Socy 1001 Midterm
Week 2 Study Questions: Lectures and Textbook: Identify and describe the primary ideas of each of the major sociological perspectives or theories. Be able to apply each of the perspectives/theories to a real social issue. In other words, how would you explain or understand that issue from one of the theoretical perspectives or theories?
-***if the sociological imagination is a set of glasses, these are the shades 1. (Structural) Functionalism (macro): behavior is shaped by social structures and institutions Institutions maintain or undermine social stability Focused on manifest and latent (exp: unemployment) functions And the purpose of things in society 2. Feminist Theory (macro/micro): male domination and female subordination are determined by power and social convention *focus on patriarchy EX: lawmaking for abortions 3. Conflict Theory (macro): major patterns of inequality produce stability in some circumstances and change in others Conflict is inevitable Inequality creates conflict within groups EX: Prostitution's effect on a poorer neighborhood 4. Rational Choice Theory (micro) Individuals weigh the cost and benefits of actions based on self-interests EX: Whether or not to go to class on a certain day 5. Symbolic Interaction Theory (micro) Sense of individual self is formed through interactions with others People create symbols that have shared meanings within groups ex) language, signs, phrases EX: A ring means love and commitment
What do I mean when I say that sociology is a way of THINKING and a way of LOOKING at the world?
-A way of thinking refers to sociological theories and how outer forces influence individuals. A way of looking refers to the methods used to research this idea and study human behavior in a social context such as surveys, field research, etc.
Define and provide an example of an achievement-based stratification process and an ascription-based stratification process.
-Achievement-based: graduating from college, getting a raise -Ascription-based: slavery, caste systems
What were their other options?
-Another option was to interview criminals who have already been caught. Also street-based study of gang leaders
What were some of the types of material culture that served as signals of class?
-Bread: people who ate white bread, especially Wonder Bread, were often of a lower class, while people who ate whole wheat or fancy artisan or sourdough bread were typically higher class
Once treatment is administered to the independent variable, how do we assess the influence of the treatment in an experiment?
-Collect data about the dependent variable adjusting for any confounding variables -Ensure that groups were randomized and randomly assigned -Run statistics to see if different groups were statistically significant and compared to a control group
Discuss the fundamental conflict between classes in the Marxist theory of stratification. Explain the importance of the means of production in this conflict?
-Conflict of interests -The bourgeois want to maintain their status, while the proletariat want to attain greater status -How can the owners of the means of production pay their workers the least to get the most money for themselves? And how can the laborers get paid the most for their labor?
Why do you think politicians often link arguments over crime and illegal immigration together?
-Conflict theory -It's an easy argument
How would a conflict theorist explain prostitution?
-Conflict theory: "have and the have nots"; ("People like us") Inequality and relationships between economic classes. This inequality produces both stability and change. Privileged groups want to maintain advantages while subordinate groups want to increase advantages. Suggests that eliminating inequality will lower the level of conflict and increase total welfare. Critic: overfocus on economics- many more factors that influence social patterns than money Apply to prostitution:The proletariat is continuing to sell their labor to the various classes above them, however, the unideal situation and the need to sell sex is created by the extreme inequality in the spread of money in a society, with the bourgeoise having most of it.
Define conspicuous consumption and give an example of it that has not been discussed in class.
-Conspicuous consumption: displaying one's goods in a way that makes them look wealthy and will earn respect from others -My personal example is that in my relationship to my boyfriend (he is rich and I am not) I always try to pay equal if not more to prove that I share similar levels of wealth, even though it makes me completely broke
Explain consumerism and how it relates to status.
-Consumerism: the tendency to define oneself in terms of the goods purchased. -Excessive consumption: puts limits on who we can become-degrades the natural environment Relates to status in that amount and types of goods show and determine one's status and society. Showing off "goods" is a way of showing off status.
What has happened to crime rates in general over the last 25 years? What are some of the explanations for why these changes have occurred?
-Crime rates have gone down drastically in the last 25 years -Crimes rates have been falling due to immigration, changing demographics, incarceration, changing drug markets, economic factors, abortion, etc.
Week 4 Study Questions: Lectures and TextbookWhat is culture? How would you define your own culture?
-Culture is the sum of practices, languages, symbols, beliefs, values, ideologies, and material objects that people create to deal with real-life problems to deal with problems or issues
Explain how your own culture shapes and influences the views you have?
-Culture provides us with an opportunity to exercise our freedom Existing culture puts limits on what we can think and do → CULTURE CONSTRAINS US
Explain a situation where an individual would be affected by both ascribed and achieved statuses.
-Deciding on a college --Achievements: extracurriculars, GPA, skills --Ascription: class and economic status will decide location, affordability, etc.
Film - People Like Us: The video mentions that class can be defined as the opportunities and aspirations we have. Explain what this means using examples from different social classes
-Depending on your class you are given different opportunities. For example: the rich can afford to give their children opportunities to expand their cultural capital, view the world, go to expensive schools with highly-educated/knowledgeable professors. The working-class children may not be able to ascend the economic ladder or go to school because they have to work as a breadwinner in their family to survive, thus losing opportunities at education, not being able to afford those nicer things. - Realistically, people in lower classes may feel their aspirations limited by their opportunities based on their economic status. Example: a boy may not believe he can become a CEO because he can't afford to pay for college to qualify for a higher paying job like CEO
In your own words, discuss the difference and similarities between crime and deviance
-Deviance involves breaking a norm and evoking a negative reaction from others -Crime is deviance that breaks a law, which is a norm stipulated and enforced by government bodies
Week 6 Study Questions: Lectures and Textbook: How is deviance constructed across time? What role do norms serve in this process?
-Deviance is relative (norms vary widely between cultures) -Deviance is socially constructed (everyone is deviant in one social context or another)
Zimbardo says that because Americans suffer from such a deeply ingrained 'dispositional' perspective, even when they hear about the Stanford Prison experiment, they still believe that they wouldn't do that. What does this mean by this?
-Dispositionalism: when you grow up in a privileged environment you want to take credit for the success you see all around, so you become a dispositionalist -Everyone likes to believe that they are good and they would be the special one who refused to participate is such awful behaviors, but they probably would participate
Why are notions of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism important to sociology and anthropology?
-Ethnocentrism: the tendency to judge other cultures exclusively by the standards of one's own -Cultural relativism: the idea that all cultures must be understood and interpreted from the perspective of that culture and that none are better or worse than others
Can you think of instances wherein you did something because it was expected, even if it was something you previously thought you'd never do? What does this show about individuality vs. social forces directing behavior?
-Example: drugs are heavily tabooed by adults and many don't think they will do them as teens but then they do because their peers are. This enforces social forces directing behavior, wanting to fit into the social group and sacrificing individuality to do so.
What is the purpose of deviance and crime from a functionalist perspective?
-Functionalist theory: suggests why crime and deviance exists and the functions it serves --Our reactions to deviance clarify moral boundaries, allowing us to draw the line between right and wrong --This promotes the unity of society and encourages healthy social change
How does taking the role of the generalized other affect our ability to be successful in social situations? How would being a student be impaired if we lacked that ability?
-Generalized other: a composite of societal expectations that a child learns from family, peers, and other organizations --Sense of expectations of others
From Summer Camps to Glass Ceilings: Explain the Hawthorne Effect
-Hawthorne Effect: alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed; subjects conceal certain things or react artificially to impress the researcher Ex: increased worker productivity due to being watched as well as being able to interact with people in a similar experience
Do you agree that assumptions of modern Western culture are guided by notions of individualism, self-interest, and unlimited wants and needs?
-I do believe that the assumptions of modern Western culture are guided by individualism, self-interest, and unlimited wants
Rethinking Immigration and Crime: What is the relationship between immigration and crime? What is the importance of this finding?
-In areas with higher rates of immigrants, there is less crime -This finding is important because most Americans assume immigrants are the cause of higher crime rates
Week 7 Study Questions-Film - Names: Explain the origin of how black and white names became so distinguishably different. When did this begin? What was going on in the country? What did the names represent?
-In the 50's and 60's there was more overlap between black and white names -Around the time of the Black Power movement they began to use more distinct names, lots of which were Islamic names -In the late 80's and 90's they began to change names in more unique ways, distinguishing people more and more by their race
If you were the president and wanted to decrease inequality in the U.S. what policies would you try to implement?
-Increase taxes on the rich 1% to funnel that money back into the economy, boosting the economy and giving the working class more money to balance out the inequality; reuse it for programs where the money would go to/benefit the poorer class
Film Clip: Abortion and Crime: What does the author contend is the relation between abortion and crime?
-Increased legal abortion leads to reduced crime
Describe the importance of individualism in U.S. culture
-Individualism is the main aspect of US culture -People have the idea that they can choose to "be who they want" and have the ability to create it for themselves (American Dream)
Week 1 Study Questions: Lectures and Textbook: How does the concept of individualism relate to the sociological imagination?
-Individualism: emphasizes the autonomy of the individual (power, free will, etc) as opposed to a social group's or community. "You can be whoever you want to be". -Sociological Imagination: the quality of mind that enables one to see the connection between personal issues and social structures, the lens in which we look through --the individual has the ability to choose but is based on social structures. --A person who is a part of an individualistic culture will have a sociological imagination that views things as more dependent on autonomy than on group needs.
Introduction to Invisible Punishment: What does the concept "invisible punishment" mean and why is it important?
-Invisible punishments are the unforeseen consequences on those who are imprisoned and their families. Some examples of this include: the distance to travel to prisons far away from the family, the stigma of being associated with someone imprisoned, etc -It's important because the prisoners are being punished in more ways than they were actually sentenced to and their families are also being punished.
If you were the president and wanted to increase inequality in the U.S. what policies would you try to implement?
-Just keep doin' what we're doin'
Week 5 Study Questions: Lectures and Textbook: How does Charles Horton Cooley define the "looking glass self?"
-Looking glass self: when we interact with others they react and we learn to view ourselves based on their reactions
How is the "looking-glass self" different from "dramaturgy?
-Looking glass self: when we interact with others they react and we learn to view ourselves based on their reactions -Dramaturgy:the elements of human interactions are dependent upon time, place, and audience; we act out roles in front of others which vary based on the situation
What does this article teach you about the importance of doing research and the role it serves in society?
-Making generalized assumptions about societal behavior without conclusive research/evidence can lead to inaccurate information and negatively impact a society's functioning
Compare and contrast Marx (conflict) and Davis-Moore (functionalist) theories of stratification
-Marx (Conflict Theory): --A person's class is determined by the source of his/her income --Bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie, proletariat The wealthy own the "means of production" while the poor do physical labor --Conflict of interests between classes → "rich" vs "poor" --Class consciousness:being aware of membership in a class and to be able the identify the interests of that class --False consciousness: the misunderstanding of social relations such that individuals in subordinate classes support the interests of those who dominate them -Davis-Moore (Structural Functionalism): --Some jobs are more important than others --People have to make sacrifices to train for important jobs --Inequality is required to motivate people to undergo these sacrifices --Critiques: this inequality only encourages those with the resources to pursue opportunities; Once high class, power can be used to promote family/childrens interests regardless of talent (ascription)
Discuss the difference between material and non-material culture and provide examples of each.
-Material culture is any physical object to which we give social meaning: Exp: art and artifacts, tools and utensils, machines and weapons, clothes, food -Nonmaterial culture is composed of symbols, norms, and other intangible elements of culture Exp: praying in church, having family dinners, raising hand in class,
Define micro-, meso- and macro-levels of analysis. Come up with a social problem or issue and discuss how you might examine it from each level of analysis.
-Micro: intimate social relations such as dating -Meso: social relations within intermediate-sized units such as policies within a university -Macro: social relations within larger aggregates/units such as nations Example: gang activity On a micro level you can study how a specific gang operates on a day to day basis and their communication within the gang On a meso level you can examine the interaction between different gangs and how a gang varies from one area to the next On the macro level you could examine how a gang impacts a community or the economic impact of gangs on nations through drug trafficking or crimes
Discuss culture at the micro-, meso, and macro-levels
-Micro: values/relations between family members and peers -Meso: values/ relations between one and their community (city, university, etc) -Macro: cultural relations and values of a nation (US and its collective cultural value of individualism)
Describe how stratification is created and/or reinforced at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels.
-Micro: you may not be able to afford to do the same activities as your friend -Meso: you can't get good healthcare, or the coverage plan varies -Macro: debt increases as more wealth is consumed by top 1%
What is the difference between motivational and constraint theories of crime and deviance?
-Motivational theories: identify factors that cause people to do something deviant or criminal --Strain theory: societies don't provide enough opportunities for everyone to succeed, so some people experience strain --Differential association theory: people learn to favor some values over others based on socialization -Constraint theories: identify factors that cause someone not to do something deviant or criminal --Control theory: crime and deviance are rewarding; most people would engage if they could get away with it --Rational choice theories: individuals weigh the pros and cons of behaviors; if there is enough deterrence for a behavior, they won't perform it
Can you use your sociological imagination to understand your decision to attend CU? How about other major decisions in your life? Explain.
-My choice was influenced by my economic class (ability to afford CU), the achievement-based system looked at my grades, extracurriculars, etc, the reputation of the school-specific to my interest (my major, the type of life I hope to live is probably similar to the one I grew up with). -This is how these sociological factors affect my life and seeing these is using my sociological imagination
What is the relationship between norms and culture?
-Norm: a generally accepted way of doing things -Relationship: every culture has its own unique set of norms that other cultures might not practice Ex) wearing bathing suits vs being nude at beaches
One man from the video talked about how growing up he always thought that people who worked hard were the same people who had tons of money. What did he learn about this as he became an adult? (think about the "silver spoon" class)
-Often those who have to work really hard are trying to have the money to survive or just live nice lives, while the stereotype is that the richer people, especially second generation have their wealth is given to them from their parents or their job and as such don't have to work as hard. These people are referred to as people with a silver spoon in their mouth or just silver spoon because silver is a material symbol of wealth (real silver utensils).
Can you give examples of this that were not discussed in the reading?
-One example is the idea of attaining the American Dream and the idea that our job is to bring our culture to "uncivilized" parts of the world. "Go big or go home"
Development as Poison: What is Marlin's contention about the differences between the western world and the developing world? How does this relate to the respective culture of each?
-Outside the modern West, culture is sustained through community and tradition -The West values the market as the primary organizing factor in culture --Assumptions of Western culture: Individualism Self-interest Privileging of rationality Unlimited wants Rise of the nation-state
According to Durkheim, in what ways does social solidarity relate to suicide?
-People believe that suicide is an expression of individualistic expression. (example mental illness, personal loss) -However, Durkheim suggested that suicide is influenced by differences in the degree of social solidarity in different groups (influenced by social forces) --GEOGRAPHICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS CREATE A SITUATION THAT INCREASE SUICIDE BEYOND INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION --suicide rates → differences in the degree of social solidarity (the degree to which group members share beliefs and values and the intensity and frequency of their interactions) in different groups. --creates and "us vs them" and a sense of belonging
Do you think naming is important to class?
-People in today's society associate names with race and class, even if it is unintentional or unconscious
Ask yourself the following questions and build an argument about how stratification and culture relate to the process of naming and its social meanings.
-People like to choose names that are often associated with upper classes, and then when those names popularize in lower classes, the upper classes begin choosing different names, and the cycle continues -Additionally, pride in cultural, racial, or religious meanings influence names and popularization of them throughout history
Why do you think the name "People Like Us" was picked for this video title?
-People like to fit themselves into categories and feel like they belong to a group -Even in the U.S., where the concept of the American Dream is still alive and well, class structures exist, and people feel most comfortable living within the class they were born into
What is resocialization? Give an example
-Powerful socializing agents deliberately cause a rapid change in one's values, roles, and self-conception Ex: going to college and moving out of parents home Ex: Joining the military
What are the main agents in your socialization, and how do those different actors "socialize you" differently?
-Primary: when you first acquire the base skills to function as a member of society, these are the first people to socialize us at a young age: family mostly, friends maybe? -Secondary: socialization outside of the family later in life: co-workers, friends, bosses, etc.
On what theory of crime do you think the U.S. criminal justice system is mostly based?
-Rational choice theory
What are the primary reasons for the death penalty? What are some of the concerns with the death penalty?
-Reasons for: --Housing prisoners for life takes taxes from the public --The idea of retribution is very prevalent in our society -Reasons against: --Killing people is immoral and taboo in our society --Executions are actually more expensive than life imprisonment
What does it mean to say that "there is no self outside of the social (world)?"
-Sense of self comes from interactions with others and without these social interactions, one cannot develop a sense of self -Social interactions enable infants to develop a sense of self -Every characteristic we have developed because it was compared to someone else (you can only be lazy if someone else is less lazy, you can only be a winner if someone else lost, etc.)
Body Rituals of the Nacirema: What is the purpose of this article?
-Shows how anthropologists and any researcher really can skew the description with bias and an ethnocentric perspective -Shows how different cultures can be viewed through an ethnocentrism lens or a cultural relativism lens -Also gives an example of a culture that is very different from our own, and explains the logic behind it → cultural relativism
Who decides what is deviant? How would you apply conflict theory to this process?
-Society constructs what is "deviant" -Conflict theory: those in power "create" deviant behaviors in order to control threatening populations
What does this video argue about the girl named Temptress? Does her name have an effect on her life outcome? Why or why not?
-Temptress was treated differently because of her name and its connotation, regardless of the fact it was an accident that her mom misnamed her -Self-fulfilling prophecy: everyone expected her to become deviant because of her name and she ultimately did because of their expectation
What does the Gini coefficient represent? Is the Gini coefficient of the U.S. higher or lower than other developed nations?
-The Gini coefficient is the level of economic inequality in a country: a 0 would indicate all households make the same money (communism), a 1 would indicate only one person/household makes all the money in the entire country -The Gini coefficient is higher in the U.S. than other developed nations; there are extreme differences between the wealth of the top 1% and the poorest people
How does the U.S. rank in terms of incarceration? How might this relate to the ideology of individualism?
-The USA incarcerates a larger population percentage than any other industrialized nation -The USA's incarceration rate rose in the 1970s, doubled in the 1980s, and doubled again in the 1990s -Americans think that each person is responsible for their own fate, and therefore think that a criminal is acting entirely out of personal choice with no outside influence. This then reinforces the idea that a criminal must be punished for their actions because they chose to use their individuality for crime, not considering the other potential factors that lead criminals to commit crimes.
You Can't Be A Sweet Cucumber In A Vinegar Barrel: see if Milgram can get good people to do things they say they may never dox: According to "You Can't Be A Sweet Cucumber In A Vinegar Barrel," what are the factors involved that cause prison environments to be so dehumanizing?
-The guards have similar appearances and minimal supervision, allowing them a sense of anonymity which leads to deviant behavior where they often dehumanize the prisoners (slurs, abuse, etc) - The prisoners are completely controlled by someone else (what they wear, eat, when they do activities), much like domesticated animals. They are also dressed/appear similarly allowing for them to seem like part of a group who did something wrong, rather than an individual/human with emotions.
Why are second and third-generation immigrants more likely to engage in criminal activity?
-The more familiar with and immersed in American culture immigrants become, they pick up on the high violence rates associated with the U.S.
Explain in your own words what is meant by what the article coins, "collateral" consequences
-These are downsides that (I believe) the imprisoners are aware of but allow for the sake of the incarceration system Ex. forcing families to drive extensive distances to see their loved ones in exchange for the increased security of a larger facility further away
What are the two sides to the struggle that black parents may face while naming their children?
-They can name their child something unique, potentially specific to their cultural background or family and have that freedom and express themselves. -Naming their child something generic or a "white name" means their child may grow up with better opportunities and avoid the treatment that accompanies the stereotype of unique names being associated with black people or minorities. Example: when the same resumes were sent out, the generically named ones received more replies than the uniquely named ones.
According to survey data do people in the U.S. want more, less or about the same level of inequality as we have?
-They want less inequality than we have, because currently the wealthiest 1% holds most of the wealth
Studying Active Armed Robbers: Why did the authors insist on studying "active" armed robbers?
-They were convinced studying active armed robbers could lead them to a greater number of people to interview to gain a more complete understanding
How is the concept of class related to race? How does the concept of "white trash" fit into this?
-Typically, white people are associated with a higher class than minorities, especially black people -When white people are poor, this is considered an anomaly and they are looked down upon as the lowest of the low, hence the name white trash
Is upward mobility more likely in societies with higher or lower rates of inequality? Why?
-Upwards mobility is likely in societies with lower inequalities because you have more spread of wealth and surplus; thus, everyone has more of an opportunity for upward mobility
Why is this particularly hard to reconcile with the ethos of American individualism?
-We are not entirely autonomous like we want to believe; we need a social structure to develop our sense of individuality
In what ways are the efforts of Westerners to develop the non-Western world examples of ethnocentrism?
-We view our society as right, whether it's manifest destiny (God-given right to rule) or bias based on living in the culture. We then view other cultures who don't have our same culture, political system, etc, as wrong and try to change them to fit what we view as right when in reality we need to view it from a cultural relativism perspective in which all cultures should be interpreted from their unique viewpoint and not as an outsider looking in and judging. --example: MANIFEST DESTINY
What are the author's explanations for this relationship?
-When there are a high number of (unwanted) births then roughly 16 years later the crime rate increases because of the higher number of youth of the same age
Do names influence success?
-Yes; in the video they sent out identical resumes with different names and those who had names that were more unusual were called back less -Black people have a tendency to name their children more unique names which are then identified by potential employers and led to less success than those with generic names, regardless of what the person actually looked like
Code of the Streets: What is the "code of the streets" and what purpose does it serve?
-a set of informal rules that govern interpersonal public behavior within inner-city neighborhoods that have high racial segregation, structural resource deprivation, etc. -it can serve many purposes but one main one talked about in short clip was that these people don't trust police officers so they deal with problems themselves whether it be through violence
Explain what being a "man" means according to the reading
-accepting and living by the code, doing whatever is necessary to gain respect and to provide for your family - manhood and self-esteem are hand in hand - for street-oriented, manhood has become part of their identity, controls them
What are some of the factors that can increase or decrease conformity in groups?
-conformity increases as the group size increase → the appearance of unanimity - as group cohesiveness increases, so does conformity -people with low status in a group are less likely to dissent - individualistic societies tend to conform LESS than collectivist societies
Discuss the differences between "street" & "decent"
-decent families: accept mainstream values, "the working poor," have high hopes for their children and believe in hard work and self-reliance, working for a better life for themselves. Still follow the code but believe they are doing so in a moral way. -street families: poor families who believe in the code have a lack of respect for the position they are in and who is around them, rather than attempting to pull themselves out of poverty they accept the position they are in and act "accordingly" through violence and crime
A functionalist? (Durkheim)
-institutions maintain or undermine social stability Manifest (intended) and latent (result of) functions Critic: over-simplistic and undermines power and instability Apply to prostitution: Manifest: prostitution was made to generate money Latent: developed social stigma
Describe the sociological imagination in your own words
-seeing the connection between social structures and personal issues - stepping away from the concept and using your imagination
Why was Durkheim's study of suicide significant? What did he do for the field of sociology?
-shows how individual actions are often in the group's interest and that norms tightly govern behavior (high social solidarity) Altruistic Suicide: Norms govern behavior. High social solidarity; actions of individuals to benefit group, for example: suicide bombing (cultivistic countries). Egoistic Suicide: Suicide results from a lack of integration into society and weak ties to others (low social solidarity=higher suicide). Western/Individualistic countries Anomic suicide: when norms governing behaviors are weakly defined (not understandings one's place or the expectations of them)
What are social structures?
-stable patterns of social interactions, statuses, roles, and organizations Example: the relationship between siblings The task of sociologists is to connect experiences to social structures
What is self-socialization? Give an example
-there is a level of choice/agency in socialization: People pick who they want to be around but those we are around will shape us -Choosing socialization influences from the wide variety of potential influences -Process of self-socialization makes it harder to determine whether/how socialization agents are influencing our behavior Aka: it can be hard to unravel if who we are was our choice or the influence of others Ex: a female child might choose to follow and imitate the actions of her mother rather than her father
What are the 3 components of a "Cultural Survival Kit"? Why are they necessary?
1. Abstraction: create ideas or ways of thinking that are not linked to particular instances. 2. Cooperation: establishing generally accepted ways of doing things. 3. Production: making and using tools and techniques that improve our ability to take what we want from nature.
Why are experiments such a powerful method of research?
1. Allows for increased precision and control in research 2. Allows for isolation of experimental causes and ensures the experiment isn't influenced by unknown variables (able to infer causation)
Explain why probability sampling and representativeness is important for survey research.
1. Allows the sample of the research to more representative of the population. For example, we don't want research about Americans to only be conducted on white males when America consists of way more types of people. 2. Having a sample size that is not representative will not generate data that is not generalizable. Probability sampling helps make the data more generalizable.
What are the main ideas of control theory, structural strain theory, differential association theory, and rational choice theory? Are each of them constraint theories or motivational theories?
1. Control Theory: (constraint) There are many rewards of deviance and crime Nearly everyone would engage in deviance/crime if they could get away with it Social controls are informal controls which encourage conformity → they serve to restrain our deviant urges 2. Strain Theory: (motivational) argued that cultures often teach people to value material success BUT, societies don't provide enough legitimate opportunities for everyone to succeed THEREFORE, some people experience "strain" Must adhere to social norms, the rest adapt 3.Differential Association Theory: (motivational) A person learns to favor some values over others, as a result of life experiences or socialization Everyone is exposed to deviant and nondeviant values/behaviors as they grow up More deviant experiences → more likely to become/learn to become deviant 4. Rational Choice Theory: Weighing the pros and cons of behaviors Deterrence: people will be less inclined to commit crimes if they know they are likely to serve long and unpleasant prison terms
Come up with a research question that you would answer with an experiment, a survey, using observational or field methods, using existing data (aka secondary analysis), and content analysis, and discuss how you would go about trying to answer the question.
1. Experiment: does x cause y? Very difficult to do in sociological research because all confounds must be minimized and can often be unethical when societies sociological things. Treatment and control groups. Only way to infer causation, however difficulty in generalizability. Does smoking cause cancer? 2. Survey: asks people questions about their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, or characteristics either in a face-to-face interview, telephone interview, or paper and pencil (or computer) format What factors do you think affect your GPA? 3. Observation: involves systematic, planned observation and recording of interactions and other human behavior in their natural settings (where the activity normally takes place, rather than in a laboratory) Do more female or male bikers obey the dismount signs? Set up cameras in areas with dismount signs 4. Secondary analysis: uses existing data, information that has already been collected in other studies, including data banks, such as the national census Are robbers more likely to commit one or multiple robberies? Look at criminal records to determine 5. Content analysis: systematic categorizing and recording of information from written or recorded sources: printed materials, videos, radio broadcasts, or artwork Do violent video games make us more violent?
What are agents of socialization and how do they shape our actions?
1. Family (primary socialization-process of acquiring basics skills to function in society) --Precursor of violence: many people in prisons were victims of physical and or sexual abuse or witness these abuses 2. School (primary socialization too)t0p --prepare for the labor force, teaches what is expected, evaluated by performance 3. Peer group --Similar status and age, may influence interests and hobbies. --Recognized social position that an individual can occupy 4. Mass media --Influence interests --Reinforce gender stereotypes 5. Gender roles --Expectations about how male and females are supposed to act in a society.
Cause & Effect: What is spuriousness? Can you come up with your own example of a spurious relationship?
1. When two things have a mathematical correlation but they do not directly cause each other. The data can appear causal but it is not. 2. Normally there is a third variable that connects the two, and the third variable may not be known Ex) increased production of yellow cars and increased number of car accidents. Do not directly cause each other but mathematically can be correlated
Sense and Nonsense about Surveys: Explain why survey results are dependent on the form, wording and context of a question.
1. issue with "framing questions". The question may unintentionally lead the participant to an answer that was not inherently their own. 2. Content of the question may be uncomfortable for the participant to respond truthfully. 3. In surveys, people are asked questions about their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, etc in either a face-to-face interview, telephone, computer, etc. 4. closed-ended question vs open-ended question 5. Close-ended questions may not leave room for all possible answers and force the participant to choose a response they do not agree with
Discuss examples of socialization that take place at the micro-, meso, and macro-levels
1. micro- interpersonal interactions on a small level, few people involved: significant other, a family, friends 2. meso- larger interactions between people socialize them: school, greek life, etc 3. macro- the most major interactions: being socialized to be part of your national culture (U.S.) compared to others (France for example), developing an identity based on your national affiliation.
Within this paradigm, how do we develop a self-concept?
1.When we interact with others, they react to us 2.We imagine how we appear to them 3.We judge how others evaluate us 4.From these judgments, we develop a self-concept
How might a conflict theorist explain the development of the code?
A pressure to be successful and to hold material goods as a symbol of status led to a more desperate culture in the proletariat who cannot afford the lifestyle expected/illustrated for them. This led to more deviant acts to live up to the status and get the same money, selling drugs for example. The code developed as a way to survive in increasingly deviant conditions. The separation of classes, declined living conditions, and potentially deviant behavior led to a tighter-knit community for the working class than the bourgeois and it became this code.
Explain how deviance functions within a society, according to Durkheim and other functionalists.
According to Durkheim, deviance gives people the opportunity to define what is moral and what is not...
What is counterculture? Give an example of one and discuss why it fits the definition of a counterculture.
Counterculture: differs from a subculture in that its norms and values are often incompatible with or in direct opposition to the mainstream. --Some countercultures are political or activist groups attempting to bring about social change; others resist mainstream values by living outside society or practicing an alternative lifestyle --Ex: terrorists
Identify the three main purposes of sociological research.
Describe a phenomenon 1. Explain or predict a phenomenon (x leads to y) 2. Understand a phenomenon (what is the mechanism by which x leads to y?) 3. Spurious relationship: 3rd factor that causes both x and y, not casual
Is the Rooster Sex Survey that I talked about in class considered valid research? Why or why not?
If he was measuring only something in college students then yes, however if that was meant to reflect on the sex lives of the whole U.S. population then the sample was skewed toward college students (people who can afford college, certain age group, etc) Validity: the data is actually reflecting what the data is supposed to reflect; for example, if we are measuring happiness is the information we are collecting actually telling us something about happiness? Rooster Sex Survey: How often have you sent nude photos? -Valid; it is measuring what it intends to measure -Not generalizable; does not represent the overall population The survey is valid but not generalizable!
What are the independent and dependent variables? What is their importance in sociology? Can you make up a few research questions and identify the independent and dependent variables?
Independent (x): does the influencing Dependent (y): outcomes, observation, results, and is influenced by the independent 1. A psychologist is interested in studying how a therapeutic technique influences the symptoms of psychological disorders. In this case, the dependent variable might be defined as the severity of the symptoms a patient is experiencing, while the independent variable would be the use of this specific therapy method. 2. Researchers are interested in seeing how long it takes people to respond to different sounds. In this example, the length of time it takes participants to respond to a sound is the dependent variable, while the sounds are the independent variable. 3. Researchers are interested in looking at how alcohol use influences reaction times while driving. The amount of alcohol a participant ingests is the independent variable, while their performance on the driving test is the dependent variable.
Week 3 Study Questions: Lectures and Textbook: Explain what is meant by both inductive and deductive research.
Inductive: starts with an observation -A researcher gathers data then constructs a theory to explain the findings/patterns Deductive: starts with a theory -A researcher tests a theory by collecting and examining evidence to see if the theory is true
Has inequality in the U.S increased or decreased in the last 50 years?
Inequality has increased; the rich get richer and poor get poorer
In what ways may the infusion of immigrants across the country by decreasing the frequency of crime and changing the "code of the streets"?
Large influxes of immigrants can lead to dilution of American culture, decreasing the cultural significance and prevalence of the code of the streets
In the lecture, I talked about the movie The Titanic which did a good job of displaying stratification. What is another movie/TV show that illustrates important points related to stratification? Explain.
Mean Girls, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Hunger Games series, The Purge series
Describe two different social institutions. What are some of the norms that exist within them?
Norm- A generally accepted way of doing things 1. School- going to class, having/turning in homework, listening to authority figures (teacher, coach, principal), not fighting 2. Church- Going to services, praying, dressing appropriately
How do social institutions contribute to the "code of the street"?
Police → represent the dominant white society, are seen with a lack of faith -When called they don't answer -No trust
What is the ideology of rationality? Give an example of it in U.S. culture.
Rationalization, according to Max Weber, means: 1. The application of the most efficient means to achieve given goals 2. The unintended, negative consequences of doing so -In Weber's view, rationalization is one of the most constraining aspects of contemporary culture
Define status and role and discuss the relationship between the two
Status- Relative social, professional or other standing of someone- It is what you "Are" EX; mother Role- The function assumed or part played by someone in a society etc. "It is what you do" EX: Taking care of children
What is a subculture? Give an example of one and discuss why it fits the definition of a subculture.
Subculture: particular social world that has a distinctive way of life, including its own set of values and norms, practices and beliefs, but that exists harmoniously within the larger mainstream culture --Can be based on ethnicity, age, interests, or anything else that draws individuals together (ex. Goths, hipsters)
What ideologies support existing class structures?
Upper classes are more advantaged are because they want to maintain their privileges/advantages over lower, disadvantaged classes
Why is society necessary to define inequality?
Without society, there would be no class hierarchy; thus, there would be no distinction between higher and lower classes
