Chapter 4 Vocab Flashcards
Macrosociology
Analysis of social life that focuses on broad features of society
Microsociology
Analysis of social life that focuses on social interaction
Status
The position someone occupies in society or in a social group
Social class
A large group of people who rank close to one another based on income, education, and occupational prestige
Status symbols
Items used to identify the position that someone occupies in society
Master status
The status that cuts across other statuses that an individual occupies
Status inconsistency
Ranking high on one dimension of social class and low on others
Group
People who have something in common and believe what they have in common is significant
Social institution
The organized, usual or standard ways in which society meets its basic needs
Role strain
Occurs when the same status contains incompatible roles
Mechanical solidarity
Durkheim’s term for unity that people feel as a result of performing the same or similar tasks
Organic solidarity
Durkheim’s term for the interdependence that results from the division of labor
Gemeinschaft
Tonnies’ term for a type of society in which life is intimate
Gesellschaft
Tonnies’ term for a type of society that is dominated by impersonal relationships, individual accomplishments and self interests
Thomas theorem
The definition of the situation, that is “if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”
