Social Stratification and Mobility

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes the response of 'Innovators' in Merton's Strain Theory?

They accept both societal goals and the means to achieve them.

They create new means to achieve societal goals. (correct)

They completely reject societal goals.

They withdraw from societal expectations.

Which concept refers to the discrediting societal labels can impose on individuals?

Secondary Deviance

Retreatism

Stigma (correct)

Primary Deviance

How does Bruce Western's research contribute to discussions on deviance?

It suggests that laws equally criminalize all demographics.

It supports the notion that punishment deters all deviant behavior.

It promotes the idea that deviance is purely a personal choice.

It highlights systemic inequalities in incarceration rates. (correct)

Which response to deviance is focused on reforming offenders rather than punishing them?

Rehabilitation Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates 'Occupational Crime' from 'Organizational Crime'?

Occupational Crime is committed for personal gain, while Organizational Crime is committed for profit by organizations. Signup and view all the answers

What does social stratification primarily reflect?

The distribution of resources and power in society Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the ability to move within the social hierarchy?

Social mobility Signup and view all the answers

Which system is characterized by a rigid social hierarchy based on ascription?

Caste system Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the class system from the caste system?

Class systems allow movement based on economic factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes the belief that success is achieved through individual effort and talent?

Meritocracy Signup and view all the answers

Which type of poverty is characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs?

Absolute poverty Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is included in Pierre Bourdieu’s types of capital?

Cultural capital Signup and view all the answers

Max Weber emphasized which additional dimensions of social stratification besides class?

Prestige and power Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of capitalism?

Minimal government intervention Signup and view all the answers

Which type of group is characterized by close, intimate relationships?

Primary Group Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of a coercive organization?

Forced participation in its activities Signup and view all the answers

How does Simmel’s concept of a triad differ from a dyad in group dynamics?

Increased complexity and coalition potential Signup and view all the answers

What does Weber’s Iron Cage metaphor suggest about rationalization?

It can trap individuals in dehumanizing systems Signup and view all the answers

Which leadership type is primarily concerned with task-oriented goals?

Instrumental Leader Signup and view all the answers

What do internal controls in social control mechanisms primarily rely on?

Personal conscience and internalized norms Signup and view all the answers

What principle is NOT part of McDonaldization?

Empowerment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The unequal distribution of resources, power and prestige within a society, forming social layers or strata.
Reflects social structures, not individual attributes.
Persists over generations, influencing individual opportunities and life outcomes.
Shaped by cultural beliefs, like the U.S.'s emphasis on meritocracy versus India's caste system.

Caste System

Rigid social hierarchy based on ascription, often determined by birth.
Example: The Hindu caste system.

Class System

More flexible than caste systems.
Based on achievement and economic factors, allowing for social mobility.

Meritocracy

Belief that success is achieved through individual effort and talent, not by social class.

The process of distinguishing individuals based on characteristics like race and gender.

The ability to move within the social hierarchy.
Intergenerational mobility: Changes in social status across generations.
Intragenerational mobility: Changes in social status within a single generation.

Plutocracy

Government rule by the wealthy elite.

Max Weber’s Perspective

Places importance on social status and power in addition to class and economic wealth.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Composite measure of an individual's economic and social position.

Pierre Bourdieu's Theory

Types of Capital:
- Economic Capital: Financial assets and resources.
- Social Capital: Networks of relationships and social connections.
- Cultural Capital: Knowledge, skills, and education.
- Symbolic Capital: Recognition and prestige derived from other forms of capital.

Class Structure

Class Divisions:
- Upper Class:
  - Upper Upper: Established wealth.
  - Lower Upper: Newly wealthy (e.g., corporate leaders).
- Middle Class:
  - Upper Middle: Professionals and managers.
  - Average Middle: Average income earners.
  - Working Class: Skilled and unskilled laborers.
- Lower Class: Individuals living in poverty.
  - Relative Poverty: Poverty in comparison to the living standards of the majority.
  - Absolute Poverty: Severe deprivation of basic human needs.

Economic Systems

Industrialism vs. Post-Industrialism:
- Industrialism: Characterized by factory-based labor.
- Post-Industrialism: Shift to a service-oriented economy.
Economic Models:
- Capitalism: Private ownership of the means of production, market forces dictate economic activity.
  - Laissez-Faire Economics: Minimal government intervention in the economy.
- Socialism: Collective ownership of the means of production, state-directed economic activity.

Collections of individuals who interact and develop a sense of togetherness.
Key Dimensions:
- Level of Affinity: Degree of personal connection.
- Primary Group: Close, intimate relationships (e.g., family).
- Secondary Group: Larger, more impersonal groups (e.g., workplace).

Group Dynamics

In-Group vs. Out-Group: Groups to which one belongs vs. those to which one does not.
Simmel’s Dyad vs. Triad: The transition from two-person to three-person groups increases complexity, reduces intimacy, and enhances coalition potential.

Leadership Types

Instrumental Leader: Focuses on task-oriented goals.
Expressive Leader: Prioritizes group cohesion and morale.

Organizations

Types of Organizations:
- Utilitarian: Goal-oriented (e.g., businesses).
- Normative: Value-based (e.g., nonprofit organizations).
- Coercive: Forced participation (e.g., prisons).

Bureaucracy

Characteristics:
- Impersonality, hierarchy, specialization.
- Bureaucratic Alienation: Individuals feel disconnected in bureaucratic settings.
- Bureaucratic Ritualism: Excessive adherence to rules hinders organizational goals.

McDonaldization

Principles:
- Efficiency: Streamlining processes.
- Calculability: Emphasis on quantifiable outcomes.
- Predictability: Standardized services and products.
- Control: Over people and resources.

Weber’s Iron Cage

The idea that rationalization can lead to dehumanizing structures, trapping individuals in systems that prioritize efficiency over personal agency.

Deviance

Violation of cultural norms, not always codified into law.
Crime: Deviance that is formally enacted into law.

Internal Controls: Personal conscience and internalized norms.
External Controls: Social sanctions and laws.

Explanations of Deviance

Biological Accounts: Suggests genetics influence deviance, though insufficient to explain all behaviors.
Psychological Accounts: Focus on mental health and behavior, often with vague definitions.
Social Accounts: Examines societal context and power dynamics in defining deviance.

Theories of Deviance

Merton’s Strain Theory: Addresses the relationship between societal goals and means, categorizing responses:
- Innovators: Create new means to achieve goals.
- Conformists: Accept means and goals.
- Ritualists: Reject goals but accept means.
- Rebels: Reject both means and goals.
- Retreatists: Withdraw from societal expectations.

Labeling Theory

Focuses on how labels affect identity and behavior:
- Primary vs. Secondary Deviance: Initial acts of deviance vs. identity shaped by societal labels.
- Stigma: Social discrediting based on deviant labels.

Bruce Western’s Research

Highlights disparities in incarceration rates among young black males, suggesting systemic inequalities:
- Laws disproportionately criminalize the poor.
- Increased visibility and scrutiny of street deviance.

Responses to Deviance

Retribution: Punishment as a form of societal revenge.
Incapacitation: Removing offenders from society to prevent future crime.
Rehabilitation: Aiming to reform offenders.
Deterrence: Discouraging future crime through the threat of punishment.

White Collar Crime

Definitions:
- Occupational Crime: Committed by individuals for personal gain.
- Organizational Crime: Committed by organizations for profit.

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Description

Explore the concepts of social stratification, caste and class systems, and the influence of meritocracy on individual opportunity. This quiz examines how social structures impact life outcomes, highlighting the differences between rigid and flexible social hierarchies. Test your understanding of social differentiation and mobility trends.