Sociology Chapter 15

Alienation

Decreasing importance of social ties and community and the corresponding increase in impersonal associations and instrumental logic.

Social Ecology

The study of human populations and their impact on the natural world.

Gentrification

The transformation of poor inner-city neighborhoods into more affluent, middle-class communities.

The shift of large segments of population away from the urban core and toward the edge of cities is known as a. urbanization. b. urban planning. c. suburbanization. d. gentrification.

c. suburbanization.

Demographic Transition

A theory suggesting the possible transition over time from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates, resulting in a stabilized population.

Modern Environmental Movement

Arose in the mid-twentieth century in response to ecological disasters that threaten public health and safety.

Anti-Malthusians

Believe that family planning (contraception or any other method of controlling family size and birth of children) and other changes will eventually cause population shrinkage.

Neo-Malthusians

Believe that population growth will eventually outpace available resources and lead to a global catastrophe.

Environmental Sociology

Focuses on four areas: How the political economy influences the environment Society's attitudes about the environment The environmental movement (an organized, social movement) Sustainable development

Mainstream Environmentalism

Grew in the 1980s as the movement consolidated and lobbied government about environmental concerns.

Urban Sprawl

Is a derogatory term applied to the expansion of urban or suburban boundaries, associated with irresponsible or poorly planned development.

Urban Legend

Is a form of modern folklore, a story that is believed (incorrectly) to be true and is widely spread because it expresses concerns, fears, and anxieties about the social world.

Megalopolis or Megacity

Is a group of densely populated metropolises that grow dependent on each other and eventually combine to form a huge urban complex.

Environmental Movement

Is a social movement organized around concerns about the relationship between humans and the environment.

Metropolis

Is an urban area with a large population, usually 500,000 to 1,000,000 people.

Suburbanization

Is the shift of large segments of population away from the urban core and toward the edge of cities.

Environmental Sociology

Is the study of the interaction between society and the natural environment, including the social causes and consequences of environmental problems.

Demography

Is the study of the size, composition, distribution, and changes in human population. Three basic demographic variables are crucial to understanding population dynamics.

Urbanization

Refers to the movement of increasing numbers of people from rural areas to urban areas.

Environment

Refers to the natural world, the human-made environment, and the interaction between the two.

Malthusian Theorem

Stated that exponential population growth would outpace arithmetic growth in food production and other resources. Robert Malthus was concerned about population growth and overpopulation.

Life Expectancy

The average age to which a person can expect to live.

Fertility Rates

The average number of births per 1,000 people in the population.

Infant Mortality Rates

The average number of deaths per 1,000 live births.

Mortality Rates

The average number of deaths per 1,000 people in the population.

Migration

The movement of people from one geographic area to another for the purpose of resettling.

Bystander Effect

The social dynamic that shows that the more people are present in a moment of crisis, the less likely any one of them is to take action.

The _____ stated that at some point in the future, people would far outnumber the available land and food sources. a. population theory b. Malthus theorem c. demographic transition theory d. Darwin theorem

b. Malthus Theorem

The study of the size, composition, distribution, and changes in human population is called a. urban sociology. b. demography. c. social ecology. d. environmental sociology.

b. demography.

Which of the following is NOT a demographic variable that is crucial to understanding population dynamics? a. mortality rates b. life expectancy c. fertility rates d. migration

b. life expectancy

The conservation era of the environmental movement focused on a. the environmental consequences of new technology, oil exploration, and nuclear power plants. b. an increased reliance on economic and scientific expertise. c. recycling. d. the preservation of wilderness areas.

d. the preservation of wilderness areas.