables to test causation.

something that causes a change in another variable

the variable that may change

not exposed to the independent variable.

Immitation - role taking Play stage - significant others Game Stage - Generalized others

a collection of individuals who share certain characteristics, interact with one another, accept expectations and obligations as members of the group, and share a common identity.

characterized by intimate face-to-face association and cooperation; values and attitudes become fused with your identity.

larger, more anonymous, more formal, and more impersonal; formed based on some intrest or activity.

groups toward which we feel loyalty "we" or "us".

groups which we dislike and for whom we feel animosity "them".

the groups we use as standards to evaluate ourselves

people who influence the behaviors, opinions, or attitudes of others

Leaders who achieve their group's goal by getting others to focus on task performance.

leaders who achieve group harmony by making others feel good

is a group designed for specific purpose and defined for maximum efficiency.

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. A state or organization governed or managed according to such a system

1) clear levels, with assignments flowing downward and accountability flowing upward 2) division of labor 3) written rules 4) written communications and records (forms in triplicate)(TPS reports)(sending memos) 5) impersonality-you work for the organization, not the person above you in hierarchy

indirect or unintended consequences imposed on society that may not be understood or anticipated

a condition that occurs when a decision-making group loses sight of its original goal and a new, less important goal emerges

Group of two

group of three

A leader who motivates people to transcend their personal interests for the good of the group.

a leader who clarifies subordinates' role and task requirements, initiates structure, provides rewards, and displays consideration for subordinates.

A process in which members of a cohesive group emphasize concurrence at the expense of critical thinking in arriving at a decision.

A "pure type," constructed by emphasizing certain traits of a social item that do not necessarily exist in reality. An example is Max Weber's ideal type of bureaucratic organization.

relations that exist in groups and organizations, laid down by the norms, or rules, of the official system of authority

relations that exist in groups and organizations developed on the basis of personal connections; ways of doing things that depart from formally recognized modes of procedure

a term coined by Weber's student robert Michels meaning that large organizations tend toward centralization of power, making democracy difficult

The rule of a nation or state by a few people

A style of management that regards a company's work force as vital to its economic competitiveness

an organizational culture involving rituals, events, or traditions that are unique to a specific company

The social knowledge and connections that enable people to accomplish their goals and extend their influence