Sociological Perspective on Suicide
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Questions and Answers

What theory emphasizes that social behavior requires understanding of subjective meanings?

  • Social constructionism
  • Symbolic interactionism (correct)
  • Queer theory
  • Feminist theory

What did Erving Goffman suggest about social interaction?

  • It is primarily a competitive activity.
  • It is entirely spontaneous and unplanned.
  • It is a carefully staged performance. (correct)
  • It lacks any social rules or norms.

Which theory argues that gender is shaped more by social conditions than an individual’s essence?

  • Queer theory
  • Symbolic interactionism
  • Feminist theory
  • Social constructionism (correct)

What does queer theory argue about sexual identities?

<p>They are unstable and variable. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Harriet Martineau known for in sociology?

<p>Writing about gender inequality and voting rights (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does feminist theory assert about patriarchy?

<p>It is equally crucial as class inequality. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do sociologists believe actual suicide rates are higher than official rates?

<p>Because families seek to minimize their suffering. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did Jane Addams play in sociology?

<p>Facilitator for social research at Hull House (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of concepts in human cultures?

<p>To organize, classify, interpret, and generalize experiences (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Sapir-Whorf thesis?

<p>Language influences how people perceive and think about the world (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the rights revolution signify in society?

<p>The struggle of socially excluded groups for equal rights (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do evolutionary psychologists explain behavior in terms of biological factors?

<p>They link behavior to survival advantages for the human species (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way has the concept of values changed from half a century ago to the present?

<p>Values shifts occur more rapidly, with less widespread agreement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'rationalization' refer to in a sociological context?

<p>The use of efficient means to achieve goals, along with its negative consequences (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement aligns with the belief that culture can be seen as an independent variable?

<p>Culture can initiate changes in social behaviors and structures (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT associated with postmodernism?

<p>Stability in core cultural values (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do norms of solidarity play in relationships?

<p>They focus on the emotional importance of relationships. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of bureaucracies according to Max Weber?

<p>They have clearly defined positions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do social networks affect our perceptions of connections with others?

<p>They show that our acquaintances can provide redundant information. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a social network?

<p>A bounded collection of individuals linked by exchanges. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'groupthink' primarily characterized by?

<p>Pressure to conform despite misgivings. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do primary groups exert more pressure to conform compared to secondary groups?

<p>They share similar attitudes and beliefs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be identified as the elementary form of a network?

<p>A dyad, consisting of two nodes. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of virtual communities differ from traditional communities?

<p>They function independently of time and space. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assertion of conflict theorists regarding deviance and criminal labeling?

<p>Powerful individuals impose labels on those challenging the social order. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Control theory suggests that what factor primarily influences the level of deviance in society?

<p>The availability of rewards for deviant behavior. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does intersectionality contribute to societal outcomes?

<p>It examines how various social categories influence individual experiences. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of internal social control?

<p>To socialize individuals so they view deviance as undesirable. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Foucault suggest about institutions in modern society?

<p>They serve to regulate and shape behavior through strict control. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept does the panopticon illustrate in relation to social control?

<p>Continuous observation can compel individuals to modify their behavior. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a surveillance society?

<p>A society that utilizes surveillance technology to enhance social control. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does external social control primarily involve?

<p>Imposing rewards and punishments to regulate behavior. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of the interaction between audiences and traditional mass media?

<p>Audiences are critical consumers but have limited control over content. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the portrayal of women in TV dramas?

<p>Women are frequently shown in subordinate roles compared to men. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does media imperialism refer to?

<p>The dominance of a single national culture over others in mass media. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What opportunity does the Internet, especially social media, provide to marginalized communities?

<p>It offers them more avenues for artistic and cultural expression. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of net neutrality?

<p>All internet traffic should be treated equally without discrimination. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does advertising function within the realm of the Internet and social media?

<p>It primarily aims to influence consumer behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do algorithms do in the context of the Internet and social media?

<p>They set the rules that guide how problems are solved online. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the relationship between poststructuralism and media, particularly social media?

<p>It highlights the role of media in forming multiple subjective realities. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the men's counter-movement?

<p>Limiting the rights and privileges of women while protecting those of men (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory claims that social movements arise due to major disruptions in traditional norms?

<p>Breakdown theory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does relative deprivation refer to in a social context?

<p>The gap between perceived and actual social rewards (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of solidarity theory?

<p>Mobilizing resources and taking advantage of political opportunities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does union density measure?

<p>The organizational power of unions among non-agricultural workers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'frame alignment' refer to in social movements?

<p>The congruity between individual beliefs and social movement goals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form of citizenship recognizes the right to free speech and religion?

<p>Civil citizenship (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'repertoires of contention' in social movements?

<p>The specific strategies used in protests (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Symbolic Interactionism

A theory focusing on small-scale social interactions, emphasizing the subjective meanings people give to situations.

Social Constructionism

A theory arguing that seemingly natural aspects of life are influenced by social and cultural factors.

Queer Theory

A theory questioning conventional labels of sexuality, emphasizing variability and instability.

Feminist Theory

A theory arguing that gender inequality, alongside class inequality, impacts opportunities. It examines male dominance and female subordination within social structures.

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Erving Goffman

A sociologist known for studying how individuals present themselves in everyday life to appear favorable.

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Harriet Martineau

An early female sociologist who addressed gender inequality and advocated for women's rights.

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Jane Addams

A social reformer who facilitated sociological research by enabling studies using interview methods.

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Suicide Rates

Official suicide statistics are often lower than actual suicide rates because families may try to minimize the problem and stigma.

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Cultural Concepts

Symbols humans use to organize, classify, interpret, and generalize experiences, forming the base of beliefs.

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Cooperation

Human capability enabling complex social life through shared ways of doing things and agreed-upon morals.

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Production

Human capacity to create tools and technology, enhancing our interaction with nature.

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Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Our environment shapes our concepts, language, and how we perceive the world.

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Rights Revolution

Struggle for equal rights and legal protections by marginalized groups in the late 20th century.

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Postmodernism

An era marked by diverse cultural elements, weakening authority, and less shared values.

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Rationalization

Applying the most efficient methods, potentially leading to unexpected negative outcomes.

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Value Shifts

Rapid changes in societal values and beliefs in the 21st century.

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Social Solidarity Norms

Shared ideas about how to behave in relationships to maintain them.

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Bureaucracy

Large, impersonal organization with defined positions, a hierarchy, and salaried experts.

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Social Network

Set of individuals linked by resource exchange, whose patterns define boundaries.

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Social Network Boundary

Limits of who exchanges resources more frequently with members within a network.

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Groupthink

Conformity pressure within a group despite individual doubts.

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Conformity in Groups

The tendency for individuals to adjust their attitudes and behaviours to group norms.

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Primary Groups

Groups with strong social ties, emotional intimacy, and shared attitudes.

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Dyad

A social relationship between two people (or units).

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Conflict Theory & Deviance

Powerful groups label behaviors of less powerful groups as deviant to maintain control and social order.

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Control Theory

People may deviate if they think they can get away with it; strong social control discourages crime and deviance.

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Intersectionality

Different social categories like race, gender, and class intersect to create unique experiences of inequality.

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Social Control

Methods used by society to regulate thoughts, feelings, appearance, and behaviors.

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Internal Social Control

Socialization that shapes individuals to view deviant actions as undesirable.

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External Social Control

Punishments or rewards used to regulate behavior.

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Panopticon

Prison design that allows constant observation without inmates knowing when they are being watched.

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Surveillance Society

A society that uses pervasive technology to control citizens' behavior.

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Relative Deprivation

The feeling of being unfairly deprived of social rewards compared to what you believe you deserve or expect.

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Solidarity Theory

This theory explains how social movements arise by focusing on the factors that help people unite and organize.

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Resource Mobilization

Social movements gain strength when members effectively pool and utilize resources like money, people, and knowledge.

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Political Opportunities

These are situations where the political landscape favors social movements, like elections, instability, or elite divisions.

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Frame Alignment

The process of connecting the goals and values of a social movement to individual interests and beliefs.

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Repertoires of Contention

Historical patterns of protest, including methods people know and expect in different societies.

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Civil Citizenship

The right to basic freedoms like speech, religion, and fair legal treatment.

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Internet Privacy

Internet privacy is defined by the interpretive perspective which analyzes how we understand and define personal information shared online.

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Mass Media vs. Social Media

Traditional mass media, like television and newspapers, often show a one-way flow of information, while social media allows for more interaction and user-generated content, blurring the line between producer and consumer.

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Media Imperialism

Domination of a mass medium by a single national culture, potentially undermining other cultures.

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Algorithms Drive Social Media

Algorithms, which are sets of rules for computers to solve problems, control what we see on social media platforms.

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Net Neutrality

The principle that Internet service providers shouldn't restrict access to any online content.

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Advertising's Influence

Advertising is a powerful tool that influences consumers to buy products and services, and it's a major source of revenue for many internet companies.

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Resistance to Internet Control

Countermovements against Internet control arise, such as opposition to user-based billing, where you pay more for using more internet.

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Internet Democratization

The internet, especially social media, has the potential to make media more democratic, giving more people a voice and a platform for their ideas.

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Study Notes

Sociological Perspective

  • Patterns of social relations encourage or inhibit actions like suicide. More than individual factors influence suicide rates.
  • Social solidarity (shared beliefs and values, frequency of interaction) affects suicide rates. High solidarity groups have lower suicide rates than low solidarity groups.
  • Strong social bonds lower the probability of suicide during adversity.
  • Social structure comprises stable patterns of social relations.
  • Microstructure involves intimate interactions (families, friends, work).
  • Macrostructure encompasses broader patterns (classes, bureaucracies).
  • Global structure includes international relations, worldwide travel and communication.
  • Sociological imagination connects personal troubles to social structures.
  • Scientific Revolution (1550s) emphasized evidence-based conclusions about society.
  • Democratic Revolution (1750s) emphasized societal improvement through human intervention.
  • Industrial Revolution (1780s) involved large-scale application of science and technology to industrial processes, factory creation, and a working class.

Levels of Experience

  • Concrete experience: gained through senses (seeing, touching, tasting, smelling, hearing); lacks inherent meaning.
  • Abstract experience: using concepts to organize concrete experiences; gives meaning to sensations.
  • Concepts: abstract terms organizing concrete experiences.
  • Propositions: relating concepts to form ideas; reside in the realm of the mind; used in sociological ideas.
  • Science includes casual observation and tradition which are often used in everyday life.
  • Authority is another means of knowing and is often used by scientists.
  • Errors in inquiry include overgeneralization, selective observation, and illogical reasoning.

Culture

  • Superstitions translate experiences into meaningful observations for dealing with life challenges.
  • Culture conditions sensory experiences into meaningful ways.
  • High culture is enjoyed by the upper class; popular culture is enjoyed by all classes.
  • Dominant culture rules over others, others resist it.
  • Idiosyncratic symbols, such as concepts, organize feelings.
  • Abstraction allows for generalization, interpretation, and categorization of experiences
  • Cooperation, a key feature of social life, involves shared values and ways of doing things.
  • Cultural concepts organize, classify, and interpret experiences.
  • Production and tools improve our ability to benefit from nature's resources.

Social Interaction

  • Symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level interactions; meanings attached to circumstances.
  • Goffman's theory views social interaction as a staged play.
  • Social constructionism: aspects of life are socially created, not naturally occurring.
  • Social interaction involves exchanging messages instrumental or expressive.
  • McLuhan: transmission methods influence the messages themselves.
  • Mediated interaction uses technology to send/receive messages.
  • Technological determinism assumes that technology influences societal outcomes (inevitable, undesirable effects).
  • Emotional responses can be influenced by social situations, not entirely involuntary.
  • Emotion management: adheres to "feeling rules" based on cultural situations, this may involve "emotion labour".
  • Conflict theory: social interactions involve power imbalances; statuses are hierarchically arranged.
  • Power is embedded in social statuses; uneven distribution of social power.
  • Power and status define roles and interactions accordingly; role distances are employed.

Social Movements

  • Social movements are organized, ongoing efforts to change or resist social change
  • Counter-movements oppose social movements' goals.
  • Examples of social movements include #MeToo, the women's movement and the rights revolution.
  • Causes for social movements may involve absolute deprivation, relative deprivation, solidarity theory (mobilising resources, exploiting opportunities, avoiding social control) Political opportunities.
  • Important factors about social movements include frame alignment, repertoires of contention and social control.

Deviance and Crime

  • Deviance: actions violating norms as defined by others; norms vary socially; social context is important.
  • Laws are norms enforced by governments.
  • Crime constitutes deviance that violates laws.
  • Deviance varies in severity (mild disapproval to capital punishment), harmfulness, and agreement among people about deviance,
  • Social diversions are minor, harmless acts of deviance that do not evoke a significant societal reaction.
  • Social deviations are noncriminal acts people view as harmful.

Media and Society

  • Media is pervasive in the postmodern world via multiple platforms.
  • Mass media affects social interaction (functionalist perspective);
  • Conflict theory shows that dominant groups use media to enhance power, benefit from media ownership, and convey their ideologies.
  • Media is involved in social control, creating a standardized social reality
  • Media bias exists; advertising and sourcing can affect the media; the Internet has allowed for more freedom of expression/control.

Population and Urbanization

  • Demographic transition theory maps how societies transition from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates.
  • Urbanization is the growth of towns and cities as people move from rural areas; mega-cities exist.
  • Urban areas are characterized by high population density; green spaces exist in urban areas; urban heat effects occur.
  • Climate change and industrialisation affect urbanization in many ways; social factors correlate with trends and changes.

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This quiz explores the sociological perspectives on suicide, focusing on how social relations impact individual actions. It examines concepts such as social solidarity, structure, and the role of the sociological imagination in understanding personal troubles. Test your knowledge of the theories that link social patterns to rates of suicide.

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