Chapter 11 - Social Structures and Demographics

Question 1

What is the purpose of Theoretical Approaches in the context of Social Interaction?

Answer 1

They provide frameworks for the interactions we absolve within society.

Question 2

What is Functionalism?

Answer 2

Focuses on the function of each component of society and how these components fit together.

Question 3

What are Manifest Functions?

Answer 3

Deliberate actions that serve to help a given system; latent functions are unexpected, unintended, or unrecognized positive consequences of manifest functions.

Question 4

What does Conflict Theory focus on?

Answer 4

How poet differentials are created and how they contribute to the maintenance of social order.

Question 5

What is Symbolic Interactionism?

Answer 5

The study of the ways in which individuals and groups make decisions to agree upon a given social reality.

Question 6

What does Rational Choice Theory state?

Answer 6

Individuals will make decisions that maximize potential benefit and minimize potential harm; exchange theory applies rational choice theory within social groups.

Question 7

What does Feminist Theory focus on?

Answer 7

Explores the ways in which one gender can be subordinated, minimized, or devalued compared to the other.

Question 8

What are Social Institutions?

Answer 8

Well-Established social structures that dictate certain patters of behaviour or relationships and are accepted as a fundamental part of culture. ex: family, religion, economy etc.

Question 9

What are the 4 Key Ethical Tenets of American Medicine?

Answer 9

1. Beneficence
2. Nonmaleficence
3. Respect for Autonomy
4. Justice

Question 10

Describe Beneficence

Answer 10

Refers to acting in the patient’s best interest

Question 11

Describe Nonmaleficence

Answer 11

Refers to avoiding treatments for which risk is larger than benefit

Question 12

Describe Respect for Autonomy

Answer 12

Refers to respecting patients’ rights to make decisions about their own health care.

Question 13

Describe Justice

Answer 13

Refers to treating similar patients similarly and distributing health care resources fairly. **TABLE 11.1

Question 14

Describe Culture

Answer 14

Culture encompasses the lifestyle of a group of people and includes both material and symbolic elements.

Question 15

What is Material Culture?

Answer 15

Includes the physical items one associates with a given group, ex: art, emblems, jewellery, foods etc.

Question 16

What is Symbolic Culture?

Answer 16

Includes the ideas associated with a cultural group.

Question 17

What is Cultural Lag?

Answer 17

Refers to the idea that material culture changes more quickly than symbolic culture

Question 18

What is a Cultural Barrier?

Answer 18

A social difference that impedes interaction

Question 19

What does Language consist of?

Answer 19

Spoken or written symbols combined into a system and governed by rules.

Question 20

What is a Value?

Answer 20

What a person deems important

Question 21

What is a Belief?

Answer 21

Something a person considers to be true.

Question 22

What is a Ritual?

Answer 22

A formalized ceremonial behaviour in which members of a group or community regularly engage. It is governed by specific rules, including appropriate behaviour and a predetermined order of events.

Question 23

What are Norms?

Answer 23

Societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behaviour.

Question 24

How are Culture and Evolution implicated?

Answer 24

There is evidence that culture flows from evolutionary principles, and that culture can also influence evolution.

Question 25

What are Demographics?

Answer 25

Refer to statistics of populations and are the mathematical applications of sociology. One can analyze hundreds of demographic variables; most common include age, gender, race, etc.

Question 26

What is Ageism?

Answer 26

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of someone’s age.

Question 27

What is Gender?

Answer 27

The set of behavioural, cultural or physiological traits typically associated with a biological sex.

Question 28

What is Gender Inequality?

Answer 28

The intentional or unintentional empowerment of one gender to the detriment of the other.

Question 29

What is Race?

Answer 29

A social construct based on phenotypic differences between groups of people; either real or perceived.

Question 30

What is Ethnicity?

Answer 30

A social construct that sorts people by cultural factors, including language, nationality, religion and the factors.

Question 31

What is Symbolic Ethnicity?

Answer 31

Recognition of an ethnic identity that is only relevant on special occasions or circumstances that don’t impact everyday life.

Question 32

What is Sexual Orientation?

Answer 32

Can be defined by one’s sexual interests/preference

Question 33

What is Immigration?

Answer 33

The movement into a new geographic area.

Question 34

What is Emigration?

Answer 34

The movement away from an area.

Question 35

What is a Fertility Rate?

Answer 35

The average number of children born to a woman during her life.

Question 36

What is a Birth Rate?

Answer 36

Relative to a population size over time; usually measured as the number of births per 1000 people per year.

Question 37

What is a Mortality Rate?

Answer 37

The average number of deaths per population size over time, usually measured per 1000.

Question 38

What is Migration?

Answer 38

Refers to the movement of people from one geographical location to another.

Question 39

What is Demographic Transition?

Answer 39

A model used to represent drops in birth and death rates as a result of industrialization.

Question 40

What are Social Movements?

Answer 40

Organized either to promote (proactive) or resist (reactive) social change.

Question 41

What is Globalization?

Answer 41

The process of integrating a global economy with free trade and tapping of foreign labor markets.

Question 42

What is Urbanization?

Answer 42

Refers to the process of dense areas of population creating a pull for migration, or in other words, creating cities.