Sociology
The Scientific study of human relationships and patterns of behavior, through the study of social forces. Theoretical frameworks and methods produce knowledge about the world.
Psychology
The study of the individual and the brain
Ineqality
Condition whereby people have uneqaul access to value resources, services and positions in society
Stratification
Inequality has been institutionalized, and there is a system of social relationships that determines who gets what and why.
ascribed characteristic
characteristics acquired at birth / usually
unchangeable
achieved characteristic
characteristics that can be acquired
Institution
Relatively permanent patterns of specialized roles, groups, organizations, and activities that meet some fundamental social needs. Different ____ helps to teach race and values as a person develops
Power
The ability to control events or determine behavior of others despite resistance.
Authority
A specific form of control where the right to command is considered appropriate and legitimate
Prestige
Social honor and respect
values
Standards of desirability: Collective expressions of judgment.
Beliefs
Ideas or assumptions about the nature of the social and physical reality.
Norms
Rules that define what behavior is expected, required, or Expected in particular circumstances.
Culture
values, beliefs, and norms that humans pass from one generation to the next
Social Structure
Structure of culture
Basic Research
Research that advances knowledge about how the social world works and develops.
Applied Research
Research that attempts to solve a concrete problem or address a specific policy question. The research has direct, practical implications. (Also expands knowledge)
Micro research approach
Focus on small groups. They examine the patterns
and processes of face-to-face interactions between humans.
Macro research approach
Attempt to explain the fundamental patterns and
processes of large-scale social relations.
Praxis
The study of habit, custom, or convention.
Assimilation
mono-culture with the expectation of outsiders joining (assimilation high, ethnic identity low)
Bicultural
Assimilation High, Ethnic Identity High
Traditionalist
Ethnic Identity High, Assimilation Low
Marginal
Ethnic Identity Low, Assimilation Low
Functionalism
If an aspect of social life does not contribute to a society's stability of survival, it will not be passed on from one generation to the next, Societal elements function together to maintain order, stability, and equilibrium, A stable, cooperative social
Conflict Theory
Society is based on coercion or force, not consensus, Society is continually engaged in a series of disagreements, tensions, and clashes. It is a struggle between the privileged and the exploited, Unlike functionalist who view societal parts as working ha
Interactionist Theory
People define their reality through a process called the social construction of reality. Through their interactions in daily life, people create symbols and definitions when communicating with others. Examining the microsocial world provides focus for und
Characteristics of a minority group
1. The group receives unequal treatment as a group
2. The group is easily identifiable because of distinguishing physical or cultural characteristics that are held in low self-esteem
3. The group feels a sense of 'peoplehood'
4. Ascribed characteristics
5
Ozawa vs. The United States
Caucasians are white
Thind vs. The United States
White is not something that can be scientifically determined, but white is something that is subjectively understood by who they called the common person, the common man
Race
Race is a socio-political construct. It is socially constructed, Race is of great importance in everyday life. The social construction of race is subjective and negotiable, not fixed and permanent.
Cultural Assimilation
Members of a subordinate group gradually relinquish their own culture, at the same time, slowly adopting the culture of the dominant group
Secondary Assimilation
Equal-status status relationships between subordinate- and dominant-group members in the 'public' sphere (e.g., relationships at work, in schools, in commercial transactions, at political meetings, and in places of public recreation).
Primary Assimilation
Equal-status status relationships between subordinate- and dominant-group members in the 'private' sphere (e.g., relationships within the families, friendship groups, and 'social clubs')
Marital Assimilation
The final step of minority 'disappearance.' Marriage between the members of the dominant and subordinate groups.
Symbolic Ethnicity
Ethnicity that a person is not really connected to, but are apart of genetically
Third Generation Interests
A yearning to learn more about a heritage that a person may feel cut off from
extermination, expulsion, secession, segregation, fusion, assimilation, pluralism
The Consequences of minority group status
prejudice
a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs, NOT ACTIONS, based on ethnocentrism and faulty generalizations.
Ethnocentrism
The tendency to assume that one's culture
and way of life are superior to all others
Stereotypes
An overgeneralization associated with a racial or ethnic category that goes beyond existing evidence.
Selective perception
consistent with what you believe--related to stereotypes
Premature Closure
shut down any new information-- related to stereotypes
beliefs
Cognitive level of prejudice
feelings
emotional level of prejudice
Predisposition to Act
Action-Orientation leve of prejudice
Noel Hypothesis
Ethnocentrism: Consider one's society to be superior to all
Competition: The Struggle over scarce resources (eg land, jobs, housing, education opporitunities, political offices, etc)
The differential in power between groups: More organized groups with mor
Blauner Hypothesis
Forced minority status
Forced entry into a territory and its population
Alteration or destruction of the indigenous culture and patterns of social organization
The domination of the indigenous population by representatives of the invading society
Justific
Minority Group Threat Model
Sense of superiority
Feeling that the subordinate group in intrinsically different
Feeling of proprietary claim to certain privilege and advantages
Feeling of suspicion that the subordinate group harbors designs on prerogatives of the dominant race.
Psychological view of prejudice
Prejudice and discrimination are characteristics of certain personalities
Theories focus on how prejudice or discrimination satisfies certain psychological needs
Prejudice and discrimination are traced to
Personality Centered Approach to Prejudice
An indicator of an unhealthy personality, allows the individual to function
Culture-Based Approaches
the result of growing up in a society that views certain groups as being inferior or superior
Limited: Assumes we all work on similar levels
Power/Conflict Theory
Stems from racial group competition, serves as reasoning behind stratification and discrimination
Projection
Seeing in others characteristics we can't admit we have in ourselves
LIMITATION: Ignores the social environment
Scapegoating
Picking a target to displace anger or frustration
LIMITATION: Ignores the social environment
Authoritarian Personality
Technique to cope with early childhood relationships
with dominant parents
LIMITATION: Ignores the social environment
Five Characteristics of a Scapegoat
Highly visible in physical appearance
Not strong enough to strike back
Situated within easy access
Past target of hostility
Symbol of unpopular concept
Ways of Reducing Prejudice
The Media
Education
Increased interaction
Equal status
Intensive interaction
Noncompetitive relationships
Cooperative tasks
Discrimination
The denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups based on group membership.
Isolate Discrimination
Harmful action by an individual without support of other members of the larger group
Small Group Discrimination
Harmful action by a small number of individuals acting in concert against a subordinate group, without support from members of society.
Direct Institutionalized Discrimination
Organizationally prescribed or community prescribed action that have negative impacts on minority groups.
Indirect Institutionalized Discrimination
Organizationally prescribed or community-prescribed norms or regulations (no intent to harm) have negative impacts on minority groups.
verbal expression, avoidance, exclusion, physical abuse, extermination
Levels of Discrimination
Passive Acceptance
: If the power of an ethnic group is small and the magnitude of the discrimination great, members of the group may have no choice but to accept the discrimination.
Marginal Participation
Subordinate ethnic populations can find a niche where they can use their creative resources and prosper.
Assimilation
Members of an ethnic group become part of the broader culture and society, losing their distinctive character.
Withdrawl
Members of an ethnic group withdraw and create a self-sustaining society within the broader society.
Revolt and Rebellion
Members of an ethnic group do not always accept, assimilate, withdraw, or marginally participate. Frequently they rebel. Rebellion can take a number of forms, one being general hostility and aggressive behavior toward the majority.
Organized Protest
Subordinate ethnic groups become organized to make broad-based and concerted efforts to change patterns of discrimination.
Racism
ideology that considers a group's unchangeable
characteristics to be linked in a direct way to psychological or intellectual characteristics and that, on this basis, distinguishes between superior and inferior racial groups.
Institutional Racism
Patterns of unequal treatment based on racial characteristics that are built into the institutions and daily operations of society.
Modern Racism
There is no longer any serious discrimination in the U.S. (e.g., extermination, physical abuse, exclusion, etc.) We are a 'colorblind' society.
Any continuing racial equality is the fault of the minority group ('Blaming the victim')
Demands for preferenti
Equal Opportunity
Abstract idea of equality, relating to one another informally as equals
Meritocracy
Abstract idea that mobility or advancement is based on ability or achievement
Democracy
Abstract idea that everyone has the right of participation, that our government is highly democratic
Individualism
Emphasis on personal rights and responsibilities, giving the individuals priority over the group