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58 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Micro Sociology |
The study of small social units |
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Macro Sociology |
The study of large social units |
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Working Assumptions |
Human actions create and modify social structures. Individuals and social structures interact. |
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Theory |
A set of ideas that explains phenomena |
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Concepts |
Words, phrases, or ideas that summarize some aspect of what exists or is thought to exist. |
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Ideology |
A set of ideas expressing a point of view. |
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Sociological Theories 1. Symbolic Interactionism |
Focuses on the processes of interaction |
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Reciprocity |
The concept of fair exchange |
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Sociological Theories 2. Structural Functional Theory |
Analyzes the functions of social structures and institutions |
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Sociological Theories 3. Conflict Theory |
Emphasizes the conflicts that arise in societies due to inequalities. |
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Social Research Concepts 1. Empiricism |
Observation stressed |
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Social Research Concepts 2. Objectivity |
Personal beliefs/values should not influence the study |
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Sociological Theories 3. Replication |
Repitition of a study by other researchers |
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Sociological Theories 4. Experimental Design |
Uses experimental and control groups to test a hypothesis for possible relationships among variables |
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Sociological Theories 5. Independent Variable |
A variable that is believed to produce a change/result. |
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Sociological Theories 6. Dependent Variable |
Believed to be influenced by the independent variable. |
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Social Structure |
A regular and lasting pattern of social interaction. |
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Social Institutions and examples |
Human arrangements meeting the needs of societies. Ex: The Family Education Economical systems Political systems Religion |
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Culture and Examples |
All of the social structures and institutions created by society and passed from generation to generation including:
Ideas Values Norms Language Objects A society has a culture. |
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Characteristics of a Society |
Population of people Defined territory Social structure Shared culture |
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Values |
Ideas of what is desirable and undesirable in a society. |
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Norms |
Overall rules and guidelines for social behavior deriving from values |
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Mores |
Norms relating to more serious behavioral guidelines |
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Folkways |
Norms relating to everyday behavioral guidelines |
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Cultural Relativism |
Relating to a culture on its own terms |
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Cultural Assimilation |
Process by which dominant culture is absorbed and has generally been the experience of immigrants into the U.S. |
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Cultural Diffusion |
The spread of cultural influences |
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Cultural Lag |
The uneven rates of change in cultures. |
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Subcultures |
Subgroups distinct from dominant cultures |
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Ethnocentrism |
Judgment of one culture by the standards of another culture. |
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American Values |
Commonly Definied Ideal Values Achievement/Action Individualism Efficency/ Practicality Science/Technology/Progress Materialism Humanitarianism Freedom/Democrocy Equality/Opportunity/Education |
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Ideal Culture |
Values to which a society aspires. |
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Real Culture |
Actual human behaviors |
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Value Contradictions |
Conflicts between ideal/real cultures, or among conflicting values. |
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Dominant Cuture / Mainstream Culture |
Cultural practices which are generally accepted by most people |
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Socialization |
A lifelong process by which one becomes a social being. |
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The Looking-Glass Self (Cooley) |
Sense of self socially created through interactions and interpretations |
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Agents of Socialization |
Family Communities Religion Peers/Friends/Co-Workers Education/Workplace Settings Media |
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Anticipatory Socialization |
Process of preparing to enter a new role |
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Resocialization |
Required when undergoing life transitions, expected and unexpected |
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Social Structure |
A regular and lasting pattern of social interaction. |
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Characteristics of Social Structures |
Created by social interaction Interpretation of words, symbols and cues important to the process of interaction Some common understanding of symbols required for communication and interaction |
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Status and Role 1. Status |
Position in a social system |
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Status and Role Types of Status 1. Ascribed Status |
Social position into which one is placed |
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Status and Role Types of Status 2. Achieved Status |
Social position attained by ability and effort. |
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Status and Role Types of Status 3. Master Status |
Dominates other statuses one holds. |
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Status and Role Types of Status 4. Role |
Behaviors generally associated with a social status. |
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Characteristics of a Group |
Pattern of interaction among members
Sense of group identity among members
Norms for expected behavior by members
Tendency of individuals to conform to group norms |
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Reference Group |
Groups used as standards by which people evaluate themselves in relation to others |
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Relative Deprivation |
The perceptions of being disadvantaged in relation to other people. |
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Examples of Reference Groups |
Family Members
Peers/Friends
Work Groups
Professions
Educational Institutions
Religious Organizations |
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Types of Formal Organizations (Etzioni) 1. Normative |
Members motivated by shared values and norms. Ex: Service, religion, and political organtizations |
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Types of Formal Observations (Etzioni) 2. Coercive |
Behaviors are controlled Ex: Prisons |
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Types of Formal Organizations (Etzioni) 3. Utilitarian |
Primarily motivated by concerns such as money. To have utility is to have practical value; to be of use. Ex: Any work setting |
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Bureaucracies |
1. Rank order of authority
2. Division of Labor
3. Written policies, procedures and rules.
4. Written communications and records
5. Impersonal work culture and climate |
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Tendencies of Organizational Life 1. Oligarchy |
An organtization, market or society dominated by an elite group. |
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Tendencies of Organtization Life *Michels Iron Law of Oligarchy |
Over time, organtizations tend toward oligarchy |
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Tendencies of Organization LIfe 2. Goal Displacement |
The tendency of organizations to preserve themselves by redefining goals. |