Sociology Test 1 Perrin

What do the Marriage photos illustrate/ what is the point of them

- Everyone is white and blonde - Social Context is important regardless of what you strive for -wedding of pretty people, everything is explained by social context

In the introductory story about the "Dirty War" in Argentina, the author argues the journalist misses the point. What questions should we be asking?

- What can sociology contribute to assessing what values are variable and which are constant across contexts and culture -how is the sociologist to investigate the less overt and more hidden operations of power in normal times and places

Perrin discussed the Comte and Durkheim in the history of Soc. What role did they play?

-Comte was the first to coin the term sociology. Applied science to social life and to perfecting society. envisions the inevitable coming of sociology -Durkheim was the 'father of sociology'. founded the first european journal of sociology and the first european sociology department (Univ. of Bordeaux). - Looks a suicide on a macro level - sees structural patterns of suicide

What is an "institutional review board" What is informed consent?

-IRBs are boards that review researchers proposals before any work can begin in order to assess their potential harm and the benefits of the research for participants. -informed consent means that participants consent to trials based on what they are

What is the soc imagination, who coined the term, and what kind of motorized vehicle did he like? :)

-The capacity to think systematically about how things we experience as personal problems (debt, divorced parents, etc) are really social issues that are widely shared by others living in a similar time and social location as us. -C. Wright Mills, liked motorcycles.

How can the research study Perrin did on the relationship between religious commitment and honestly illustrate the Research Process?

-begins with a epistimological question. -picks a question to ask -experiments -conclusions

How does Grand Theft Auto relate to the socialization issue?

-it impacts attitudes towards women -things like this can cause misogynistic attitudes to arise

How can suicide, which is a very personal and private act, be analyzed sociologically?

-patterns of suicide show that it is not only a personal decision. -more likely to commit suicide if person is not well integrated in society (durkheim) - what factors are signs that people are not integrated... protestants have higher suicide rates than catholics, males higher than females.. this is all sociology

The authors ask two questions about surplus that represent a "starting point" for Marx's thinking. What are these 2 questions?

1. Who takes possession of Surplus 2. What means do they use to take possession

Max Atkinson argues that even a presumably spontaneous thing like applause is social; and that a good speaker knows how to work a crowd. What does he mean?

Applause is something that is only done in groups, to applaud at the wrong times is embarrassing. A good speaker gives cues for applause and speaks in 3s "of the people, by the people, and for the people"

Is Canadian Hockey a meritocracy?

Based off of the reading, canadian hockey is not a meritocracy. The oldest kids are getting picked at a disproportionate rate, and thus players are judged off of more than just their skill

discrimination

Behaving differently, usually unfairly, toward the members of a group.

How are stereotypes related to discrimination

Both involve making a judgment against a group of people, discrimination involves actively treating the group differently than other groups.

Bottom of pg 27, the authors suggest that Capitalism changed in ways Marx did not anticipate. What were these changes?

Capitalist societies have developed large, government funded social programs like social security, unemployment insurance, health insurance, and education systems designed to reduce inequality

What does DuBois mean by "double consciousness?"

DuBois' double consciousness is the idea that black people had to live multiple lives: one as a black person and one as an american

Back in the day, because of slavery and later racial segregation, most people assumed that black people were "inferior" to white people. How did DuBois respond?

Dubois said that racial inequality was not rooted in biological differences but rather manufactured by American society. EX: Education

Looking glass self and the effects of solitary confinement

Emphasizes the extent to which our own self understandings depend on how others view us. thus solitary confinement affects our own self-understanding

What is an ethnography? What is the relevance of the term "thick descriptions?"

Ethnography is direct observation research. Thick descriptions is a term meaning that ethnography can provide rich, detailed descriptions of the people it observes

What is Free Will? Determinism?

Free Will: The idea that we can do whatever we set our minds too, not governed by any exterior forces. Determinism: proposes that all behavior has a cause and is thus predictable, and free will is an illusion, and our behavior is governed by internal or external forces over which we have no control.

Top of pg 40, we read how a functionalist and conflict theorist differ in their understanding of inequality. Summarize this difference.

Functionalist Theory states that economic inequality is a necessary part of society and encourages talented individuals to pursue careers that will be helpful to society. Conflict Theorist argue that inequality produces tension and eventual power struggle or revolution

Globalization

Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology.

What holds societies together, according to Durkheim?

He believed that modern societies are held together by the fact that individuals in modern societies are guaranteed a level of freedom that those in primitive societies are not. "cult of the individual"

How can a label lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy (Thomas Scheff research)

If people are told that they are something and labelled as such, they are likely to accept it and believe it about themselves. Ex: crazy people

What historical events/changes were influential in the rise of sociology?

Industrial revolution and urbanization

What do we mean when we say "social context matters?"

It just means that everything is caused by something. Context is important for determining why something is the way that it is. Where you came from, how you were parented, etc all can help understand why you do what you do

Concerning the Sociological Imagination... Even personal troubles happen in social context. What does this mean?

It means that there are both personal and public issues to every issue. Personal struggles can be seen in social context in that they are all happen in a particular context (ex. divorce not existing would not mean that marriages are happy).

Sharkey research on violent neighborhoods

Link between neighborhood violence and children's school performance

stereotype

Making faulty generalizations about individuals based on what we think we know about the groups they are members of. Example used in lecture was fat people

Concerning the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, what did Marx predict would happen over time.

Marx thought that eventually all modes of production would become stagnant and fall into crisis, and that a social revolution was likely to occur

P. 41, what is the difference between the me and the I, according to the Symbolic Interactionists

Me is the dimension of self is the objective dimension of self- that which is interpreted by others I is the is the subjective dimension of self- the part that interprets how others see us and that decides how to act based on how our actions will appear to others

Was the Perrin study on honesty a randomized controlled trial? Why or why not?

No. You can't force people to take on religious beliefs and thus the groups cannot be randomized

How does rational choice theory solve the free will vs. determinism dilemma? (Hint: people have a different basis for making choices, and different alternatives from which to choose... but they DO make choices)

People make rational choices that are both predictable and free. We make decisions , but we do so in context. Behavior based on making a rational choice. EX: Crime is not random or unpredictable

Who are sociology's academic siblings? (In lecture I called them our cousins... let's just call them relatives)

Political scientists, economists, anthropologists, and psychologists

What is the difference between power, authority and legitimacy?

Power is a person's ability to achieve his or her objective even if someone else tries to prevent it. Authority is the capacity to get people to do things because they think that they should abide by the commands of the people above them Legitimacy is when leaders are obeyed not because they threaten force, but because people believe obeying their orders is the right thing to do.

Milgram obedience to authority study

Psychologist: Stanley Milgram Conducted: Subject/"teacher" was to apply electric shocks when confederate "learner" did not answer questions correctly; 66% gave what they thought was a lethal 450 volts Findings: Showed even when ordinary people can hurt or kill others when ordered to commit acts by an authority figure

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research?

Qualitative: relies on words or detailed interviews with informants, direct observations, historical records, or pictures Quantitative: relies on data that is statistical in nature

What is Social Interaction?

Refers to the way people act together, including how they modify and alter their behavior in response to the presence of others

Study of the lines (Solomon Asch)

Reflects on 'pathetically social' in that people answered with what everyone else answered, rather than what they actually thought was right

Chap 1 from Berger is mostly about what sociology is NOT. What is on this list?

Reforming the world, Bringing about Justice, Fixing social problems. It's not a practice, not 'working with people', not social work.

What are reliability and validity, and why are they important in sociological research?

Reliability: ability of study to be replicated Validity: the accuracy of the study

Durkheim's understanding of religion focuses on the sacred - how is sacred defined, and how is it important in holding societies together?

Sacred is defined as those objects, okaces, and symbols that are set apart from daily life and elicit awe and reverence, sustained by myths and rituals. Religion helps to provide individuals with a common set of beliefs and makes both individuals and societies stronger.

What is the self? And what does Manza mean, "the self is not a thing, but a process of interaction?" (p. 62)

Self: one's own identity and social position, as made and reformulated through interaction it just means that we are a product of socialization

In sociological terms, what is the self? How does group membership contribute to the development of the self?

Self: one's own identity and social position, as made and reformulated through interaction. Interaction makes self

Why is sociology harder to define than these other disciplines?

Sociology studies a very broad field and relies very heavily on the research of many different fields of both science and social science. Because it blurs the lines between many different topics, it is hard to define as one specific study.

What is a spurious finding? How does the Coleman Report illustrate a spurious finding?

Spurious findings: When two factors in a study seem to move in the same direction but are both themselves caused by something else. Coleman: Educational resources and student test scores were spurious. both were influenced by family background and racial makeup of schools

How do Stereotypes lead to Discrimination

Stereotypes lead to negative attitudes towards certain peoples and often lead to direct action against them. In the example of old people, the stereotype would be that they are not good workers, which may lead to discrimination when an employer chooses not to hire them because of that stereotype.

How do Structural Functionalists see the world? How do Conflict theorists see the world?

Structural functionalism is a theory of society in which individuals, groups, and the institutions of society are guided by an overarching social system Conflict Theorists: society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources

What are the limitations of concluding that a problem like homelessness is only a problem of "bad choices"?

Structural issues impact the choices that people have the ability to make. Everyone makes bad choices (on high levels) but not everyone is homeless. look beyond individualistic factors.

Zimbardo Prison Experiment

Study involving 24 healthy subjects given the role of prison guards or inmates. The people assigned to be guards became hostile and aggressive, those assigned to be prisoners generally felt hopeless and victimized.

Identify and understand the 4 Sociology Methods typically used by sociologists

Survey, Comparative-historical, ethnography,

How does the Kingsley Davis article on Prostitution illustrate functionalism? What functions does functionalism provide?

The

In the Conflict section, we read about C. Wright Mills, who argued that power is not shared, but instead sits in the hands of the "Power Elite." Who are the "Power Elite," according to Mills.

The Power Elite are the top ranks of the leading political, economic, and military institutions in american society.

What is Weber's most famous book, and what does Weber argue in this book?

The Protestant ethic and the spirit of Capitalism. In it, he argues that the influence of certain religious movements are tied to places that had the earliest and most successful capitalist economies.

What is ethnocentrism? Why must one overcome ethnocentrism before being capable of conducting social science research?

The inability to accept, or reference patterns of behavior or belief different than one's own.

What is a middle range theory?

Theories that make specific, researchable propositions about particular aspects of society that consciously connect social structure with individual action.

What is the traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational authority?

Traditional Authority: Legitimacy arising out of tradition. Common in societies with rigid social structures, like those in aristocratic europe in the middle ages Charismatic Authority: Legitimacy that arises out of the perception that a leader is endowed with special powers or gifts. EX: Jesus Legal-rational authority: Legitimacy based on explicit rules. Most obviously displayed in the rise of one of the pillars of modern life: Bureaucracy

What does Irving Goffman mean, "Life is a stage?" What is the "backstage?"

We are always performing because we need constant approval. backstage is

What about DARE? Or the effects of child abuse? Can these things be studied experimentally?

Yes and No. -randomly assign kids to DARE or nothing, study how many take drugs - Child abuse is harder because people who abuse children are likely to not admit they abuse kids. It is also not ethical to allow.

Hierarchies

a set of enduring and important social positions that often grant some individuals and groups higher status and more power than others.

What does Berger say sociology IS?

an attempt to understand , not to reform the world, bring about justice, or fix social problems

While studying for this test your friend says, "Remember when learned in class that the death penalty deters homicide?" Knowing he clearly missed the point, explain to him what we can and cannot conclude about the -.74 correlation.

correlation is not causation

Bourdieu argues that social class advantage can be obvious... but it can also be more subtle and hard to identify. Describe these more subtle forms of class advantage

cultural capital: Refers to knowledge about what is considered high or respected culture, expressed in ways such as talking intelligently about art, literature. Social Capital: Resources based on who you know and can call upon for help when you need it Symbolic Capitol: Reputation

How would a social scientist explain the drop in ACC basketball fouls?

either players made rational choice not to foul or refs saw the extra ref not calling fouls and decided that if he wasn't calling fouls neither would they

Comte was a "positivist." What does this mean?

empirical observation is the exclusive source of all worthwhile information

What does it mean to say sociology is an empirical discipline?

empirical: something that is based on careful and systematic observation sociology is an empirical discipline because it is based on careful systematic observations.

What do Symbolic Interactionists mean when they use terms/phrases like "impression management," "dramaturgical," "impression management," "all the world's a stage?"

essentially, means that we are constantly seeking to influence how people interpret our behaviors by strategically acting in certain ways to achieve a desired interpretation from others

What is the point of the "fact vs. feeling" video clip we watched from John Oliver? What has the homicide rate done since 1990?

has gone down consistently

How does Max Weber's book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism illustrate comparative/historical research. What were his findings?

he used historical data to illustrate why religion is important in economic success. Historically protestant regions are more economically successful than any others

What is a hypothesis? Independent variable? Dependent variable?

hypothesis: tentative prediction we have about what we are going to discover before we begin research independent variable: Factors which we think influence or cause a particular outcome or dependent variable dependent variable: The outcome caused by the independent variable

What is civil inattention?

ignoring each other to an appropriate degree although noticing that the other is present

What is epistemology and how is it relevant to social research?

is the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge. Epistemologists study the nature of knowledge, epistemic justification, the rationality of belief, and various related issues. Can we study this?

What does it mean to "operationalize" a variable? How did Perrin operationalize honesty?

it means to define the variable in order to be able to study it and get data on it

Institutions

long standing and important practices (marriage, families, education,) as well as the organizations that regulate those practices (gov. , military, schools, religious groups). Provide the framework for interaction and frequently organize existing norms into enduring patterns of behavior.

Check out the social theory timeline on p. 25. Who are the key players? And, while I do not want you to memorize dates, I do want you know, in general, about when this was all going on, and what was going on at the time.

marx (pre-civil war), Durkheim late 1890s, Web Dubois same time, max weber, herbert mead, talcott parsons, c wright mills, ralf dahrendorf, erving goffman, blumer, foucault, coleman

Is Brainwashing a legitimate concept?

no. can't force anyone to believe anything, at a certain level they must be willing

Does Altruism exist? Did Mother Teresa "Maximize?"

no. rewards are present no matter what we do. Mother Teresa maximized in that she was rewarded because she enjoyed serving others and maximized in that she saw her place in heaven as much more beneficial than any suffering on earth could every be.

How is patriarchy defined on p. 44? How is this definition different from the one found in the Glossary? (Glossary definition is how Perrin has defined it) Is the difference important?

p44: The idea that societies are set up to ensure that women are systematically controlled and devalued Glossary: A gender system in which men have substantially more power than women in politics, the economy, and the family.

Point of Lofland and Stark research on the Unification Church?... adherents were not brainwashed, they were resocialized; people are drawn to the commitments of their intimate attachments

people are willing to accept new ideas if they have strong connections with people who believe these ideas.

Summarize the code of ethics that we social scientists agree to.

protect those that are studies and not do them any harm. Disclose identity as researchers and obtain informed consent

In sociological terms, what is the difference between a role model and a significant other? How do they each impact our social development?

role models are particular individuals within a reference group that we model behavior after, while significant others can be anyone close to us that influences our behavior

Age matters, even in schools... what solution does Gladwell suggest?

set up multiple groups of kids based on date of birth and give all the same opportunities.

Don't bother memorizing definitions, but do know what these terms convey; significant other, reference group, generalized other, subculture, roles, role conflict.

significant other: someone close enough to us to motivate our behaviour Reference group: groups that influence our behavior generalized other: the social control exercised by common sense understandings of what is appropriate in a specific time and place

What is "social context?"

social context is the influence that society has on individuals. Examples include environment, money, etc.

What is effect of poverty and violence on performance?

strong negative correlation... sharkey research being a good example.

What is the role the Industrial Revolution and urbanization in the development of sociology?

the industrial rev. + urbanization are the 'social context' that shaped sociology. They essentially created social challenges that needed to be dealt with and understood, allowing for sociology to take root

What is Social Structure?

the many diverse ways that the rules and norms of everyday life become enduring patterns that shape and govern social interactions.

Sociology

the study of societies and the social worlds that individuals inhabit within them

Why does the American Sociological Association have a code of ethics? What impact does it have on sociological researchers?

to help researchers foresee any potential dangers and to safeguard the ethical standard of their work. Researchers tend to avoid methods that will encounter problems in the boards

What does Perrin mean when he says that we are "pathetically social"?

we are motivated primarily by what those around us. We also maximize, and there are costs when we do not conform

What can we learn about ourselves by studying conformity?

we realize that being conformist is an important part of our "self".

How does rational choice theory explain our "pathetically social" behavior?

we see doing the same thing that others are doing as safe and thus rational

Does spanking do more harm than good? Perrin suggests the answer is yes, but he is hesitant to call the evidence "proof." Why?

yes, but topic is hard to study. hard to measure if kids are violent because of spanking or if they get spanked because they are violent

How does what you wear to class illustrate the tension between free will and determinism?

you may want to wear whatever you want, but you also feel pressure to fit in and not look stupid. Essentially while you have a choice to wear whatever you want, you will always end up wearing something socially acceptable