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Sociology 205 Final Exam-TAMU
Final Exam-Hysom's class
93
Sociology
Undergraduate 1
12/09/2010

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Term
Who was Durkheim?
Emphasis on?
Definition
Emphasis on culture-need to integrate members of society into a coherent whole

Was interested in religion-suicide
Mechanical solidarity-operates in traditional and small sclae societies
Organic solidarity-modern and industrial societies
Term
Types of suicide:
Definition
anomic-when we are disconnected
egoistic-few/weak social ties

altruistic-too strongly connected to a group
Term
What was Durkheim's theory?
Definition
Functionalist-views society as a biological entity
Parts of society have specialized functions that function for the survival of society

E.g. function of family-produce people
Term
Who was Max Weber?
Definition
Forerunner of Conflict theory
believed sociology could not develop general, universal natural laws to explain society

Dynamics of social inequality are more complex than Marx believes
-Economic-control of production
-Status-prestige/honor
-Power-politcal power

Conflict does not inevitably lead to change

Believed ideas can also cause social chane and alter the means of production
Term
What is conflict theory?
Definition
Focuses on inequalities between social groups
Groups-unequal in status
Material inequality
Racial differences

All social structures are rige with tension and potential conflict
Term
Who was Karl Marx?
Definition
Rejected claims that universal principles could explain societies

Activist-worked to change social world in ways that reduce inequalities
Superstructure-art, culture, religion, political system, understanding human nature
Substructure-economic system-society's means of production

Conflict exists between groups based on groups' relationship to means of production
Emergence and resolution of conflicts drive history
HE WAS COMMUNIST
Term
What are the basic elements of the economy?
Definition
Technology-knowledge about how to manipulate the environment

Labor-human effort

Capital-Tools or implements used to gather, produce, and distribute

Entrepreneurship-How technology, labor, and capital are organized in order to gather, produce, and distribute
Term
Who was Polyani?
His beliefs?
Definition
Markets emerged because the states imposed them after the economy started failing with the Enclosure Act

State must exist in order for market economies to function

Self Regulating markets-what we have now


Markets emerged as the result of scarcity
Term
What are the three strategies of power?
Definition
1. Money-controls people b/c paid in money
Shortcoming-workers try to manipulate situation to do little work and get paid for hours

2. FORCE-COERCION
teachers make students work
Shortcoming-None like being coerced can rebel

3. SOLIDARITY
social rituals-sense of group identity
representative of organization
Shortcoming-take certain amount of time and effort
more time on rituals, less on work
Term
What is the Symbolic Interactionist Theory?
Definition
facial expressions have meaning
signaling and interpreting symbols

Mead & Blumer

world of meaning
How is shared meaning created, communicated, and maintained?
Term
Utilitarian/Rationalist Theory?
Definition
Associated with economics
Costs and benefits
Adam Smith

Life as a series of decision points
Term
What are the five principles of inequality?
Definition
Ubiquitous-exists in every know human group; any feature can be a basis for inequality

Interaction generates INequality-The process of Interaction itself tends to create inequality in rates of participation, influence, and leadership.

INequality is STABLE-once a system of inequality emerges, the system is very hard to alter

It is SUPPORTED BY THOSE AT THE TOP AND THOSE AT THE BOTTOM-Those who are disadvantaged by the system tend to accept the system as legitimate just as do individuals and groups who benefit from the system

Inequality generalizes-it spreads out into other aspects of life
Term
Social inequality
Definition
Unequal access to valued resources and opportunities in society
Term
Cultural capital
Definition
"The general cultural background, knowledge disposition, and skills that are passed from one generation to the next."
Term
Social stratification
Definition
A system of inequality in which groups of people are divided into layers according to their relative power, property (wealth), and presige
Term
Social mobility
Definition
Movement, either vertical or horizontal, within a system of inequality.

Vertical movement-means up or down in the stratification; gaining higher level of access to resourcesl or losing such access.

Horizontal movement is from one occupation(or location) to another, without an increase in economic standing.
Term
What are the two systems of inequality?
Definition
Caste-Closed system; little movement available; a person's place in a caste system is usually an ascribed characteristic; people are born into a particular caste, and there is little room for mobility

Class System-Ostensibly more fluid, allowing for social mobility
Term
Social Class
Definition
one's position in a class-based system of inequality

Provides a major basis for personal and public identity
Affects more aspects of life than any other key status
Where you live, Level of education, life expectancy, risk of victimization/violent & property crime; quality of medical care you get, Socioeconomic status; income, occupation, and education; social class
Term
SES
Definition
Socioeconomic status: income, occupation, education; social class
Term
Achievement Ideology
Definition
The reigning social perspective that sees American Society as open and fair and full of opportunity; success is based on merit, and economic inequalities are caused by differences in ambition and ability
Term
Reproduction of Class
Definition
The cross generational passing of the class structure
Term
Example in ANMI where inequality is supported at the top and at the bottom-
Definition
INstead of building houses for the poor, the US, according to MacLeod, has directly and indirectly subsidized homes for the better-off. 10 million upper and middle class houses were built for the better of, while only 800,000 houses were built for poor.

Public housing is cheap and in 1980's public housing building was ceased altogether, increasing homelessness

Schools also support top and bottom inequality. Teachers want to make working-class students miserable. They are not intent on maintaining social order and cohesion in the face of class inequality by contributing to the legitimation function of the school.
Term
Example in ANMI that inequality is ubiquitous-exists in all groups and always has
Definition
There will always be a top and a bottom.

Within every society, people with different races, genders, backgrounds, and abilities receive different shares of the overall economic output.

INequality has always existed with the Hallway Hangers and Brothers because that is why these groups exist. There will always be poor people in Doorway #13 where the Hangers gather. There is always someone that will be above you or has greater authority.

It was hard to get a job for the brothers because of the inequality they suffered.
James went to school to try to get a certificate in computer programming and was stuck with other African Americans during the night class since many of them worked during the day and were going to school at night. He was moved to a day class with younger white kids after the school found out how good he was at the material.
Term
Inequality is stable, but difficult to stop
Definition
The Hallway Hangers may not have tried to get out of poverty, but the Brothers believed they would be able to.
The Brothers, however, were unable to get out of poverty even though they tried. The Brothers just did not have the connections to get good jobs. PLus, the communities they came from were a drawback to getting a job.
Term
WHat makes up a free market?
Definition
Buyers and Sellers
Term
What are Troubles?
Definition
Troubles are within the individual and occur within the range of his immmediate relations with others.

They have to do with self and with those limited areas of social life of which he is directly personally aware.

A trouble is a private matter; values cherished by an individual are felt by him to be threatened
Term
What are Issues?
Definition
Issues have to do with matters that transcend these local environments of the individual and the range of his inner life.

An issue is a public matter: some value cherished by publics is being threatened.

An issue often involves a crisis in institutional arrangements.
Term
What is the Sociological Imagination?
Definition
It is understanding the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals.

Enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society.
Term
When did professions first emerge?
Definition
During the Enlightenment
Term
What is a characteristic of humanism?
Definition
Discovery of Classic Greek tects and art
Term
What are the Type equations?
Definition
Type I-best estimate of the relationship between 2 variables

Type 2-individual's positive belief; may not be accurate

Type 3-Individuals normal belief-what a person thinks ought to be and should be true

Type 4-what leads to the beliefs of 2 and 3

Type 5-the consequences of type 2 & 3. What comes from these beliefs.
Term
What do Conflict theories focus on?
Definition
Inequality
Term
What do values include?
Definition
Evaluation of right and wrong
Term
What is ethnocentrism?
Definition
Beliefs that one's culture is superior
Term
What do groups tend to differentiate between?
Definition
Task and socio-emotional leaders
Term
What are gestures and significant gestures?
Definition
Gestures are behaviors an organism emits which calls forth a response from another organism.

Significant gestures have a very definite, unmistakeable meaning.
Term
How would symbolic interactionists define "mind?"
Definition
the covert rehersal of anticipated consequences of possible gestures and based on this rehersal the selection of a particular action of a gesture(thinking of the best way to teach something).
Term
What is entrepreneurship denote?
Definition
The organization of technology, labor, and capital.
Term
What happens in hunter-gatherer societies?
Definition
religion is built primarily around female images
Term
The labeling theory of deviance is part of which theoretical perspective?
Definition
Interactionist
Term
Founding religions in America?
Definition
Protestants cults
Term
What is reciprocity?
Definition
Economy where individuals share resources across disjunct periods of time and maintaining honor motivates exchange relationships
Term
What is the set of sacred beings and forces in a given religion called?
Definition
Pantheon
Term
What is sacred and profane?
Definition
Sacred is more powerful than profane.
Profane-less powerful
Term
What are the three functions of an economy?
Definition
Gather, transform, distribute
Term
What is the "double movement?"
Definition
It is a historical movement when the state becomes more involved in times of hardship and less involved when there is an increase in economy.
It is the idea that as a society gets closer to the ideal market, more havoc is wreaked on the individual.
Term
How did Protestantism contribute to the spirit of capitalism according to Max Weber?
Definition
changing of labor-work redefined
Stress as a problem
Work to alleviate stress
Predestination
"a callin"
Ascetism-simple lives
Term
What readings are examples of conflict theories?
Definition
Sacred Cow
Roughnecks and the Saints
Term
What did Bowles and Gintis believe?
Definition
Conflict theorists-deterministic end of the continuum
American educational system is subordinate to and reflects the class structure of the US
Schools train the wealthy to take up places at the top of the economy while conditioning the poor to accept their lowly status

The structure of the school replicates the division of labo in capitalist economy.
Term
How does the structure of school replicate work according to Bowles and Gintis?
Definition
1. Organization of power
2. Student lack control over curriculum and workers lack control over work
3. Grades and wages-rewards
4. Competition between students/workers
5. Division of education into different disciplines-division of economy into occupations
Term
What did Bourdieu support?
What is cultural capital?
Definition
Midway on the continuum
Cultural capital is general cultural background, knowledge disposition, and skills passed from one generation to the next.
Term
What are the four mechanisms of cultural capital that Bourdieu describes?
Definition
1. Transmission-different cultural capital is transmitted to children of upper and working class

2. Valorization-Education system valorizes (to establish and maintain the price of a commodity by governmental action.
3. Academic achievement-Differential academic achievement leads to better economic outcomes for upper class children once they are adults.
4. Legitimization of Inequality- Education system legitimizes inequality; says that hierarchy of inequality is based on merit.
Term
What is habitus?
Definition
It is lasting transposable dispositions based on past experience
organizes perceptions, appreciations, and actions
it is cultural capital in the individual
attitudes, beliefs, and experiences one has based on the social world one inhabits.
A mediating link between the individual and the social world.

BOYS ASPIRATIONS ARISE FROM THEIR HABITUS IN ANMI.
Term
What does Bernstein believe?
Definition
Focus on differing language patterns acquired based on family socialization.

Restricted codes-working class children

Elaborated codes-middle class children
Term
What is the easy Bourdieu belief?
Definition
Individual agents' practices-> Habitus -> Aspirations
Term
What did Willis believe?
Definition

Meaning system-Ethnographic Attempt is to understand the meaning system of the boys from the perspective of the boys themselves.

participant observation of working class males in British boarding school

Term
What is Giroux's belief?
Definition
Student resistance to school
Ideology and Consciousness understanding should be included in reproduction theory.
Term
What is Social Reproduction Theory?
Definition
a. Analyzes how class structure is reproduced from one generation to the next
i. Example-why are poor at disadvantage in scramble for good jobs?
b. Explores how social relations of capitalist society are reproduced
c. Shows that schools reinforce social inequality while pretending to do opposite
d. Interested in discovering how status or class position is transmitted
Term
What is Social Reproduction?
Definition
the tendency of working class children to end up in working-class occupations
Term
What does deterministic mean?
Definition
Focus on economic structural as most important (Bowles and Gintis)
Term
What are the theories of Social Reproduction?
Definition
1. Deterministic models
2. Autonomous individual models
3. In-Between models
Term
What are Autonomous Individual models?
Definition
Attempt to understand experiences of individuals from their own perspective and a stress on culture.
Term
What are the In-Between SR models?
Definition
Bourdieau, Berstein, and Heath
Term
What is prejudice? Effects?
Definition
beliefs or cultural meanings because he is a member of a particular ethnic group is undesirable
Effects-negative belief or social meaning associated with different ethnic categories.
Term
What is discrimination?
Effects?
Definition
differential treatment of a person based on his ethnicity
Effect-differential behavior to others based on negative social cultural differences
Term
What is the relationship between Prejudice and Discrimination?
Definition
1. All-weather liberal-DOES NOT HOLD PREJUDICES OR DISCRIMINATE

2. Reluctant Liberal-IS NOT PREJUDICED, but MIGHT DISCRIMINATE

3. Timid Bigot-HOLD PREJUDICIAL BELIEFS, but because of social pressures, DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE

All-Weather Bigot-HOLDS PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATES
Term
What does race as a Social Construct include?
Definition
1. Race as biological difference
2. Race as socially constructed
3. Ethnicity as behavioral, cultural, and organizational
4. Ethnicity and race correlated
Term
What is institutionalized discrimination?
Definition
Consistent and pervasive pattern of discrimination
Term
What are part of the dynamics of ethnic stratification?
Definition
Relative Resource of Ethnic Populations-more resources ethnic group has, the more it can fight discrimination

Identifiability of An Ethnic Population-language and religious beliefs can make people targets

Level and Type of Discrimination-Genocide (ethnics are killed off through expulsion); Types of ethnic minorities-lower class

Degree of Threat Posed by an Ethnic Population-can overrun jobs, schools, politics, and housing

Prejudicial Beliefs about an Ethnic Population-People erect negative stereotypes about those who pose, or more typically, are perceived to pose a threat

A Model of Ethnic Antagonism-When people are threatened, they will discriminate; Threat comes from size of the population and its resources
Term
What are the explanations of kinship and what do they mean?
Definition
Sociobiological-As natural selection worked on the ancestors of humans, it forged bonds between men and women that endured. This perspective would emphasize that, in staying together and protecting their chid, parents assured that at least one half of their genes stayed in the gene pool.


Functional Explanation-asks the question of what need or requisite a social structure meets, so what need kinship meets-it is necessary for mating, providing biological support of each newborn and young, then creating stable unit of socialization
Term
What are the Basic elements of kinship?
Definition
1. Marriage rules
2. Descent rules
3. Residence rules
4. Rules of Family Size and Composition
5. Rules on the Division of Labor
6. Rules of Authority
7. Rules of Dissolution
Term
What are Historical trends in the Structure of Kinship?
Definition
From relative Equality-Simple system of Hunters and gatherers, clear division of labor.

Toward Growing Inequality and Patriarchy-horticulture and agrarian economies where KINSHIP IS THE FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT OF BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS.

A Conflict Perspective on Family-differences in power and authority of men and women would creat tensions and CONFLICT
Controlled by beliefs of women's place in the family
Term
What does Kinship in America consist of?
Definition
Basic-division of labor between men and women

Romantic Love and Marriage
Divorce and Dissolution in American Families

Single-Parent Households

Family Violence

An Empty Nest Syndrome?
Term
What are the emerging alternative families?
Definition
1. Gay and lesbians
2. Cohabitation
3. Families without Children
4. Being Single
Term
What is the Future of the Family in America?
Definition
Single-parent houselands may increase
Divorce rates high
More gays >(
More fams without children
Term
What is Stratification?
Definition
General term used to describe a society that distributes income, power, prestige, and other valued resources to its members unequally and creates distinctive classes of members who are culturally, behaviorally, and organizationally different.
Term
What are the properties of stratification?
Definition
Degree-determined by how unequally resources are distributed
Distinctiveness of social classes-how they are
Mobility-how much it occurs between classes
Stability-how permanent classes are
Term
Karl Marx's belief on Stratification
Definition
those who own means of production can control the house of power, cultural symbols, work activities, and lifestyles of others.
Bougeoisie are driven by proleteriat
Term
Max Weber's view on Stratification
Definition
Stratification was multidimensional
Revolved around classes, parties (orgz of power), and status groups
Has charismatic leader-emerges when society-wide conflicts emerge, such as:
-high correlation of membership in classes, parties, and status groups
-Great discontinuity in resources of high and low in groups
-Little change in opportunity for mobility to higher positions
Term
What is the functional theory of stratification?
Definition
Some positions are functionally required

Difficult to fill
Motivation-motivates people to undergo training and sacrifice necessary to do a functionally important skill in society.
Critique-people gain resources by luck, abuse of power, corruption...
Term
How did Bourdieu analyze class in terms of capital?
Definition
There were many types of capital
-Social-connection to other people
-Cultural-level of edu/interpersonal skills
-Economic-material possessions
-Symbolic-ideologies justifying inequality in first 3
Term
What are the three types of classes?
(according to Bourdieu)
Definition
3 basic-dominant, middle-class, lower-class

Each of these as dominant, middle and lower.

Dominant Class-Dom-control of economic resources. Mid(2)-some economic access (has higher education/credentials). Lower(3)-lower access to economic resources/power, but have cultural social access

Middle class-
1-small business owners
2. clerical/technical work
3. Routinized professions-teachers

Lower-class
1. Skilled manufacturer worker
2. Semi-skilled-nor credentials
3. little access to economic, social, and cultural, and symbolic capital
Term
What are the three kinds of inequality?
Definition
Term
Two main types of inequality in the UNITED STATES?
Definition
1.Wealth-20% of Americans have most of the wealth
2. Income
Term
What is the relationship between education and the state?
Definition
Education dramatically expanded with the emergence of state forms of governence.
Governments require adminstrative specialists.
Term
What is the functionalist explanation of education?
Definition
Education emerges and expands to meet the NEEDS of a society for literacy, skill, knowledge, control...
Term
what are the five major consequences(functions) of education?
Definition
1. Cultural storage-written language/education helps us to keep, maintain, and preserve cultural system of a society

2. Cultural Expansion and Change-cultural innovation, research into cultures, edu provides skills to expand a person's culture

3. Socialization-people learn how to participate in formal orgzs, how to live with impersonality, how to subject themselves to evaluations

4. Social Placement-edu assumes much responsibility in determining what economic and social niches people occupy

5. Social Change-edu has power to grip minds of youth, determine what and how they learn, and for what purpose it is used.
Term
What was the conflict perspective of education?
Definition
Marx-education operates to sustain the inequalities inherent in capitalist society-Free education will preserve the existing class structure

Max Weber-school system is a tool for maintaining the cultural differences among individuals
-Groups compete with each other to gain and sustain prestige and social honor and credentials are one of the main focal points of this conflict.

Interactionist view-higher edu credentials are are necessary in an economic system requiring increased skill and expertise. The effects of schools on the motives, self-conception, interpersonal styles, and cultural directives of children is influenced by many of the capacities that children bring with them to school. Labeled "good students" and "bad student" according to willingness and achievement in school.
Term
What are the three levels of education?
Definition
Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education

Multiple track system-secondary schools train people for jobs
Single track-all kids in US must go to Primary and Secondary schools, but within Secondary school are lanes directing students into vocational and college-prep courses
Term
What is the structure of American education?
Definition
Mass education-primary-school-education extends everywhere

Educational Democracy-Mass edu does not mean equal edu. Quality of schools varies. Rural areas have poorer education. FAR FROM COMPLETE DEMOCRACY in the educational system of America

Decentralization-US is least centralized in world. Lower level-individual schools enjoy some autonomy from each other, but are subject to disctrict's authority.Districts have autonomy from state and fedearal adminis. Each state has own educational systems.

Public/Private-Private mainly religious

Home Schooling-reaction against DEFICIENCIES of public schools, will continue to expand =)

Summer Vacation-from harvesting, some schools are year-round
Term
What are the three main parts of higher education in America?
Definition
Scale-US has more colleges thatn any other country in world

Diversity-public/private, community, large and small, liberal arts, non graduate programs

Decentralization-research for funding from governmental orgzs and for sponsors
Term
What are some problems in lower and higher education systems?
Definition

Lower-Stratification

Discispline and violence

Finances

Vouchers and school choice

Declining Standards

 

Higher-Credentialism

Corporatization

Diversity and Equity

Term
What are the indicators of inequality?
Definition
1. Income
2. (wealth)
3. Education
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