Unit 11: Culture and Socialization

Question 1

Social System

Answer 1

All systems where humans (or groups of humans) are the primary components. Made up of Actors (Agents) and relationships (interdependencies) between them.

Question 2

Social System examples (6)

Answer 2

A bakery, the global financial system, a family, Canada (as a country), social status, a class

Question 3

Ideal Types

Answer 3

Exaggerations of certain characteristics of people that is not meant to represent real people, but ‘extremes.’

Question 4

Homo Economicus’ preferences

Answer 4

Selfish, since Homo Economicus is the part of each of us that considers our self-interest when making decisions to maximize satisfaction.

Question 5

Economist’s view of preferences

Answer 5

Preferences are fixed and unexplainable. The standard theory of neoclassical economics assumes that preferences come from somewhere and that they are irrelevant to models.

Question 6

Rationality Limits

Answer 6

Humans lack information and have limited processing (thinking) capacity so we use heuristics (trial and error). We are bounded in rationality.

Question 7

Importance of bounded rationality (2)

Answer 7

1. Humans are not autonomous, all knowing, independent creatures
2. Group ‘forces’ are at work in our global system beyond the simple rational processes of economic exchange and rational institution development.

Question 8

Homo Sociologicus

Answer 8

A person that is not always perfectly rational because they are affected by society; they strive to fulfill their role in society but are also influenced by societal forces.

Question 9

Examples of heuristics (6)

Answer 9

Satisficing, habits, learning, emulation, imitation, following others

Question 10

Culture

Answer 10

The sum of attitudes, beliefs, and preferences (including norms) that distinguishes one group of people from another.

Question 11

Examples of culture (3)

Answer 11

Fandoms, clubs, political parties

Question 12

Individual beliefs

Answer 12

What we believe to be true. Rooted in culture and other knowledge systems.

Question 13

Examples of individual beliefs (2)

Answer 13

Religion, science

Question 14

Individual Attitude

Answer 14

Set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a particular topic (object, person, thing, or event). Broad term capturing an individual’s thoughts on an issue.

Question 15

Examples of Individual Attitude (3)

Answer 15

Environmentalist, pacifist, belligerent, etc…

Question 16

Individual preferences

Answer 16

A ranking system of individual preference for different outcomes.

Question 17

Example of individual preferences (2)

Answer 17

Personal norms, favorite food, animal, etc…

Question 18

Group Norms

Answer 18

Norms that define what we should believe, prefer, and behave in groups (families, peer groups, organizations, societies, etc.) Failure to adhere to these norms is Deviance, which is usually punished by the group.

Question 19

Socialization

Answer 19

The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society through culture. Exists at many scales and takes place through many processes.

Question 20

Examples of socialization (3)

Answer 20

Emulation, persuasion, formal processes

Question 21

Scales of socialization (5)

Answer 21

Household/family, Community, Ethnic Group, Religious Group, Country, etc…

Question 22

Emulation

Answer 22

Copying others through imitation.

Question 23

Formalized processes

Answer 23

Arrangement of processes according to a fixed structure.

Question 24

Persuasion

Answer 24

Process aimed at changing a person’s (or a group’s) attitude or behavior toward a topic by using written or spoken words to convey information, feelings, and/or reasoning. A form of social influence, intentional ‘socialization’.

Question 25

Persuasion vs. incentive

Answer 25

Persuasion is the process in which incentive is used to encourage change.

Question 26

Punishment

Answer 26

Consequence of deviation from a societal norm, incentive for individuals to stop or change their behavior.

Question 27

Examples of punishment (5)

Answer 27

Social exclusion, loss of social status, ‘challenging’ comments, physical punishment, being yelled at, etc…

Question 28

Reward

Answer 28

Benefit of following a societal norm, incentives for individuals to continue or repeat their behavior.

Question 29

Examples of reward (4)

Answer 29

Popularity, friendly responses, respect of others, thank you cards, etc…

Question 30

Norm Enforcement

Answer 30

Norms are self-monitored, once they are adopted, we hold ourselves accountable to behave inline. If we fail to do so we will often feel shame, we self-punish. Similarly, once you adopt a norm, you tend to monitor others and punish/reward them based upon their behavior.

Question 31

Self sustaining norms

Answer 31

Self-propagation of norms due to enforcement and promotion. Norms may evolve over time and may be made extinct as generations die off.