Ch. 4 Sociological Theories and Social Institutions

Question 1

beliefs

Answer 1

The convictions or principles that people within a culture hold

Question 2

bilateral descent

Answer 2

A system of lineage in which the relatives on the mother’s side and father’s side are considered equally important

Question 3

capitalism

Answer 3

An economic system in which resources and production are mainly privately owned and goods/services are produced for a profit.

Question 4

charismatic authority

Answer 4

A form of leadership where devotion is reliant upon an individual with exceptional charisma.

Question 5

church

Answer 5

A type of well-integrated religious organization that attempts to provide an all-encompassing worldview for followers.

Question 6

conflict theory

Answer 6

A theory that views society as being in competition for limited resources.

Question 7

cult

Answer 7

A religious organization that is far outside society’s norms.

Question 8

Emile Durkheim

Answer 8

Considered the founder of sociology and a major proponent of functionalism.

Question 9

dynamic equilibrium

Answer 9

Occurs when complex societies contain many different but interdependent parts working together to maintain stability.

Question 10

ecclesia

Answer 10

A dominant religious organization that includes most members of a society, and is recognized as the exclusive national religion.

Question 11

egalitarian family

Answer 11

A family system where spouses are equals involved in negotiation when making decisions.

Question 12

endogamy

Answer 12

The practice of marrying within a particular group.

Question 13

environmental injustice

Answer 13

When people in poorer communities are more likely to be subjected to negative environmental impacts to their health and well-being.

Question 14

exogamy

Answer 14

A requirement to marry outside a particular group, to prohibit sexual relationships between certain relatives.

Question 15

food desert

Answer 15

An area, typically in a highly populated lower-income urban environment, where healthy, fresh food is difficult to find.

Question 16

functionalism

Answer 16

A theory that conceptualizes society as a living organism with many different parts and organs, each of which has a distinct purpose.

Question 17

fundamentalists

Answer 17

People who observe strict adherence to religious beliefs.

Question 18

Ludwig Gumplowicz

Answer 18

Expanded upon conflict theory by proposing that society is shaped by war and conquest.

Question 19

kinship

Answer 19

Familial relationships including blood ties, family ties, and common ancestry.

Question 20

latent functions

Answer 20

The unintended or less recognizable consequences or a social structure.

Question 21

manifest functions

Answer 21

The intended and obvious consequences of a social structure.

Question 22

Karl Marx

Answer 22

Founder of Conflict Theory who argued that societies progress through class struggle between those who control production and those who provide the labor for production.

Question 23

matriarchy

Answer 23

A social system where females are the primary authority figures.

Question 24

matrilineal descent

Answer 24

A system of lineage in which the relatives on the mother’s side are considered most important.

Question 25

monogomy

Answer 25

A form of marriage in which two individuals are married only to each other.

Question 26

patriarchy

Answer 26

A social system where males are the primary authority figures.

Question 27

patrilineal descent

Answer 27

A system of lineage in which the relatives on the father's side are considered most important

Question 28

rational-legal authority

Answer 28

A form of leadership that is organized around rational legal rules.

Question 29

religiosity

Answer 29

The extent that religion influences a person's life.

Question 30

sect

Answer 30

A religious organization that is distinct from the parent religion from which it was formed.

Question 31

social construct

Answer 31

A social mechanism or practice that is created and sustained by society.

Question 32

social constructionalism

Answer 32

A sociological theory that argues that reality is constructed, not inherent.

Question 33

social dysfunction

Answer 33

A process that has undesirable consequences, and may actually reduce the stability of society.

Question 34

social facts

Answer 34

The elements that serve some function in society, such as the laws, morals, values, religions, customs, rituals, and rules that make up a society.

Question 35

social institution

Answer 35

A complex of roles, norms, and values organized into a a relatively stable form that contributes to social order by governing the behavior of people.

Question 36

socialism

Answer 36

An economic system where resources and production are collectively owned.

Question 37

society

Answer 37

The study of how individuals interact with, shape, and are subsequently shaped by society.

Question 38

state capitalism

Answer 38

A system in which companies are privately run, but work closely with the government in forming laws and regulations.

Question 39

symbolic interactionism

Answer 39

A micro-level theory in sociology, which examines the relationship between individuals and society by focusing on communication, the exchange of information through language and symbols.

Question 40

traditional authority

Answer 40

A form of leadership where power is due to custom, tradition, or accepted practice.

Question 41

Max Weber

Answer 41

Conflict theorist who modified and tempered many of Marx's ideas on society.

Question 42

welfare capitalism

Answer 42

A system in which most of the economy is private with the exception of extensive social welfare programs to serve certain needs within society.

Question 43

hegemony

Answer 43

A coerced acceptance of the values, expectations, and conditions as determined by the capitalist class.

Question 44

class consciousness

Answer 44

Marx defined as exploited workers' awareness of the reasons for their oppression.

Question 45

Protestant/Puritan work ethic

Answer 45

A widely held religious belief that lauded the morality of hard work for the sake of Godliness, was a critical factor in the success of the capitalist system in replacing the feudalist system that preceded it in Western Europe.

Question 46

rationalization of society

Answer 46

Weber defined as our increasing concern with efficiency.