Sociology Exam 2
What are the 3 important conclusions from Harry Harlow's experiment on rhesus monkeys? Be able to explain why the results lead to these conclusions.
1. Attachment isn't simply about physiology (hunger or thirst) bc monkeys spent more time clinging to terry cloth mom 2. the power of attachment/ loss over mental health monkeys w/ terry cloth moms went to them when frightened and quickly calmed down monkeys w/ wire mom didn't go to them and threw fits instead 3. "better late than never" doesn't apply to socialization monkeys w/ no moms were permanently damaged after 90 days in isolation
What are Weber's 3 dimensions of stratification?
1. class (economic dimension) 2. status (prestige, the cultural and social dimension) 3. party( power, aka political dimension)
Explain Satoshi Kanazawa's evolutionary argument about why beautiful people may actually be more intelligent
1. genetically healthier people are simultaneously more beautiful and intelligent 2. more intelligent and higher status men marry more beautiful women so their kids come out the same way
What are the 4 components that determine the degree of class stratification in a society?
1. how unequally resources are distributed 2. how much mobility there is between classes 3. how permanent classes are 4. how recognizable social classes are
17. Explain how each of the "agents" of socialization impact our behaviors/beliefs e.t.c.
1. individuals 2. groups 3. organizations (ex. school) 4. ascribed categories (ex. age or gender) 5. communities (segregate people by ascribed categories and structure people's opportunities) 6. media 7. Institutions (education, fam, religion)(influence people's beliefs and behaviors
Name at least 3 ways in which attractive individuals benefit from their looks
1. more attention/ positive evaluations 2. lighter criminal sentences 3. higher wages
Explain Mead's 3 socialization stages. Give an example that falls into each category.
1. preparatory stage children imitate those around them 2. play stage 3-6 yrs of age children begin to role take, but only imitate one significant other at a time 3. game stage greater than 6 yrs old children take role of multiple others and grasp complex role interrelationships aware of "generalized other"-expectations of society as a whole
David Reisman specified 3 cultural-types in his book The Lonely Crowd. Why does he argue that this last type has been great for business/capitalism but horrible for individual human potential?
3 types: tradition-directed inner-directed other-directed Other-directed is bad bc leads to deficits in individual leadership, creativity, and potential
How many emotions have a universal facial expression?
7 fear, disgust, anger, enjoyment, pride, contempt, sadness
Why are first impressions so important?
A first impression is a lasting impression
How are classical and operant conditioning different?
Classical conditioning involves involuntary reflexive behavior while operant conditioning is based on voluntary behavior
Explain how social structure determines interaction at the level of the encounter (Ex. How USC determines your social structure), but also how micro-level encounters can shape macro-level social structures (Ex. Rosa Parks).
Encounters often occur in a group and almost always in a categoric unit. Ex. 2 females talking is diff than when a female and a male meet. The structure nearest the group has the greatest effect. Groups are embedded in complex organizations w division of labor and distinctive culture. complex organizations are embedded in communities, which are then embedded in institution spheres, which are then embedded in society
What is the mirror test and what is its purpose?
Gauges self awareness by testing whether an animal looking in a mirror can recognize the reflection as itself. done by marking animal with a dye and seeing if animal recognizes that the dye is on its own body
Has inequality changed as societal form has changed? Describe how resource inequality has changed as societies have changed.
Inequality has increased as societal from became more complex. Resource inequality-more resources available to the people on top
Explain how excessive impression management can lead to negative physical and mental health.
Inflated concern for physical being leads to risky behavior which leads to illness. Excessive impression management leads to trust issues which leads to relationship failure
Which has the most impact on human behavior, social structure, culture, or interaction? Why/why not?
It's impossible to say one is more important than the other bc they're all interrelated
Why does heavy facebook use often correlate with lower perceived happiness, fairness, and life worth?
Number of friends, amount of likes on pictures, comparing self to others
How does culture provide us with "scripts?" Ex. How does culture provide a 'script' when a student comes into office hours?
People will only do/say certain things depending on what is in context and what culture calls for/ allows
What is role conflict? What is the "second shift" and how does it exemplify role conflict?
Role conflict is when we occupy diff status positions so role sets come into conflict. the "second shift" is the second identity that conflicts with the first. ex. being a mother and student as "second shift"
Explain the perspective that World Systems Theory takes on the world and identity the 3 components and how they are related.
Says we operate in a system composed of trade and political networks and intense conflicts that influence our daily lives. 1. core nations-those that have greatest economical effect on rest of world 2. semi-peripheral-provide cheap labor and cheap goods 3. peripheral-developing nations that don't have great economical effect
Explain the relationship between social structure and culture. How are they different? How are they related?
Social structure is the frame to which culture is attached. Culture is more personal and specified
Define socialization.
Socialization is the interactions instilling in individuals the basic components of personality that are necessary for their participation in society
Explain how innate biological capacities combine with environmental factors to make us what we call "human." Hint: we are born largely narcissistic (selfish
Socialization tames narcissism bc infant finds itself in a social structure where it must interact and get along with others Interaction w/ others plays largest role
Why are polygraphs and most lie detection devices/heuristics false?
Some people are better at lying than others, like ex-cons for example. Lack of standardized research protocol, lack of consistency in defining terms, use of diff instruments, testing errors, and diverse populations
Is socialization stronger/or weaker at young ages?
The influence of socialization is stronger at young ages
Why do facial expressions differ for Japanese in private vs. public?
There's cultural rules as to what's acceptable
Why are ex-cons better at lying compared to non-criminals?
They are familiar with it and have done it more before and more often. They are also familiar w/ what the lie detector is searching for
Cultural directives can change. Why is this important for us both today and throughout our history?
We can change cultural directives (values, beliefs, etc) We have capacity experience emotions, manage emotional displays, and interpret others' emotions Gives us capacity to role-take and role-make
Why are abused children more likely to have impulse control issues?
We learn by influence
Why is interaction with significant others, primary groups, and longer-term relationships relatively more important/impactful on how we are socialized?
When children first learn to role-take they asses themselves based on mirror provided by gestures of significant others. Significant others direct our motivational energies in ways that enable children to meet the expectations of others, social structures, and cultural codes. Interactions are more personal and emotional w/ these groups.
Can facial expressions change your physiology (can smiling make you happier)?
Yes bc of emotion packages or the emotion response system
Explain how impression management, symbols, and role-taking impact our behavior on a first date?
You try to imagine what the other person expects/ wants of you You try to imagine his/ her next move Can use this to be manipulative/deceptive
What is a "role" and how is it related to a status position?
a role is the behavior associated with a status position
Explain what the cases of extreme isolation/poor socialization tell us about the importance of nurture.
almost impossible for a child to learn to speak, think, and act after a long period of early isolation. Nurture is critical for normal development. "better late than never" doesn't apply
What is an identity according to identity theory?
an internalized aspect of who you are
What is the 'law of effect?'
behaviors followed by positive effect are more likely to be repeated those followed by negative response are less likely to be repeated
What is the difference between a caste system and open-class system?
caste is highly stratified open class is less stratified
What is a "role set"?
cluster of behaviors emitted due to occupancy of certain status positions
What is a corporate unit? Distinguish between the 4 types of corporate units (encounters, groups, organization, communities)
corporate units are structures that make visible a divide of labor where individuals play distinct roles encounters- the most basic of corporate units; occurs when 2 people are are mutually aware of one another; 2 types are focused and unfocused; focused=people behave in ways to facilitate communication; unfocused=avoid communication groups= social structures composed of few status positions and occupants, where there's dense ties among positions and clear expectations for behavior; two types are primary and secondary; primary=small, close-knit, intimate; secondary=somewhat larger; more impersonal organization= larger and more formal structure composed of more status position w diffs in authority (hierarchy) and larger number of people occupying lower positions communities=social structures that organize peoples' residence and activities in a physical space
By the same reasoning, why does the mere presence of a gun lead to increased aggression/hostility? Does this argument hold the same weight for individuals who hunt as a hobby? Using this logic, if we want to change automatic associations with guns/weapons what can be done?
cultural learning imbues objects w/ aggressive and hostile associations
What is social class?
defined by shares of wealth, prestige, access to resources, access to health care, opportunities, etc
What crucial finding can we draw from Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment?
direct reinforcement (reward) isn't necessary to learn behavior behavior can be learned through observation and imitation
Explain how stratification can lead to unequal expectations of competence according to status construction theory. Hint: We can see success but we can't see skill.
discrimination by gender, age, ethnicity, etc if someone is wealthy we assume they're smarter, more competent. but for all we know they could be stupid and were just born into money
What is stratification? Why is this an important aspect of sociological study?
exists when levels of a categoric unit are defined by varying shares of valued resources
Explain Goffman's Dramaturgy using his theater analogy with "front stage," "back stage." What is impression management and where does it fit in Goffman's explanation of behavior?
front stage is the social place where people deliver their lines and perform back stage is the private area where we can relax and don't have to act. this is where we practice for front stage. also called the green room Impression management occurs when we present ourselves in a certain way to receive certain responses from others
What is the davis-moore hypothesis
if a job is important and difficult to fill b
What is interaction (think symbols and their use)? Does interaction require verbal communication?
interaction is the emission of signs and gestures. doesn't require verbal communication
Why does exposure to violent media (TV, video games, movies, etc) tend to lead to increased aggression/hostility
it facilitates aggression, decreases empathy, desensitizes, and it teaches positive reinforcement of violence
How does Weber's take on class stratification differ from Marx's?
more complex being high on one dimension doesn't mean you're high on another many distinct layers of stratification conflict arises when when dimensions are highly correlated
What are the 2 requirements for a social category to qualify as a categoric unit?
must carry cultural evaluation of self worth and have a set of normative expectations for how individuals in the group should play roles
Using the concepts of "status set" and "role set" explain how social structure both constrains and enables (we have agency) behavior?
people can decide which behaviors to exhibit and how to exhibit them, however there are certain behaviors that we are confined to within each role set
What is the "halo effect?"
people have tendency to automatically assume that attractive people have other desirable qualities
What is "power" according to Mills?
power is a dimension of stratification related to social class
What is a "status set?"
refers to the complex of positions a person occupies in his/her life
What individual aspects are resistant to change? Why is this good and/or bad?
self-concept and motive states good bc provides for consistency which facilitates interaction but destructive personalities can be changed w time and effort
Explain the relationship between culture, social structure, & interaction. How are culture and social structure dependent upon interaction?
social life is performed on a stage and culture and social structure provide us w/ the stage, setting, script, and props. Interaction among people is what brings the play to life. Without interaction, social structures and culture have no life
What is an "institution" and what is their 'purpose'?
social structures that coordinate lower-level structures (organizations, groups, etc) to fix problems others are to address the needs of society as it becomes larger and more complex (ex. gov, law, edu, med, science)
Explain how the recent recession in 2007 relates to Marx's conflict perspective? Hint: For Marx, self-interest & greed lead to revolution in a capitalist society
stratification makes for class conflict. workers rebel against owners bc they get no resources
How does identity theory argue identities drive behavior? Explain how salience and commitment (in terms of identity) lead to behavior
the more committed we are to an identity, the more likely we are to behave in ways consistent w/ that role the more committed to an identity we are, the more salient it is
What is a status position?
the places people occupy in the larger system of interconnected positions positions carry cultural content, which are expectations/ norms for behavior in certain situation
According to Mills, can just anyone join the top of the power pyramid? How does power tend to be distributed in a society?
the top leaders are corporate, military, and political. not just anyone can join. most people fall into middle level, which is congress, other legislators, interest group leaders, and local opinion leaders
Based on what we have learned, can we say that either nature or nurture is more important than the other?
they're both interrelated and play equally important roles
What are the 4 events we discussed that create inter-societal connections?
war, trade, political and economical alliances, and migration
Can we turn our social learning capabilities off?
we can ignore them but can't turn them off
How does our ability to "role-take" facilitate (make easier/smoother) interaction? Hint: I gave the example of seeing someone clinch their fists
we can put ourselves in somebody else's shoes and understand where they're coming from. clenching fists makes you feel tense and you understand how the other person feels. when you know how the other person feels, you can adjust your responses accordingly
What is role strain?
when role sets of diff positions come into conflict. ex. when taking care of a child conflicts with studying (mother and student)
Do genetics determine social class? How do genetics differentially impact people in various class strata?
yes bc you're born into a social class and if you start lower you have less opportunity to work your way up. if you start on top you'll have more opportunities to stay on top
