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Flashcards in Social Structures Deck (48)
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1
Q

This branch of sociology is more apt to study the relationship between one specific doctor and his patient, Linda, regarding how they interact during well-visits.

A

Microsociology

This is the area of sociology which focuses on the nature of everyday human social interactions and agency on a small scale: face to face.

2
Q

This branch of sociology is more apt to study the relationship between primary care physicians in general and their patients, when in a hospital setting.

A

Macrosociology

This is the area of sociology which focuses on the study of larger organizations, communities, and societies that individuals reside in.

3
Q

___________ seeks to examine each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society. One example is the interdependence of families and government to pay taxes and provide education for children.

A

Social functionalism

According to social functionalism, societies are networks of interconnected parts that work together to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole system.

4
Q

________ views society as individuals and groups competing for finite resources, such as men in a bar competing for the attention of the females present, which leads to behaviors which allow one to maintain power and privilege in a given social setting.

A

Conflict theory

This theory posits that conflict can arise between different groups of people that have differing goals and/or are competing over limited resources. Conflict theory often relates to socioeconomic class, although it can relate to gender, age, race, etc.

5
Q

If Olivia loves to read, a ________ would suggest that she learned to like books via the interactions she had with family, friends, or figures at school.

For example, Olivia may have had a special reading time with her father each night, or she visited the local library each week as a special treat.

A

symbolic interactionist

Symbolic interactionism is a view which understands social interactions via the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. It is posited that subjective meanings are given primacy because people act based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true. For example, a friendly hand gesture in one country (like a peace sign in the U.S.) may be considered obscene in another country (like the U.K.).

6
Q

The U.S. dollar has no intrinsic value. Yet, all of society has decided that these small, rectangular pieces of paper have value and can be exchanged for goods and services. This collective agreement on meaning is an example of Vygostky’s theory of:

A

social constructivism.

Social constructivism (or constructionism) is a theory by Lev Vygostky which proposes that reality is what humans cognitively agree it to be. People build social constructs based on interactions with others, and those constructs that last over time are those that have widely agreed-upon meanings or are accepted by the majority of society.

7
Q

Identify the social theory illustrated in the example below.

Shy, timid Petra walks up to Julian to ask him out on a date. If Julian says “Yes,” Petra’s reward is a potential good date, and she is likely to ask men out again in the future. However, if Julian says “No,” Petra feels punished and she will likely go back to not initiating dates with people.

A

Social exchange theory

This theory posits that human relationships are formed via the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives.

8
Q

Sansa cannot believe the recent behavior of her friend, Petyr. Petyr tells Sansa that he makes all of his decisions based upon his own subjective calculations of personal profit, no matter how illogical they may seem to others. Which social theory does this best exemplify?

A

Rational choice theory

This theory posits that people are often motivated by “profit,” be it personal, financial, or emotional. Thus, an individual will make a decision after calculating the likely costs and benefits of any action, using their own rationality (which may not seem rational to others).

9
Q

________ has developed in three waves.

  1. A focus on suffrage and political rights
  2. A focus on social inequality between the genders
  3. A focus on the concepts of globalization, postcolonialism, post-structuralism, and postmodernism
A

Feminist theory

Feminist theory is an area of sociology which explores both inequality in gender relations and the nature of gender and its role in society.

10
Q

Feminism may conflict with ________ because while ________ necessitates the tolerance of foreign cultural practices, some of those practices might maintain an oppression of women that feminists find intolerable and unacceptable.

Note that the same word applies to both blanks.

A

Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism is a view of different cultures which posits that cultural practices, no matter how unusual, should be tolerated as a measure of respect for that culture. This can conflict with feminism when those cultural practices subjugate women, for example.

11
Q

Idenitfy the five main social institutions that comprise society.

A

The five social institutions that you must know for the MCAT are:

  1. Education
  2. Family
  3. Religion
  4. Government/economy
  5. Health/medicine
12
Q

A survey of 5000 elementary school students across New Jersey revealed that the subjects that students rated as most important were those subjects that were taught in the “prime time hours” (morning classes), as well as those subjects that were taught for at least 45 more minutes per week. This implicit message about subject importance is an example of _________ in schools.

A

hidden curriculum

This refers to messages communicated by the administration and operation of a school, separate and distinct from the school’s mission and subject material taught in class (i.e. the explicit curriculum). Hidden curriculum usually addresses or “teaches” norms regarding attitudes, values, beliefs, and behavior.

13
Q

A low test score early in the year may influence the teacher’s assessment of the student’s abilities. As a reaction, the student may seek other outlets for positive feedback or just accept the evaluation of the teacher as true, living down to that potential. Which social concept best relates to this interaction between student and teacher?

A

Teacher expectancy

Teacher expectancy is an extension of interaction theory. It posits that students can receive overt or covert signals about their abilities from their teacher. Students often pick up on their teachers’ expectations of them and perform accordingly.

14
Q

A 2015 analysis of New York city public schools found that there was a strong correlation (R = 0.78, p = 0.039) between school performance on state-wide exams and the size of the local tax base (measured in thousands of dollars). This significant difference illustrates the effect of:

A

educational segregation.

Educational segregation is any disparity in educational opportunities or resources as a result of societal stratification (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, religion etc.).

15
Q

Identify three degrees of kinship.

A
  • Primary kin are individuals on adjacent to each other on a pedigree (e.g. husband-wife, parent-child, brother-sister).
  • Secondary kin are individuals separated by one degree of kin on a pedigree (e.g. grandparents-grandchildren, aunt-niece, uncle-nephew, etc.).
  • Tertiary kin are individuals separated by two degrees of kin on a pedigree (e.g. first/second cousins).
16
Q

Match each of the three kinship types below to the correct nature of connection in society.

Consanguineal

Affinal

Fictive

Marriage

Adoption

Genetics

A

Kinship can exist due to blood/genetic ties (consanguineal), marriage ties (affinal), or adoption (fictive).

The formation of groups and the regulation of behavior depends to some extent on socially recognized ties of kinship.

17
Q

A nuclear family (mom, dad, kids) is no longer the only model of a healthy family. The variation in family units, more common in modern times, is termed _________.

A

family diversity

Family diversity is the wide range of family structures in modern society (adoptive parents, single parents, homosexual parents, step-parents).

18
Q

________ is the formation of a legal form of kinship, while ________ is the legal dissolution of this connection.

A

Marriage, divorce

Marriage makes one’s spouse a form of kin, especially when it comes to legal and healthcare matters. A spouse can even be next-of-kin, meaning if anything happens to the person and they cannot make legal/medical decisions, their spouse can do so on their behalf.

19
Q

_______ is the emotional or physical attack or neglect by one or more individuals (often a parent or family member) on a child.

A

Child abuse

20
Q

_______ is the emotional or physical attack or neglect by one or more individuals (often a child or caregiver) on a person over 65 years of age.

A

Elder abuse

21
Q

_______ is the emotional or physical attack or other mistreatment by one partner on another in a relationship (e.g. a wife beating her husband).

A

Spousal/domestic abuse

22
Q

This is the measure of how strictly/devoutly one adheres to the customs and rituals of their religion.

A

Religiosity

23
Q

Name the seven characteristics of churches as outlined by Johnstone.

A
  1. Universality - churches include all members of the society within their ranks and have a strong tendency to equate “citizenship” with “membership.”
  2. Religious monopoly - the entity tries to eliminate religious competition.
  3. Allied closely with state and secular powers (there may be overlapping responsibilities and mutual reinforcement)
  4. Organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of labor
  5. Professional clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal indoctrination
  6. Gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranks
  7. Create diversity by creating different internal groups (orders of nuns or monks) rather than forming new religions
24
Q

The religion of Islam was classically divided into three subdivisions: Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, and Khariji Islam. Each group developed its own distinct jurisprudence system reflecting its own understanding of the Islamic law from religious texts. These three groups are best classified as:

A

sects.

A sect or denomination is a group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (possibly thought of as heresy) from those of a larger religious group to which they belong or have split off from.

25
Q

Identify at least three distinctions that allow researchers to separate cults from sects.

A
  • Sects are typically accepted if not recognized by other religious groups and governments, while cults are not.
  • A sect is a small offshoot of a larger religion, while a cult is a small, quasi-religious group with very unorthodox ideologies, customs, and rituals.
  • A sect is a branch of a specific religious organization, while a cult is a seperate entity.
  • Cult members are typically completely obedient and dependent upon their leader, while members of a sect are largely autonomous.
  • Sect members typicaly live in society proper, while cult members usually live in isolation away from non-believers.
26
Q

The weapons police officers carry are typically seen as a symbol of their _______ on behalf of the government, while their badge is a representation of their legal _______.

A

power, authority

Power is the ability or potential of an individual to influence others and control their actions. Authority, a formal right, is the legal and formal right to give orders and commands and make decisions.

27
Q

_________ is the loss of authority and influence by religion. In the age of enlightenment, this loss of power coincided with a rebirth of investigation into scientific, artistic, and technological knowledge. The adoption of this knowledge and technology into society is known as _________.

A

Secularization, modernization

Secularization occurs when religion loses its influence on people. One of the drivers of historical secularization in the Western world has been modernization - the adoption of technology by society.

28
Q

How does capitalism differ from socialism?

A

The economic system of capitalism focuses on profit-seeking enterprises by individuals and competition within markets.

In contrast, socialism places control of industries in the hands of the government, with resources meant to be equally shared and profits equally dispersed.

29
Q

Those who believe in strict interpretations of their religious texts (e.g. Abrahamic religions’ condemnation of adultery) and seek to enact punishments based on these texts are examples of religious:

A

fundamentalists.

Religious fundamentalism is the idea that one can derive absolute authority over society from a sacred religious text or the teachings of a particular religious leader, prophet, or deity.

30
Q

Many economists see modern China as a ______ economy, since it has classic elements of both capitalist and socialist societies.

A

mixed

A mixed economy is one in which there are elements of both capitalism (private industry, profit-driven) and socialism (state-owned industry, equality-driven).

31
Q

A physician interviewing a patient notices that the floor is wet, so she goes to grab a rag to wipe up the spill. She is told that she cannot do this and must call maintenance to come clean up the spill. This is an example of _______ within the hospital’s bureaucratic organization.

A

division of labor

Division of labor is the assignment of different parts of a manufacturing process or complex task to different people in order to improve efficiency. The physician’s duty is to treat patients, nothing else.

32
Q

The last 30 years of societal development in America has seen obesity, alcoholism, childhood hyperactivity, and sexual abuse all defined as medical problems. On the contrary, former diseases such as homosexuality are no longer considered pathologies. This process of reassessing which conditions are considered diseases is known as:

A

medicalization.

This is the social process through which experiences or conditions are culturally defined as pathological and treatable medical issues.

33
Q

Which of the following social roles is characterized by the norms listed below?

  • The person is not held accountable for her or his ailment.
  • The person is not expected to fulfill their normal societal roles.
  • The person should seek medical attention, do as their doctor says, and work to get well.
A

The sick role

The sick role is a term used in medical sociology regarding sickness and the rights and obligations of the afflicted.

34
Q

Arrange the “Illness Experience” in proper order.

  1. Assumption of sick role
  2. Unnoticed symptoms
  3. Treatment
  4. Noticeable symptoms
  5. Recovery
  6. Diagnosis
  7. Establishment of rapport with physician
  8. Visit of health care site
  9. Return to wellness
A

2 → 4 → 1 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 3 → 5 → 9

The illness experience outlines the journey a sick patient goes through from the initial disease all the way to resolution.

35
Q

Which branch of epidemiology assumes that the distribution of advantages and disadvantages in a society will be correlated strongly to the distribution of health and disease in the society?

A

Social epidemiology

Social epidemiology proposes to identify societal properties that affect the pattern of disease and health distribution in a society and to understand its mechanisms. It focuses on the effects of social-structural factors on health.

36
Q

Identify the necessary elements of culture.

A
  • Beliefs - ideas/theories that society members use to explain what causes illness or other events conditions, how it can be approached, and who should be involved in the process
  • Language - the system of words and symbols people in the society use to communicate with each other
  • Rituals - a series of actions/behaviors performed according to a prescribed plan; they can be religious or secular
  • Symbols - anything that is used to represent something else (e.g. a cross on a necklace signifying religiosity)
  • Values - culturally defined standards for what is good (desirable) or bad (undesirable) in the society
  • Norms - culturally-defined expectations for behavior
37
Q

Christians believe in the concept of a “heaven,” which rewards those who follow the faith as directed by their religious culture. If Jewish adherents do not have an equivalent belief in the afterlife, this is a fundamental difference of the two religions’ ________ culture.

A

symbolic

Symbolic culture refers to the non-physical ideas that people have about their culture (e.g. beliefs, values, rules, morals, language, and institutions).

38
Q

When asked to explain what makes his culture unique, Maddox points to the towering spires of Angkor Wat, a sprawling, 800-year-old complex dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Maddox is using ________ culture to explain himself.

A

material

Material culture is the physical objects, materials, and spaces that people use to define their culture (e.g. homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches, temples, mosques, etc.).

39
Q

The advent of effective sexual prophylaxis and birth control in the late 20th century posed a challenge that the Catholic Church is still dealing with and incorporating into beliefs to this day. This delay is known as:

A

culture lag.

This is the idea that material culture changes faster than symbolic culture.

40
Q

The sequence below outlines the experience Andrew had while visiting Australia:

  1. “Wow, the food here is so good, and look at the size of the beer I can get!”
  2. Why are they driving on the wrong side of the road? I can’t make a turn. What is a joey anyway, and why are they crossing the road?”
  3. I am going to avoid the kangaroo crossing on my way, to save some time. I do not want to be late for the party.
  4. Time for me to turn in my car for a train pass, it really is the best way to get around.

What phenomenon did Adrew experience?

A

Culture shock

Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of beliefs, norms, or attitudes. It has 4 stages:

  1. Honeymoon
  2. Frustration
  3. Adjustment
  4. Acceptance
41
Q

The United States largely seperates religion from the functions of governing and law. The secularization over time of the Christians, Muslims, and Hindus that immigrate to the United States to this way of life is an example of:

A

cultural assimilation.

Cultural assimilation is the process by which a person’s or group’s culture come to resemble those of another group.

42
Q

The overwhelmingly positive response to a U.S. female fencer wearing a hijab (religious headscarf) to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games was followed by many campaigns combining aspects of American pride with the garment. This encouragement of cultural mixing is an example of:

A

multiculturalism.

Multiculturalism is the view that cultural differences should be respected or even encouraged.

43
Q

The individuals in the images below are all members of distinct ________ within society.

A

subcultures

Subcultures are groups within a society that hold sets of values, behaviors and norms (distinct from those of the majority). Subcultures might include hippies, Trekkies, punks, hipsters, goths, hip-hop fans, bikers, etc.

44
Q

The “hippie” subculture of the 1960s was openly against the status quo in most major societal institutions (e.g. education, government, military, marriage) and also radically broke with society’s view on sex. As a result, this group would properly be labeled a:

A

counterculture.

A counterculture is any subculture whose values and norms of behavior differ significantly from (or potentially outright oppose) the norms and expectations of mainstream society and its cultural mores.

45
Q

The superhero movie craze that has been in full swing since 2008’s Ironman film has now spread to television, the Internet, and literature. This mass appeal and wide audience would indicate that superheroes are now a significant part of America’s:

A

pop culture.

Popular culture is the collection of (usually) material culture (e.g. music, art, literature, fashion, cyber culture, movies, etc.) that is consumed by the majority of the society. This culture normally has mass accessibility and appeal, which enables it to transcend subcultures and demographics within the society.

46
Q

A grandmother is teaching her granddaughter the methods her culture uses for ship travel and navigation using the stars. This is an example of:

A

cultural transmission.

This is the way a group of people within a society or culture learn and pass on information to further generations (vertically).

47
Q

Youtube, cable news, Time magazine and news radio are all influencers of pop culture due to their role as:

A

mass media.

This is the varied collection of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication (e.g. TV, digital/Internet, radio, newspaper, etc.).

48
Q

When visiting India for a medical mission, Dr. Anthony notices many young men wearing replica jerseys of American basketball players. This transfer of what is “cool” is an example of _______, hastened by the advent of the Internet and satellite communcations.

A

cultural diffusion

This is the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another (horizontal). The blending of cultures across different ethnicities, religions, and nationalities has increased with advanced technology.