Background Knowledge

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

a set of logically related statements that attempt to describe, explain, or predict social event

Question 2

Perspective

Answer 2

an overall approach toward a subject

Question 3

Four Major theoretical perspectives

Answer 3

FUNCTIONALIST

CONFLICT

INTERACTIONIST

FEMINIST

Question 4

Functionalist perspective

Answer 4

Society is a stable, orderly system composed of several interrelated parts, each of which performs a function that contributes to the overall stability of society.

These interrelated parts are social institutions

Question 5

Conflict perspective

Answer 5

Views society as an arena of competition and conflict. It is based on the assumption that groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources.

Question 6

Interactionist perspective

Answer 6

Focuses on the everyday, routine interactions among individuals

Question 7

Feminist perspective

Answer 7

Focuses on gendered (and racialised and classes) inequalities between groups and on strategies for positive social change.

Question 8

Major theoretical perspectives based on MACROLEVEL ANALYSIS

Answer 8

FUNCTIONALIST

CONFLICT

(focuses on social processes occuring at the societal level)

Question 9

Major theoretical perspectives based on MICROLEVEL ANALYSIS

Answer 9

INTERACTIONIST

focuses on smal-group relations and social interaction

Question 10

Major theoretical perspectives involving both MACRO- and MICROLEVEL ANALYSIS

Answer 10

FEMINIST

Question 11

The functionalist perspective views society as….

Answer 11

A basically stable and orderly entity.

Question 12

Examples of social institutions

Answer 12

FAMILIES

THE ECONOMY

EDUCATION

THE GOVERNMENT

Question 13

Social Institution

Answer 13

A social institution is a complex, integrated set of social norms organized around the preservation of a basic societal value.

Question 14

Values

Answer 14

collective ideas about what is wrong or right, good or bad, desirable or undesirable in a specific society.

Question 15

Norms

Answer 15

established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct

Question 16

Culture

Answer 16

Refers to the knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

Question 17

Ideal culture

Answer 17

Refers to the values and beliefs that people/societies claim they hold.

Question 18

Real culture

Answer 18

Refers to the values and beliefs they actuall follow.

Question 19

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE assumptions

Answer 19

Society is a stable, orderly system composed of interrelated parts that perform functions to keep society stable.

Question 20

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE concepts

Answer 20

Manifest functions are intended and recognized consequences of social processes

Latent functions are unintended

Dysfunctions are undesirable consequences

Question 21

Manifest Function

Answer 21

intended and recognized consequences of an activity or social process

Question 22

Latent Function

Answer 22

unintended consequences of an activity or social process that are hidden and remain unacknowledged by participants

Question 23

Dysfunctions

Answer 23

undesirable consequences of an activity or social process that inhibits a society’s ability to adapt or adjust

Question 24

According to functionalists, dysfunctions ….

Answer 24

Dysfunctions in social institutions create social disorganization.

Question 25

Social disorganization

Answer 25

Refers to the conditions in society that undermine the ability of traditional social institutions to govern human behaviour.

Question 26

Social Deviance

Answer 26

pattern of rule violation

Question 27

Values

Answer 27

collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a specific society

Question 28

Norms

Answer 28

established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct

Question 29

Anomie

Answer 29

a loss of shared values and sense of purpose in society.

Question 30

Important Sociologists that take on the STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALIST approach (4)

Answer 30

Auguste Comte Emile Durkheim Herbert Spencer Robert K. Merton

Question 31

Dysfunctions can create ______ which cause breakdowns in _________

Answer 31

Dysfunctions can create SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION which cause breakdowns in VALUES and NORMS

Question 32

FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE application (context: homicide)

Answer 32

PROBLEM: Homicide arises from a condition of anomie. Many victims were involved in drug gangs and organized crime. SOLUTION: Strengthen institutions to regenerate morality.

Question 33

Anomie results in

Answer 33

Feelings of helplessness, normlessness or alienation.

Question 34

Rapid social change causes...

Answer 34

Social Disorganization

Question 35

Flaws of FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE

Answer 35

- Focusing on social stability and unity, ignores inequalities - Such inequalities cause tension and conflict - The approach ends up being politically conservative

Question 36

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE assumption

Answer 36

Groups in ociety are engaged in continuous power struggles for control of scarce resources

Question 37

Types of Conflict (2)

Answer 37

VALUE CONFLICT CRITICAL CONFLICT

Question 38

Value Conflict

Answer 38

Problems come from incompatible values (e.g., liberty and equality, ideal and real culture)

Question 39

Critical Conflict

Answer 39

Problems come from contradictions in the organization of society. (e.g. class, racial and gender inequalities under capitalism)

Question 40

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE concepts

Answer 40

- Ideal vs. Real Culture | - Capitalist class controls the working class.

Question 41

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE application (context: homicide)

Answer 41

PROBLEM: Higher rates of homicide occur in countries with greater inequality and in countries lower in the Human Development Index

Question 42

INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE assumption

Answer 42

Society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups.

Question 43

INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE concepts

Answer 43

Behaviour is learned through social interaction Self-fulfilling prophesy Labelling Theory Social Construction of Reality Situational approach

Question 44

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

Answer 44

a false definition of the situation that evokes a new behaviour that makes the original conception become true.

Question 45

INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE application (context: homicide)

Answer 45

PROBLEM: people repeat their behaviour if rewarded. If people think they can get away with homicide or its threat, aggressive behaviour is reinforced. SOLUTION: Do not encourage excessive competition and violence

Question 46

Moral Entrepreneurs

Answer 46

People who use their own views of right and wrong to establish rules and label others as deviant.

Question 47

Labelling Theory

Answer 47

Suggests that behaviour that deviates from established norms is deviant because it has been labelled as such by others.

Question 48

Deviants

Answer 48

Non-Conformists (labelling theory)

Question 49

Social Construction of Reality

Answer 49

The process by which people's perception of reality is shaped largely by the subjective meaning that they give to an experience. Little shared reality exists beyond that which people socially create.

Question 50

Interactionists view violence as..

Answer 50

a learned response, not an inherent characteristic in the individual.

Question 51

Situational approach

Answer 51

Violence results from a specific interaction process, termed a "situational transaction".

Question 52

Feminist Perspective homicide application

Answer 52

In intimate partner violence, two-thirds of the victims are women. Since men are dominant, women are likely to be victimized.

Question 53

Secondary Analysis

Answer 53

use of already exisiting data. Limitations: inaccuracy of original data and not fitting the researcher's questions since the data were gathered for another purpose.

Question 54

Unobtrusive

Answer 54

researcher has no contact with subjects