Sociology Chapter 7,8,9

Poverty

The condition or quality of being poor

Status Consistancy

The degree of consistency in a persons social standing across various dimensions of social inequality

Intergenerational

Intergenerational social mobility. Upward or downward social mobility of children in relation to their parents

Meritocracy

social stratification based on merit.

Social Stratification

a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hiearchy

Intra generational

Intragenerational Social Mobility. A change in a social position occurring during a persons lifetime.

Absolute Poverty

A deprivation of resources that is life threatening

Socioeconomic

Socioeconomic Status. A composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality

Davis Moore

The thesis that social stratification is a universal pattern because it benefits the operation of a society

Caste

Social stratification based on a ascription

Structural Social Mobility

A shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts

class

Social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement

Under Class

The persistently poor and unemployed class of people who lack training and skills

Income

wages or salary from work and earnings from investments

Closed system

One that allows for little change in a persons social position

Power

The ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others

Alienation

The experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness

Prestige

The power to command admiration and/or esteem by reputation and/or distinction

Social Change

The transformation of a culture and social institutions over time

Mass Society

A society in which industrialization and bureaucracy reach exceptionally high levels

Neo Colonialism

A new form of global power relationships that involves not direct political control, but rather economic exploitation by multinational corporations.

Periphery

Those low-income countries which were drawn into the world economy by colonial exploitation

Multinational

Those corporations that are large and operate in many countries

Relative Deprivation

A perceived disadvantage arising from some specific comparison

Dependency Theory

A model of economic and social development that explains inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of poor societies by rich ones.

World System Theory

In explaining the unequal distribution of wealth and power throughout the world, this theory divides nations into three groups; core societies, peripheral societies, and semi-peripheral societies

Relative Poverty

The term referring to the fact that some people lack resources that are taken for granted by others. A floating standard of deprivation by which people at the bottom of a society, whatever their lifestyles, are judged to be disadvantaged in comparison wit

Post Modernism

Social patterns characteristic of postindustrial societies and the Information Revolution

Modernization Theory

A model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences among societies.

Colonialism

The process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations

Modernity

Social patterns resulting from industrialization

Core Countries

Those countries of the world that dominate all others in terms of economic, political, and military strength

Semi Periphery

Those countries, neither core nor periphery, that are moving up/down in the world system.

Job Deskilling

a reduction in the proficiency needed to perform a specific job that leads to a corresponding reduction in the wages for that job

What is the functionalist view on class?

-view classes as broad groupings of people who share similar levels of privilege on the basis of their roles in the occupational structure
-David Moore Theory- Stratification exists in all societies and inequality is inevitable but also necessary for a so

What is the conflict view on class?

Conflict perspective believes that social stratification is created by and maintained by one group, usually the upper class, in order to become richer and maintain that class. Theorists measure class according to peoples relationships with others

What is the symbolic interactionist view on class?

Focuses on how class location may + or - affect ones identity and everyday interactions. So the beliefs and actions of people are reflect their class location in society

Labeling Theory

The idea that deviance and conformity result not only from what people do but from how others respond to those actions

Stigma

A powerfully negative label that greatly changes a persons self concept and social identity

Rebellion

One of Mertons responses to failure, involving rejection of both culturally approved means and goals, going one step further by forming a counter culture and advocating alternatives to the existing order

Retreatism

One of Mertons responses to the inability to succeed, involving rejection of both cultural goals and means; in effect, the individual "drops out

Crime

The violation of society's formally enacted criminal law

Ritualism

One of Mertons responses to failure, involving accepting societys means, but not recognizing the goals are only minimally accessible

Conformity

One who, according to Merton, pursues conventional goals through approved means, successfully acquiring wealth and prestige

Social Control

Attempts by society to regulate people's thoughts and behavior

Rehabilitation

A program for reforming the offender to prevent subsequent offenses

Retribution

An act of moral vengance by which society inflicts suffering on the offender comparable to that caused by the offense

Medicalization of deviance

The transformation of moral and legal deviance into a medical condition

Deviant Career

A way of life characterized by repeated norm violations

White Collar Crime

Crime committed by people of high social position in the course of their occupations

Innovator

One who, according to Merton, uses unconventional means to achieve a culturally approved goal

Corporate Crime

The illegal actions of a corporation or people acting on its behalf

Differential Association

Edwin Sutherland's theory that a persons tendency toward conformity or deviance depends on the amount of contact he/she has with others who encourage or reject conventional behavior

Deterrence

The attempt to discourage criminality through punishment

Victimless Crimes

Violations of the law in which there are no readily apparent victims

Deviance

The recognized violation of cultural norms