Sociology Test #1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who are the 'Nacirema'?

The 'Nacirema' are defined in McIntyre as a tribe of people living between Canada and Mexico who have bizarre ritual patterns that are centered around the belief that their bodies are ugly and how sadistic witches teach them ways to better their bodies and purify themselves.

What was the article 'Body Ritual Among the Nacirema' about?

The article explained the strange rituals of the Nacirema, such as women baking their heads and faces and people sticking needles into other people.

What is sociology?

The scientific study of human societies and social interactions.

What is meant by 'science' and what are its goals?

The application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge; explain, generalize, and predict. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'social science'?

An attempt to objectively understand the social world. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'sociological perspective'?

An approach to understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'sociological imagination'?

The relationship between individual experiences and forces in the larger society that shape our actions. Signup and view all the answers

What are personal troubles?

Private matters involving individuals' personal characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What are public issues?

These occur at the societal level and often have nothing to do with individual shortcomings. Signup and view all the answers

What is a society?

A group of people who share a culture and a territory. Signup and view all the answers

What is culture?

All that humans learn to do, to use, to produce, to know, and to believe as they live in a social group. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main factors that contributed to the rise of sociology?

Social upheaval in Europe, expansion of imperialism, and the success of natural sciences. Signup and view all the answers

What is positivism?

The application of the scientific approach to the social world. Signup and view all the answers

Who was August Comte and what did he contribute to sociology?

Considered the founder of sociology; studied social statics and dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Karl Marx and what did he contribute to sociology?

Contributed to Conflict Theory and discussed class conflict or struggle. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Herbert Spencer and what did he contribute to sociology?

Compared society to organisms and incorporated the idea of Social Darwinism. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Emile Durkheim and what did he contribute to sociology?

Believed people are the product of their social environment; studied social integration and suicide. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Max Weber and what did he contribute to sociology?

Used the term 'Verstehen' and emphasized sympathetic understanding. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Harriet Martineau and what did she contribute to sociology?

The first woman sociologist; translated Comte's works into English. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Jane Addams and what did she contribute to sociology?

Focused on social justice and founded Hull House. Signup and view all the answers

Who was W.E.B. Du Bois and what did he contribute to sociology?

First African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard; published over 2,000 works. Signup and view all the answers

What is functionalism and what are its criticisms?

Views society as a system of interrelated parts that operate harmoniously; criticized for difficulty in accounting for change. Signup and view all the answers

What is a teleology and why has functionalism been criticized as a 'teleological' argument?

A circular argument; such as crime playing a functional role because it exists. Signup and view all the answers

What is conflict theory and what are its criticisms?

Sees society as constantly changing due to social inequality; criticized for failing to address social stability. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic interactionism and what are its criticisms?

Focuses on how individuals interpret their social world; criticized for not accounting for larger societal elements. Signup and view all the answers

What is macro-level analysis?

Concerned with large-scale patterns that characterize society as a whole. Signup and view all the answers

What is micro-level analysis?

Concerned with small-scale patterns of social interaction in specific settings. Signup and view all the answers

What is an empirical question? Give an example.

Questions that can be answered by observing the world (e.g., popular foods in the cafeteria). Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A testable statement about the expected relationship between two or more variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is a variable?

Something that can change or be different from case to case. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example identifying independent and dependent variables.

Protestants are more likely than Catholics to vote Democrat; independent variable is religion and dependent variable is voting likelihood. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps of the research process?

<ol> <li>Select a topic, 2. Define the problem, 3. Review previous research, 4. Develop hypotheses, 5. Determine research design, 6. Define sample and collect data, 7. Analyze results, 8. Prepare research report.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is a sample and why do we use them?

A subset of the population; they save time, money, and resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is reliability?

The extent to which a study can be reproduced and yield consistent results. Signup and view all the answers

What is validity?

The extent to which a study tests what it was designed to test. Signup and view all the answers

What is material culture?

All the objects people make and/or use that distinguish a group of people. Signup and view all the answers

What is non-material culture?

A group's way of thinking and doing. Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnocentrism?

The use of one's own culture as a yardstick for judging the practices of another culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural relativism?

Understanding people by the standards of their own culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'culture shock'?

Disorientation that people experience when they encounter a very different culture. Signup and view all the answers

What are symbols?

Something to which people attach meaning and use to communicate with each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is language?

A system of symbols with standard meanings. Signup and view all the answers

What are gestures?

Non-verbal ways people use their bodies to communicate. Signup and view all the answers

What are values?

Standards by which groups define attributes as good or bad. Signup and view all the answers

What are norms?

Expectations or 'rules' of social behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What are sanctions and what are the different types?

Expressions of approval or disapproval for upholding or violating norms; types include positive/informal, positive/formal, negative/informal, and negative/formal. Signup and view all the answers

What are folkways?

Norms that are not strictly enforced. Signup and view all the answers

What are mores?

Norms that are strictly enforced because they are essential to maintaining values. Signup and view all the answers

What is taboo?

Norms that are so strong that violation brings revulsion. Signup and view all the answers

True or False: Nothing about culture is inherently 'correct' or 'normal.'

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Sapir-Whorf'/linguistic relativity hypothesis?

We know/understand the world only in terms of our language. Signup and view all the answers

What is socialization?

The process by which people learn the characteristics of their group. Signup and view all the answers

What are some agents/agencies of socialization?

Examples include family, religion, schools, peers, mass media, and the workplace. Signup and view all the answers

How does social class influence the way that a child is socialized?

Working-class children are taught obedience and conformity; middle-class children are taught creativity and self-expression. Signup and view all the answers

What are the contributions of Mead to our understanding of socialization?

Mead said we act as both object and subject when viewing ourselves, exploring three stages of development. Signup and view all the answers

What are the contributions of Erving Goffman to our understanding of socialization?

Goffman viewed socialization as a performance; he explored impression management as a way to present ourselves favorably. Signup and view all the answers

What are the contributions of Cooley to our understanding of socialization?

Cooley introduced the concept of 'The Looking-Glass Self,' focusing on how we perceive ourselves based on others' views. Signup and view all the answers

What are the contributions of Erikson to our understanding of socialization?

Erikson focused on the development of stable identity during adolescence and proposed eight stages of development. Signup and view all the answers

What are manifest functions?

The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern. Signup and view all the answers

What are latent functions?

Consequences that are unrecognized and/or unintended. Signup and view all the answers

What is primary socialization?

The mastery of basic information and skills required of members of a society. Signup and view all the answers

What is adult socialization?

The process by which adults learn new roles and statuses. Signup and view all the answers

What is anticipatory socialization?

The process in which people think about, experiment with, and try on the behaviors associated with a new role. Signup and view all the answers

What is resocialization?

Exposure to ideas or values that conflict with what was learned in childhood. Signup and view all the answers

What are 'total institutions' and why are they so effective?

Places where people are isolated from the outside world and almost totally controlled by others. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nacirema and Cultural Perspective

"Nacirema" represents American spelled backward, highlighting the strangeness of some cultural practices observed in the U.S.
The tribe exhibits bizarre rituals centered on the belief that their bodies are ugly and require purification through the guidance of "sadistic witches."
The article "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" critiques cultural biases by presenting American rituals in a foreign context.

Introduction to Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of human societies and social interactions.
Social science aims to objectively understand the social world.
The sociological perspective places human behavior within broader social contexts, exemplified by Hernando Washington and academic cheating incidents.

Key Concepts in Sociology

Sociological imagination refers to the relationship between individual experiences and larger societal forces, a term coined by C. Wright Mills in 1959.
Personal troubles relate to individual circumstances, while public issues involve societal-level matters that transcend personal shortcomings.
A society is defined as a group sharing culture and territory.

Culture and its Dimensions

Culture encompasses all that humans learn to do, produce, know, and believe.
Material culture includes tangible objects, while non-material culture involves the ways of thinking and doing.
Ethnocentrism judges other cultures by one's own standards, whereas cultural relativism seeks to understand others based on their cultural context.

Influences on the Rise of Sociology

Significant social upheavals in Europe, including the revolutions and Industrial Revolution, contributed to the emergence of sociology.
The expansion of imperialism exposed Western societies to different social orders.
Success in the natural sciences provided a framework for applying scientific methods to social studies.

Foundational Sociologists and Their Contributions

August Comte, the founder of sociology, posited the study of social statics and dynamics.
Karl Marx contributed to Conflict Theory, focusing on class conflict.
Herbert Spencer compared society to organisms, introducing ideas of Social Darwinism.
Emile Durkheim studied social integration and suicide; his work established sociology as a formal discipline.
Max Weber emphasized "Verstehen" or understanding social actions from the perspective of others.
Harriet Martineau translated Comte's work and focused on moral values and women's rights.
Jane Addams pioneered social justice movements with Hull House.
W.E.B. DuBois analyzed race relations and co-founded the NAACP.

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

Functionalism views society as interrelated parts working in harmony but criticized for its inability to account for change and its conservative bias.
Conflict Theory focuses on social inequality and tensions yet fails to address social stability adequately.
Symbolic Interactionism emphasizes individual interpretations of social interactions but overlooks larger societal structures.

Research Methodology in Sociology

An empirical question can be answered by observing the world, such as investigating lunch choices in a cafeteria.
A hypothesis is a testable statement about the relationship between variables, while a variable can change across cases.
The research process involves selecting a topic, defining problems, reviewing literature, and analyzing results.

Socialization and Its Agents

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn group characteristics, influenced by agents like family, religion, and peers.
Social class significantly shapes childhood socialization, with differing focuses on obedience or creativity.

Theoretical Contributions to Socialization

Mead's contributions include the concepts of the "I" and "me" and the stages of development in self-perception.
Goffman introduced the dramaturgical approach, likening social interactions to theater performances.
Cooley's "Looking-Glass Self" explores self-perception through the judgments of others.
Erikson outlined eight developmental stages and the importance of identity formation during adolescence.

Manifest functions are the intended consequences of social patterns, while latent functions are unintended and often unrecognized consequences.
Primary socialization is acquiring essential societal skills, while adult socialization involves learning new roles.

Resocialization and Total Institutions

Anticipatory socialization involves preparing for future roles, while resocialization involves adjusting to new values or ideas.
Total institutions isolate individuals from the outside world and facilitate control through shared experiences and restrictions on personal freedom.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key concepts from sociology, including the study of the 'Nacirema,' a tribe reflecting unique cultural practices. Delve into the rituals and beliefs that highlight the importance of understanding cultural perspectives within sociology.