Sociology Unit 2

A large, complex secondary group that has been established to achieve specific goals.

formal organization

Large secondary group formed to achieve specific goals.

formal organization

Society where emphasis shifts from production of food to production of manufactured goods.

industrial society

Society that lives a nomadic life and relies on domesticated animals.

pastoral society

All of the following are examples of preindustrial societies except

postindustrial

Into what three broad categories do sociologists place societies?

preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial

Features of human behavior subjected to control and measurement.

rationality

A complaint about bureaucracies is the ________ often involved in dealing with them.

red tape

A ____ is the way society uses technology to provide for the needs of its members.

subsistence strategy

Urbanization is

the concentration of the population in cities.

A typically nonprofit organization which is formed to pursue some common interest is a

voluntary association.

Is dominance by small groups seen as a strength or weakness of a bureaucracy?

weakness

What is the difference between a horticultural society and an agricultural society?

A horticultural society's source of food is through fruits & vegetables. An agricultural society uses animals to accelerate food production as well as barter for goods and services.

What is corporate life like in Japan?

Emphasis is on formal structures with strict dress codes and business manners. One must follow the rules without questioning them.

Gemeinschaft (community) and Gesellschaft (association) are the same type of society, according to Ferdinand Tonnies.

False

Horticultural societies use animals to accelerate food production.

False

Pastoral societies are closely linked with postindustrial societies.

False

Rationality involves people sharing the same values and performing the same tasks.

False

The German sociologist Max Weber developed a model of bureaucracy that is rarely used by sociologists today.

False

What is mechanical solidarity?

It is the sharing of the same values and performance of the same tasks that causes unity and a strong social bond. It is characteristic of simple traditional societies, for example the Amish.

What are some of the weaknesses in bureaucracies?

Loss of original goals and purpose; encouragement of a "bureaucratic" personality; "red tape"; iron law of oligarchy; dominance by small groups; "few rule the many"

Which term describes societies where increased job specialization forces members to depend on one another for aspects of their survival?

Organic Solidarity

What is a pastoral society?

Pastoralism is a slightly more efficient form of subsistence. Rather than searching for food on a daily basis, members of a pastoral society rely on domesticated herd animals to meet their food needs. Pastoralists live a nomadic life, moving their herds from pasture to pasture. Because their food supply is far more reliable, pastoral societies can support larger populations.

Which of the following does the statement, "People are promoted into positions they are not qualified to perform" relate to ?

Peter Principle

What is the Peter Principle?

Professor Laurence J. Peter, in his book The Peter Principle, suggested that employees in a bureaucracy often are promoted to positions for which they may have little ability. Bureaucracies are able to function, he added, only because not all officials have been promoted to their "level of incompetence" or promoted beyond their capabilities.

A voluntary association is typically a nonprofit organization formed to pursue some common interest.

True

The concentration of the population in cities is referred to as urbanization.

True

Today we use the word bureaucracy to refer to any organization that has many departments.

True

What is urbanization?

Urbanization is the concentration of the population in cities.

The exchange of a good or service is

barter

Laurence Peter believes that in a bureaucracy employees often are promoted _____ their level of competence.

beyond

A ranked authority structure that operates according to specific rules and procedures.

bureaucracy

The specialization by individuals or groups in the performance of specific economic activities is

division of labor

What are the characteristics of bureaucracies according to sociologist Max Weber's theoretical model?

division of labor, ranking of authority, employment based on formal qualifications, rules and regulations, and specific lines of promotion and advancement

All of the following are types of societies except

economic

Describe the two ideal types of societies based on the structure of social relationships and the degree of shared values among societal members that German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies distinguished.

He called these two types of societies Gemeinschaft, the German word meaning "community," and Gesellschaft, the German word meaning "society." Gemeinschaft refers to societies in which most members know one another. Relationships in such societies are close, and activities center on the family and the community. In a Gemeinschaft, people share a strong sense of group solidarity. A preindustrial society or a rural village in a more complex society are examples of a Gemeinschaft. In a Gesellschaft most social relationships are based on need rather than on emotion. Thus, relationships in a Gesellschaft are impersonal and often temporary. Traditional values are generally weak in such societies, and individual goals are more important than group goals. A modern urban society such as the United States is a example of a Gesellschaft.

What is division of labor?

In a pastoral society, because the people in this society live a nomadic life, their food supply is far more reliable and they can support larger populations. Since there are food surpluses, fewer people are needed to produce food. As a result, the division of labor becomes more complex. Division of labor is the specialization by individuals or groups in the performance of specific economic activities. For example, some people become craftworkers, producing tools, weapons, and jewelry.

Describe hunting and gathering societies.

In a preindustrial society, food production is the main economic activity. Preindustrial societies can be subdivided according to their level of technology and their method of producing food. Hunting and gathering is one of the subdivisions of the preindustrial society. The main form of food production in hunting and gathering societies is the daily collection of wild plants and the hunting of wild animals. Hunter-gatherers move around constantly in search of food. As a result, they do not build permanent villages or create a wide variety of artifacts. The need for mobility also limits the size of hunting and gathering societies. Such societies generally consist of fewer than 60 people and rarely exceed 100 people. Statuses within the group are relatively equal, and decisions are reached through general agreement. The family forms the main social unit, with most societal members being related by birth or by marriage. This type of organization requires the family to carry out most social functions--including production and education.

What is the iron law of oligarchy?

In bureaucracies, power tends to concentrate in the hands of a few people at the top. These people then use their position to promote their own interests over the interests of the organization. Sociologist Robert Michels called this tendency of organizations to become increasingly dominated by small groups of people the iron law of oligarchy.