Sociology Exam (week 5, ch. 6)

stigma

describes any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group's identity; may exclude those devalued from normal social interaction

differential association

developed by Edwin Sutherland. we learn deviance from interacting with deviant peers

structural strain theory

developed by Robert Merton. there are goals in society that people want to achieve, but they cannot always reach these goals. This creates stress (or strain).

conflict theory

deviance is a result of social conflict. for powerful to maintain power, they marginalize and criminalize people who threaten their power

functionalism

deviance serves a function in society. to Durkheim, deviance served positive social functions clarifies moral boundaries; promotes social cohesion

symbolic interactionism

interpersonal relationships and everyday interactions influence meanings and understandings of deviance

anomie

During the COVID-19 lockdowns in the spring of 2020, Tana had much fewer social interactions than before, and she began to feel disconnected from society. A sociologist would say that Tana was experiencing

when the differences between the in-group and the out-group are sharply defined

Individuals always feel loyalty toward their in-group, but under what circumstances would this loyalty be particularly strong?

She is a "consequential stranger" who bridges the gap between primary and secondary groups

One of the baristas at José's local coffee shop always greets him by name. She often asks how school is going and seems to care about his answer. How would we characterize José's relationship with the barista?

give the wrong answer

Only 25 percent of subjects in the Asch experiment were "independents" who refused to

People who identify themselves through personal characteristics might care less about the common good

People today are more likely to identify themselves through personal characteristics than through group membership or affiliation. Why is this cause for concern to some sociologists?

people who identify themselves through personal characteristics might care less about the common good

People today are more likely to identify themselves through personal characteristics than through group membership or affiliation. Why is this cause for concern to some sociologists?

Individuals associated with a group feel a shared identity and have ongoing social relations.

Sociologically, what is the difference between a group and a crowd?

see if a particular tie is strong or weak.

Sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which a person has been in contact with each member of their social network to

the interactions of team members off the field

Some students at a college form an intramural softball team. They play other teams from their school and from the area every Sunday in a conveniently located park. What might a sociologist consider if they wanted to determine whether the team was a primary group or a secondary group?

identification

The new graduate students in a university program often gather after class for beer and pizza. What is it an example of if one new graduate student doesn't like beer or pizza but accompanies the group anyway because he wants to make friends?

People who are connected to social networks are more likely to be affected by them

What does it mean that social networks can influence people through contagion?

People who work in bureaucracies may feel alienation as a result of being treated in terms of roles, rules, and functions rather than as individuals

Which of the following statements about bureaucracies is true?

finding ways to recognize individual effort

Which of the following strategies could be used as a way to minimize social loafing?

"I feel comfortable in all sorts of neighborhoods."

Which response would you LEAST expect to find on the survey if a sociologist measured group cohesion within a neighborhood and found a high level of group cohesion?

deviance

a behavior, trait, belief, or belief that departs from a norm; generates a negative reaction in a particular group

deterrence

prevent crime by threatening harsh penalties

crime

violation of a norm codified into law

virtual community

A ________ consists of group members who share information and advice, provide support to one another, and have common interests, but never meet in person.

rationalization

A high school decides that its band should wear uniforms. The school only buys uniforms in three sizes to be more efficient and forces each student to pick the size that comes closest to fitting. What does this exemplify?

impersonality

A nightclub has several types of employees and each has a specialized task. Bartenders make drinks, bouncers check identification, bussers clear away used glasses, and so on. Bouncers can get their friends in for free, unlike the other employees. The club is a bureaucracy in many ways, but there is at least one significant element of bureaucratic organization missing. What is it?

conflict theory

A student at a university explains that he doesn't want to join a fraternity because he believes they create negative in-group and out-group dynamics. What perspective best describes his views?

hostility toward an out-group

In Los Angeles, you may see cars sporting a bumper sticker that reads, "My favorite teams are UCLA and whoever's playing USC." What is this an example of?

self-fulfilling prophecy

a prediction that causes itself to come true

Positive Deviance

an act that is outside of the norm; may be heroic rather than negative

labeling theory

by Howard Becker. deviance caused by external judgements (labels) that change a person's self-concept, and, way others respond to him/her

incapacitation

remove criminals from society (imprison them)

hate crimes

occur when criminals specifically target victims based on demographic characteristics (ex: race, gender, sexuality)

Rehabilitation

reform criminals so that they may reenter society

retribution

retaliate or take revenge for a crime committed

stereotype

self-fulfilling prophecy where fear of performing poorly (confirming stereotypes about one's group) leads to poor performance

stereotype promise

self-fulfilling prophecy where positive stereotypes lead to positive performance

passing

stigmatized individuals may try to pass as if they are part of the mainstream

social control theory

strong social bonds increase conformity and decrease deviance. 4 elements of the bond: attachment, commitment, involvement, belief