Sociology

Marxist Model

• A socio-economic and political worldview based on materialist interpretation of history.
• Emphasizes dialectical social transformation and analysis of class relations and conflict.
• Major criticism targets the overemphasis on economic class for explaining historical trends.

Sanction

• Defined as a reward for conformity or a punishment for nonconformity.
• Reinforces behaviors that are socially approved.

Institution

• Structured mechanisms governing behavior within a community.
• Facilitates social order and cooperation among individuals.

Kinship

• Network of social relationships linked by common ancestry, marriage, or adoption.

Subculture

• A group with distinct values, norms, and lifestyles within a broader society.

Community

• A collective of individuals sharing a common identity, interacting on a sustained basis.

Social Control

• Pepinsky: Chinese communists use group manipulation of guilt and shame as an effective form of social control.

Bureaucracy

• A formal organization featuring a clear authority hierarchy and written procedural rules.
• Staffed by salaried officials focused on efficient goal attainment.

Religion

• Primary function is to establish orderly relationships between individuals and their surroundings.

Primary vs. Secondary Groups

• Primary groups are small, with close, enduring relationships.
• Secondary groups involve less personal interaction, characterized by temporary roles.

Fascist System

• A radical authoritarian nationalism aiming to unify through totalitarian state.
• Views political violence, war, and imperialism as valid methods for national rejuvenation.

Caste System vs Class System

• Caste system involves hereditary status, lifestyle, and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity.
• Class system categorizes people into upper, middle, and lower classes based on socio-economic factors.

Stereotypes

• Rigid, inflexible perceptions of group characteristics, leading to interactions based on preconceived notions.

Discovery

• Refers to the initial awareness of previously unobserved elements of nature.

Paranormal Concepts

• Clairvoyance: Gaining information through means beyond known senses.
• Psychokinesis: Moving objects solely through mental effort.
• Precognition: Foreknowledge of future events.
• Telepathy: Communication of thoughts without known senses.

Psychological Concepts

• Fixation and Identification: Freud's concepts regarding attachment and assimilation of attributes from others.
• Repression: Excluding desires from consciousness to manage impulses.
• Regression: Reversion to earlier development stages when facing unacceptable impulses.

Perception

• Illusion: Distortion of senses; reveals how the brain processes stimuli.
• Hallucination: Perception without external stimuli.
• Auditory and Eidetic Imagery: Mental organization of sounds and mental pictures, respectively.

Mood Disorders

• Affective disorders involve mood elevation or depression.
• Panic reactions lead to overwhelming fear or anxiety causing personality disorganization.

Gestalt Principles of Perception

• Proximity, Continuation, Closure, Common Fate, and Similarity influence how we perceive grouped objects.

Parenting and Impulse

• A loving and consistent parent fosters competence and self-reliance in children.
• Human impulses often conflict with societal moral standards, notably related to sex and aggression.

Attention and Learning

• Selective attention enhances focus on particular stimuli while filtering others.
• Sensory adaptation and Just Noticeable Difference pertain to perception and responsiveness over time.

Learning Theories

• Roger’s Self Theory advocates for self-actualization and situational perception in behavior.
• Negative transfer refers to interference with learning due to prior experiences.

Conditioning and Phobias

• Operant conditioning involves reinforcing specific responses.
• Classical conditioning pairs stimuli to evoke responses.
• Phobias are irrational fears or aversions.

Psychological Mechanisms

• Desensitization reduces sensitivity to stimuli, while Modeling allows learning through observation.
• Diffusion of responsibility affects individual accountability in group settings.

Research Challenges

• Experimental research faces issues like Demand characteristics, Hawthorne effect, and Halo effect.
• Demand characteristics lead participants to alter behavior based on perceived purpose of study.

Therapy Approaches

• Gestalt therapy focuses on insight and resolving past conflicts, often through role play.
• Reality therapy emphasizes realism and personal responsibility.
• Psychoanalysis seeks to uncover unconscious conflicts and fears.

Other Therapy Types

• Behavior therapy modifies reactions to stimuli through training.
• Client-centered therapy gives the client control over session focus.
• Rational emotive therapy addresses emotional issues to promote a fulfilling life.

Psychological Defense Mechanisms

• Projection involves attributing unacceptable traits to others.
• Suppression consciously excludes painful thoughts or memories.

Motivation and Needs

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs categorizes human motivation from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Explore the fundamental concepts of the Marxist model, focusing on its socio-economic and political worldview. This quiz delves into historical materialism, class relations, and the implications of sanctions and institutions in society. Test your understanding of the criticisms and applications of Marxist theory.