100 Sociological Concepts Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is socialism?

An economic system where the means of production are publicly owned (correct)

A form of government with a monarch

A political theory advocating for anarchy

An economic system where the means of production are privately owned

What is a nation-state?

The modern state with a sovereign government and a defined territorial area.

What is defined as the ability to achieve aims despite opposition?

Authority

Power (correct)

Politics

Socialism

What does authority refer to?

Power perceived as legitimate by others. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of authority is based on legal rationality?

Rational-legal authority Signup and view all the answers

Define gentrification.

The renovation of poor urban neighborhoods and the displacement of original residents. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Malthusian theory emphasize?

Population growth may outpace food supply Signup and view all the answers

What is demography?

The scientific study of human populations. Signup and view all the answers

What does absolute deprivation refer to?

Lack of resources for survival Signup and view all the answers

What is environmental racism?

Inequality linked with environmental factors disproportionately affecting minority communities. Signup and view all the answers

The term ______ refers to the systematic study of society's groups.

sociology Signup and view all the answers

What is modernization?

The transition from traditional societies to industrialized capitalist societies. Signup and view all the answers

What is secularization?

The historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and sacred. Signup and view all the answers

What is the independent variable?

The cause of the dependent variable Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependent variable?

Variable to be explained Signup and view all the answers

What defines a random sample?

Everyone in the group has an equal chance of being included Signup and view all the answers

What is a control variable?

An additional variable considered in a bivariate relationship Signup and view all the answers

Define hypothesis.

A tentative answer to a research problem Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnocentrism?

Belief that my group's ways are right and others' are wrong Signup and view all the answers

What does deviance refer to?

Behavior that departs from the social norm Signup and view all the answers

Define crime.

An act deemed socially harmful or dangerous Signup and view all the answers

What are white-collar crimes?

Crimes committed by executives as part of their job Signup and view all the answers

What is corporate crime?

Willful violation of laws by powerful institutions Signup and view all the answers

Define organized crime.

Illegal activities for profit through illegitimate business Signup and view all the answers

What does social stratification mean?

A system that ranks categories of people hierarchically Signup and view all the answers

Define class.

Arrangement of individuals in society based on wealth and occupation Signup and view all the answers

What is caste?

Complex social system combining occupation and hierarchy Signup and view all the answers

What does SES stand for?

Socioeconomic status Signup and view all the answers

Define class consciousness.

Beliefs regarding one's social class in society Signup and view all the answers

What is false consciousness?

Misleading perceptions of class relations in capitalist society Signup and view all the answers

Define meritocracy.

System where appointments are based on individual merits Signup and view all the answers

What are life chances?

Opportunities to improve quality of life Signup and view all the answers

Define horizontal mobility.

Need definition Signup and view all the answers

What does vertical mobility refer to?

Movement up or down a status hierarchy Signup and view all the answers

What is structural mobility?

Forced vertical mobility due to societal changes Signup and view all the answers

Define absolute poverty.

Minimal requirements for food, clothing, and shelter Signup and view all the answers

What is relative deprivation?

Feeling deprived compared to others Signup and view all the answers

What does absolute deprivation mean?

Lack of necessities relative to a fixed standard Signup and view all the answers

Define global stratification.

Uneven distribution of privileges and resources Signup and view all the answers

What is colonialism?

Establishment and expansion of colonies Signup and view all the answers

Define neocolonialism.

Using capitalism and globalization to control a country Signup and view all the answers

What are world systems?

Unit of social analysis in terms of international labor division Signup and view all the answers

Define race.

Categorization of people into different racial groups Signup and view all the answers

What does ethnicity refer to?

Common heritage and cultural identification Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic ethnicity?

Cultural practices displayed outside their original setting Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Economic Systems

Socialism: An economic system characterized by public ownership of production and distribution of goods and services.
Capitalism: Based on private ownership, market competition, and profit pursuit.

Political Structures

Nation-state: A sovereign governmental entity defined by territorial boundaries with a population composed of citizens.
Authoritarianism: A political organization where authority is concentrated in a small group, often opposing individual autonomy.
Monarchy: A state led by a monarch, ruling typically for life and through hereditary right.

Power and Authority

Power: The capacity to pursue and achieve goals in opposition to others.
Authority: Legitimized power recognized by others.
Marx's Classification of Authority:
- Rational-legal authority: Legitimacy based on legal frameworks and bureaucracy; typical in modern states.
- Charismatic authority: Derived from a leader's extraordinary personal attributes, fostering loyalty among followers.
- Traditional authority: Rooted in historical conventions and customs.

Urbanization: The trend of increasing population concentration in urban areas.
Gentrification: The process of wealthier individuals revitalizing and displacing existing low-income residents in urban neighborhoods.

Demographic Measures

Demography: The scientific study of populations, focusing on fertility, mortality, and migration patterns.
Fertility: The average number of live born children per woman.
Fecundity: The potential number of children a woman can biologically produce.
Infant mortality rate: The occurrence of infant deaths per thousand live births, with rates declining in industrial societies.
Life expectancy: Average years a newborn is expected to live in a specific society.
Sex ratio: The ratio of males to females per 100 females, influencing social aspects like marriage and labor.

Theories of Population

Malthusian theory: Suggests population growth outstrips food supply, leading to poverty and starvation, regulated by natural disasters or moral restraint.

Family: A universal social institution for cooperation and care, often involving children.
Kinship: Social bonds formed through ancestry, marriage, or adoption.
Marriage: A legal relationship involving economic cooperation and childbearing.
Cohabitation: Unmarried couples sharing a household.

Religion and Beliefs

Religion: A social institution centered on sacred beliefs and practices.
Secularization Thesis: Proposes that religion declines in importance with modernization, though the U.S. remains an exception.

Education and Learning

Education: Institution providing knowledge including cultural norms and job skills.
Hidden Curriculum: Informal teachings that instill societal values beyond academic education.

Social change: A continuous process impacting societal structure and norms.
Social movement: Organized efforts to promote or resist significant societal changes.

Sociological Concepts

Gemeinschaft: Community characterized by close emotional ties and traditions.
Gesellschaft: Society marked by impersonal relationships and industrial life.
Social Facts: Norms and values external to individuals that constrain behavior.

Key Theorists

Emile Durkheim: Focused on social solidarity and cohesion in modern society, highlighting the role of shared values.
Max Weber: Examined religion's influence on rationalization and social change, coining the term "verstehen."
Karl Marx: Analyzed capitalism's exploitative nature, predicting the proletariat's rise against the bourgeoisie.

Deviance and Crime

Deviance: Behavior diverging from societal norms; not always criminal.
Crime: Deemed socially harmful actions, defined and punishable by law.
White-collar crime: Crimes committed within corporate roles, such as fraud or negligence.
Corporate crime: Institutions violating laws for social harm or neglecting social responsibility.

Research and Methodology

Hypothesis: A provisional answer to a research query.
Random Sample: A sampling method ensuring equal inclusion chances in research.
Independent/Dependent Variables: Independent variables are the cause; dependent variables are the effect.### Social Stratification and Class Systems
Social stratification ranks people hierarchically based on socio-economic conditions, influencing life opportunities.
Class refers to an individual's social standing, typically determined by material wealth and occupation.
Caste is an intricate social system combining occupation, social class, identity, hierarchy, and power dynamics.

Socio-Economic Status (SES)

SES is a comprehensive measure of an individual's or family's economic and social position relative to others, assessed through income, education, and occupation.

Consciousness and Awareness

Class consciousness involves an individual's beliefs regarding their social class, economic rank, and common class interests.
False consciousness describes how capitalist structures mislead the proletariat, obscuring true class relations.

Meritocracy signifies a system where roles are allocated based on individual merits such as intelligence and education.
Life chances is a term introduced by Max Weber, outlining an individual's opportunities to improve quality of life.
Horizontal mobility refers to the movement within the same social layer, while vertical mobility indicates movement upwards or downwards in the social hierarchy.
Structural mobility arises from societal shifts affecting the distribution of status, independent of individual efforts.

Poverty and Deprivation

Absolute poverty defines the threshold of basic necessities for survival, such as food, clothing, health care, and shelter.
Relative deprivation refers to the discontent felt when comparing oneself to others and recognizing one's lack of entitlements.
Absolute deprivation is the failure to meet absolute essential needs according to a fixed standard.

Global Dynamics of Stratification

Global stratification highlights the uneven distribution of privileges, materials, and power among global populations.
Colonialism involves the control and restructuring of a territory by outsiders, often resulting in significant changes to local systems.
Neocolonialism uses economic and cultural influences to maintain control over a nation, often harming local cultures through dominance.

World Systems Theory

The world-systems approach focuses on an international division of labor, categorizing countries into core (high-skill production) and periphery (labor-intensive production), which reinforces core dominance.

Race and Ethnicity

Race categorizes people based on perceived physical differences, though these classifications are socially constructed rather than strictly biological.
Ethnicity reflects shared cultural heritage, including language, culture, religion, and ideology.
Symbolic ethnicity represents cultural traits removed from their original contexts, often showcased in festivals or public celebrations, promoting communal identity.

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Test your knowledge with these 100 flashcards on sociological concepts. From socialism to nation-states, deepen your understanding of important terms and definitions in sociology. Ideal for students and enthusiasts looking to enhance their grasp of social sciences.