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Sociology for the MCAT :) > Social Structure & Demographics > Flashcards

Social Structure & Demographics Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

Sociology

A

The study of society; how er create it, interact within it, define it and institutionalize those ideas

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2
Q

Macro-Sociology

A

Focuses on large groups and social structures

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3
Q

Micro-Sociology

A

Focuses on small groups and the individual

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4
Q

Social Structure

A

System of people within a society organized by characteristic patterns of relationships

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5
Q

Functionalism

A

Study of the structure and function of each part of society which must work in harmony; if they do not fulfill their function society is put in an abnormal / pathological state

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6
Q

Function

A

Beneficial consequence of people’s actions (keep society in balance)

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7
Q

Dysfunction

A

Harmful consequences of people’s actions (disrupt society’s equilibrium)

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8
Q

Manifest Function

A

Action is intended to help

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9
Q

Latent Function

A

Unintended + consequence to other parts of society

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10
Q

Conflict Theory

- (Karl Marx)

A

Power differentials are created and contribute to the maintenance of social order
- Can lead to the dominance of a particular group

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11
Q

Power

A

Influence over other people

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12
Q

Symbolic Interactionism

A

Study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures and symbols

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13
Q

Symbols

A

Things to which we attach meaning; they key to understanding how we view the world and communicated with one another

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14
Q

Social Constructionism

A

How individuals put together their social reality; social constructs that arise from human communication and working together to agrees on the significance of a concept / principle

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15
Q

Social Institutions

A

Well established social structures that dictate certain patterns of behavior and are accepted as fundamental parts of culture that regulate behaviors of individuals in core areas of society

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16
Q

Family

A

Encourages learning of acceptable behavior, socialization, bonding and regulates reproduction and protection

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17
Q

Education

A

Transmit knowledge / skills across generations

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18
Q

Religion

A

Pattern of social activities organized around a set of beliefs / practices that seek to address the meaning of life / death, suffering, loss and a desire to connect with a creator
- Persists over time and a structure which re-socializes members

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19
Q

Government

A
  • Maintain social order
  • Enforce law and order

*Impact all other institutions

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20
Q

Economy

A

Organize goods, services & money

*Impact all other institutions

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21
Q

Medicine

A

Maintaining / improving health of individuals, families and societies

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22
Q

United States Goals in Medicine

A
  • Increased access to health care
  • Decreased cost
  • Prevention of disease
  • Patients have a PCP
  • Increased education for the public
  • Decrease the “doctor knows best” mentality
  • Decrease economic conflicts of interest to doctors
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23
Q

4 Tenets of Ethics

A
  1. Beneficence - act in patients best interest
  2. Non-Maleficent - do no harm
  3. Respect patient autonomy - patient choices must be respected
  4. Justice - treated similar patients with similar care; distribute resources fairly
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24
Q

Culture

A

Encompassing the entire lifestyle of a given group; what makes human societies unique from one another

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25
Material Culture
- Explore the meaning of objects in a given society | - A tangible embodiment of underlying ideas in symbolic culture
26
Artifacts
Material items one makes that possess value; create a sense of shared identity, loyalty and belonging
27
Symbolic Culture
Both cognitive / behavioral components; Ideas that represent a group of people; themes
28
Language
- Spoken, written or signed symbols which are regulated according to certain rules of grammar and syntax. - Enables us to share ideas, thoughts, experiences,f ears, plans, desires, etc... with others
29
Values
What a person deems important / dictates ones ethical principles and standards
30
Belief
Something that an individual accepts as truth
31
Cultural Barriers
Cultural difference impedes interaction with others
32
Cultural Sensitivity
The recognition and respect of difference between cultures and research ethics
33
Norms
Societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior and provide a sense of social control
34
Ritual
Formalized ceremony that usually involves specific material objects, symbolism and additional mandates on acceptable behavior
35
Demographics
Statistics of a population *Mathematical application of Sociology
36
Ageism
Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age
37
Gender
Behavioral, cultural or psychological traits associated with biological sex
38
Gender Inequality
(un)intentional empowerment of one gender that is detriment to the other
39
Sex
Biologically determined by X or Y chromosomes
40
Race
Social Construct based on phenotypic differences (real or perceived) between groups; NOT genetic but based on superficial traits
41
Ethnicity
Social construct that sorts people by cultural factors like nationality, language and religion
42
Symbolic Ethnicity
Specific connection to ones ethnicity in which ethnic symbols / identity remain important even when not playing a role in everyday life
43
Sexual Orientation
Direction of one's sexual interest toward members of same, opposite or both sexes
44
Heterosexual
Attraction to the opposite sex
45
Homosexual
Attraction to the same sex
46
Bisexual
Attraction to both sexes
47
LGBT
Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered
48
Kinsey Scale
``` 0 = Heterosexual 6 = Homosexual ``` **most people fall someone in between these two extremes
49
Demographic Shifts
Changes in the makeup of the population over time
50
Fertility Rate
Children born to women per lifetime *Decreased in the US; we have a larger population
51
Mortality Rate
Deaths (in 1000 people per year) *Decreased in the US; we have an older population
52
Immigration
Movement INTO geographic area *Increased in the US; we have a more diverse / larger population
53
Emmigration
Movement OUT OF geographic area *Decreased in the US
54
Demographic Transition
Changes in birth and death rates in a country as it develops from pre-industrial (birth and death rates both high) ----to----> an industrial economic system (birth and death rates both low)
55
Social Movements
Resist OR promote social change
56
Proactive Social Movement
Good social change is promoted
57
Reactive Social Movement
Resist social change
58
Globalization
Process of integrating the global economy with free trade and the tapping of foreign trade markets; leads to a decrease in geographical constraints on exchanges (both social & cultural)
59
Urbanization
Dense areas of population creating a pull for migration
60
Ghettos
Areas where specific racial, ethnic or religion minorities are concentrated; usually due to social or economic inequities
61
Slum
Extremely dense populated areas of a city with low-quality, often informal housing and poor sanitation

Sociology for the MCAT :) (5 decks)

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