Untitled Quiz

Sociology is the study of modern human societies
Society is the largest group, a definite and distinct entity, defined by:
- A definite territory (geographic location)
- Sexual reproduction (relatively self-sustaining and independent)
- Comprehensive and common culture
- Interdependence between its different parts (organized relationships)
A group is two or more people who form an interactional system, and share a feeling of unity
A society has demands and needs to meet, and problems to solve to survive
The four functional problems of any social system are:
- Adaptation (making a living from the environment)
- Goal attainment (achieving goals; peace and order)
- Integration (holding different parts of the system together)
- Latent pattern maintenance (replacing worn-out parts; norms)
Social institutions exist to meet these functional problems

An institution is an organization with definite systems of interactions, bureaucracy, and boundaries
Social institutions are vital to any society and its culture, dealing with basic social organization and universal social issues
Social institutions involve systems of social relations, values and procedures to meet society's needs
They're composed of people interacting to form social relationships and the patterns of interactions.
Social institutions perform universal and vital tasks for social survival

These vital tasks include:
- Producing new members
- Producing and distributing life necessities
- Maintaining peace and order
- Providing a sense of purpose to life

Family is expected to meet individual and societal needs
Three key sociological concerns of family study
- Organization, structure, and functions of families
- How the family is sustained and modified over time
- Interrelationship of families with other institutions and how relationships are formed and change
Definitions of family are complex but generally include: common residence, economic cooperation, reproduction, and socially approved sexual relationships between adults
Various forms of family structures
- Nuclear Family: two adults and their children
- Extended Family: multiple generations living together
- Polygamous Family: one person with multiple spouses (polygyny for men, polyandry for women).
Differences exist between nuclear and extended family structures

Additional forms, such as
- Single parent families
- Dual-career families
- Reconstructed families
Patriarchy, matriarchy, and equalitarian are different ways the power relations can be organized within families

Religion is a cultural universal
Religion exists across all societies with a significant influence
Three central concerns for the sociology of religion
- The interaction between religion and society
- The social function and significance of religion within society
- The diversity of religion and the social factors influencing its variations

Education plays a role in a society's socialization process, transmitting norms, values, and behaviors
Sociology of education studies processes within educational systems
Study focuses on:
- Interrelation between the education system and other social and cultural systems, and how education is shaped by these systems
- The role of education in social and cultural changes and in maintaining existing systems
- The organizational processes and interactions within the school system as a social subsystem
Types of educational subcultures include:
- Collegiate
- Vocational
- Academic
- Nonconformist
Education inequalities exist based on various factors
- Socioeconomic background
- Gender
- Geography
- Cultural values

Politics involves relationships between individuals and groups with power differences
It's the exercise, distribution and organisation of power within a given society
Political sociology examines the intersection between politics and society
Key aspects:
- The relationship between politics and society, and interrelationships between governmental and other institutions
- Origins and types of political theories
- Study of distribution and exercise of power
- Structure of political processes
Historical development of political thought, from Greek thinkers (e.g., Plato, Aristotle) to more recent thinkers such as Machiavelli and Hobbes.

Comparing different theoretical approaches to political thought and power
- Elitism
- Pluralism
Detailed descriptions for each of theoretical approach
- The impact of a political system on the society
- Factors contributing to political stability and change
- The nature and structure of political processes