Sociology exam #1

Sociology can be defined as the systematic study of human society and social behavior. Given this definition, which of the following levels of social structures describes best what sociologists might examine?

almost any level, from interactions between 2 people to large-scale instiutions

which of the following statements best characterizes micro-sociolgy?

an approach that examines interaction between individuals and the ways those interactions reflect larger patterns within society

According to the documentary, why do the Amish stay away from mainstream society?

- "in order to preserve their culture" - don't want to conform to the world

How does Amish culture differ from mainstream American culture?

- can't cut hair - keep away from the world - strict rules - no individuality - a lot of kids - no magazines or newspapers - no cars - can't post for pictures

Were there any examples of social pressure?

- pressure to stay in the assignment - pressure to vote for someone

what are some of the cons associated with leaving Amish culture?

- shunned for 4 weeks if you come back - leaving behind family (connection) - no chance of going to heaven - don't know anyone in new culture - don't know how to survive in dominant culture

Sociology can be approached from both a micro-sociological and a macro-sociological perspective, which is more useful?

both are useful in different ways because they each provide different types of info about the same study

Sociologists observe society:

by studying various parts of society and the way they influence and react with one another

What kind of power did the professor display?

coersive

According to the theoretical position developed by Karl Marx, what is the engine of social change?

conflict between social groups

what was probably Harriet Martineau's most important contribution to the development of sociolgy as a discipline

her translation of the work of Auguste Conte into English

What are examples of material culture?

horses, Amish clothes, bonnet, buggies

what are examples of in-group and out-group?

in-group: chosen group out-group: not chosen group, professor

Was the professor an expressive or instrumental leader?

instrumental

Harriet Martineau supported many ideas that were radical for her time, including:

labor unions and abolition of slavery

what kind of authority did the professor display?

legal

which of the following statements best describes the approach taken by macro-sociologists>

macro-sociology examines large-scale social structure to see how it affects individual lives

Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise?

meaning is negotiated through interaction with others

what is shunning? According to the amish

putting someone out of the church, like the New Testament equivalent to stoning. It is done against someone is not clean and did not follow the rules.

which of the following theories views society as a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together?

structural functionalism

what is sociological imagination?

the ability to understand the connections between biography and history of the interplay of the self and the world

if you posses a sociological imagination and someone asks you to study unemployment rates in a city of 50 million people where 15 million are unemployed, where should you start?

to consider political and economic structures of society

Who coined the phrase survival of the fittest

Herbert Spencer