Sociology Exam 2 Study Guide

Socialization

• Socialization is the process of learning and internalizing the norms, values, and roles necessary to become a functioning member of society.
• Key agents of socialization include family, schools, peers, and mass media, each playing a significant role, especially during childhood.

Life Course

• The life course framework connects personal attributes and roles to life events, considering social and historical contexts influencing these events.

Gender Socialization

• Gender socialization involves societal expectations regarding behaviors, interests, and appearances of boys and girls, often reinforced by family, media, and educational systems.

Resocialization

• Resocialization occurs when an individual sheds old behaviors and adopts new ones, often experienced when transitioning to environments like senior care facilities, boarding schools, or prisons.

Total Institutions

• Total institutions, such as prisons or military environments, control all aspects of life for their inhabitants, necessitating complete resocialization.

Cognitive Development

• Jean Piaget’s theory outlines cognitive development in four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational, indicating progressive cognitive abilities.

Cooley's "Looking Glass Self"

• The concept of the "looking glass self" explains that self-image is developed through the perceptions and interpretations of how others see us.

Anticipatory Socialization

• This involves preparing for future roles, such as couples cohabitating before marriage or new parents preparing for a child's arrival.

Symbols

• Symbols are objects or representations that stand for broader concepts or ideas, often serving as a medium for communication in society.

Degradation Ceremony

• This process involves new members losing their old identity and being assigned a new one, which can vary in approach from brutal to gentle.

Nature vs. Nurture

• Nature refers to genetic influences on development, while nurture encompasses the role of social environments in shaping behaviors and attitudes.

Moral Development

• This framework explains how individuals learn societal definitions of right and wrong, influenced by various socialization agents.

Agents of Socialization

• Key groups influencing socialization include family (most significant), educational institutions, peer groups, and media.

Group Dynamics

• Examines the interactions between individuals and how these interactions shape group behavior and influence individual actions.

Groupthink

• A psychological phenomenon where the desire for conformity within a group leads to irrational or dysfunctional decision-making.

Bureaucracies

• Defined by clear hierarchies, division of labor, and formal rules, bureaucracies are structured environments that execute laws and policies in a consistent manner.

Voluntary Associations

• Organizations formed based on shared interests where membership is voluntary and often offers intangible rewards.

Primary and Secondary Groups

• Primary groups are small, long-term, and personal (e.g., family, close friends), while secondary groups are larger, goal-oriented, and less personal (e.g., co-workers, classmates).

Social Control

• Encompasses both formal (policing, legal systems) and informal (gossip, peer pressure) mechanisms to ensure compliance with societal norms.

Deviance

• Deviance refers to behaviors that violate social norms, varying significantly between cultures and contexts, and encompasses both formal and informal violations.

Labeling Theory

• Suggests that deviance is not inherently a behavior but is defined by societal reactions, often leading to stigmatization.

Social Inequality

• A condition where different social groups have unequal access to resources, opportunities, and privileges, often perpetuated by systemic structures.

Stratification and Social Mobility

• Social stratification categorizes societies into hierarchies based on wealth and power, affecting social mobility, which can be upward or downward.

Poverty Types

• Relative poverty is based on societal standards, while absolute poverty denotes a threshold of subsistence below which survival is threatened.

Global Issues

• Concepts such as globalization, global inequality, and technological diffusion reflect interconnections and disparities in wealth, resources, and access across regions and populations.

Stereotypes and Stigma

• Stereotypes involve oversimplified perceptions of groups, whereas stigma refers to the disgrace attached to certain qualities or circumstances, influencing social interactions.

Conclusion

• Understanding the various aspects of socialization, group dynamics, and societal constructs provides insight into human behavior and interpersonal relationships within the context of broader social systems.### The Role of Socialization
• Socialization introduces individuals to societal norms and prepares them for group participation.
• Starts in childhood within the family and extends through education settings.
• Essential for understanding societal expectations and becoming full members of society.
• Adults also engage in socialization when entering new social groups.
• Transmits norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors to future members of society.

Characteristics of Total Institutions

• Defined by Erving Goffman as organizations separate from mainstream society.
• Residents share similar traits and often adhere to uniform dress and behavior.
• Examples include boarding schools, orphanages, military organizations, juvenile detentions, and prisons.
• Characterized by the total control exerted over members, reducing personal independence.
• Serve various functions, such as caring for individuals or protecting society against threats.

Globalization

• Recognized as a significant challenge, especially for companies in North America, Europe, and Japan.
• Companies face difficulties in navigating international strategies and emerging markets.
• Emergence of "institutional voids" hampers multinational companies' success in developing nations.
• Businesses can benefit from lower labor costs in less developed countries due to cheaper competent staff.
• Developing nations have seen rapid growth in markets, necessitating Western companies to adapt strategies.

Reasons for Extreme Poverty and Social Inequality

• Wealth concentration exists in affluent nations, limiting opportunities for poorer countries.
• Functionalist perspective views inequality as serving social purposes, with some nations excelling in technology and globalization.
• Critical sociology highlights the exploitation of peripheral nations by core nations, often through offshoring.
• Symbolic interactionism focuses on the subjective experiences and definitions of poverty in different contexts.

Impact of Social Class on Life Chances

• Social class significantly influences numerous aspects of life, including health, education, and family dynamics.
• Defined by wealth, income, education, occupation, and social networks.
• Higher socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with better access to healthcare, education, and political influence.
• Individuals from the upper class benefit from influential social networks that enhance life opportunities.

Explanations of Poverty in the United States

• Individual explanations attribute poverty to personal shortcomings such as lack of work ethic or education.
• Structural explanations emphasize barriers within the economic system that perpetuate poverty, like inadequate schooling or healthcare access.
• Right-wing views promote the idea that addressing individual flaws can eradicate poverty, while left-wing perspectives argue for systemic changes to reduce poverty incidence.

Prepare for your Sociology Exam 2 with this comprehensive study guide covering key concepts like socialization, life course, and gender socialization. Use these flashcards to reinforce your understanding of the processes that shape individuals within society.