APU Intro to Sociology 120 Midterm 1 Study Guide
Social functions
The consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole.
Nonmaterial culture
The ideas created by members of a society.
Manifest functions
The intended consequences of any social pattern.
Material culture
The physical things created by members of a society.
Social interaction
The process by which people act and react in relation to others.
Sociology
The systematic study of human society
Latent functions
The unintended consequences of any social pattern.
Culture
The ways of thinking, acting, and material objects that form a person's lifestyle.
Cultural universal
Traits that are part of every known culture.
Theoretical approach
A basic image of society that guides thinking and research.
Structural-functional approach
A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
Sexual orientation
A person's romantic and emotional attraction to another person.
Status
A social position that is part of social identity and defines our relationship to others.
Theory
A statement of how and why specific facts are related.
Language
A system of symbols that allow people to communicate with each other.
Social structure
Any stable pattern of social behavior.
Symbol
Anything that carries a paricular meaning recognized by people who share a culture.
Achieved status
Earned
Master status
Either ascribed or achieved, has special importance for a person's identity.
Emprical evidence
Information we can verify with our senses.
Ascribed status
Involuntary
Cultural shock
Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life.
Gender
Refers to behavior, power, and privilege as a society attaches to being female or male.
Sex
Refers to bodily differences between females and males. It is biological.
Norms
Rules and expectations by which a society guide its member's behaviors.
Sociological perspective
Sociology's special point of view that sees patterns of society in particular people's lives.
Beliefs
Specific ideas that people hold to be true.