acheived status
status aqired by an individual on the basis of some special skills, knowledge, or ability
adolescence-characteristics
period between the normal onset of puberty and the beginning of adulthood; biological growth and development, an undefined status, increased decision making, increased pressures, and the search for self
agents of socialization
specific individuals, groups, and institutions that provide the situations in which socialization can occur
anomie
situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or are no longer applicable
anticipatory socialization
learning of the rights, obligations, and expectations of a role in preparation for assuming that role at a future date
ascribed status
status assigned according to standards that are beyond a person's control: age, sex, family heritage, and race
assimilation
blending of culturally distinct groups into a single group with a common culture and identity
August Comte
founder of sociology (coined the term) as a distinct subject and first to apply the methods of physical science to the study of social life; social statics-held society together, social dynamics-changes through definite processes
birth order- first born vs. youngest
the order in which we are born into our families also influence our personalities;1st born-more achievement oriented and responsible, defenders of the status quo; later-born-better in social relationships, more affectionate and friendly, risk takers and i
bourgeoisie
owners of the means of production in a capitalist society
caste system
system in which scarce resources and rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses
Charles Darwin
evolutionist from the 1800s, strongly influenced Herbert Spencer, theory of evolution was used to describe the nature of society; eventually used by Spencer in application to society as "social Darwinism
conflict perspective
theoretical perspective that focuses on those forces in society that promote competition and change
counterculture
group that rejects values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns
cultural pluralism
policy that allows each group within society to keep its unique cultural identity
cultural relativism
belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards
cultural universals
common features that are found in all human cultures
defacto segregation
segregation based on informal norms
de jure segregation
segregations based on laws
deviance-theories of/social functions
behavior that violates significant social norms
discrimination
denial of equal treatment to individuals based on their group membership
Emile Durkheim
developed the first French university sociology course; the first sociologist to systematically apply the methods of science to the study of society; function-the consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of its social system; be
ethnicity
set of cultural characteristics that distinguishes one group from another group
ethnocentrism
tendency to view one's own culture and group as superior to all other cultures and groups
folkways
norms that do not have great moral significance attached to them-the common customs of everyday life
functionalist perspective
theoretical perspective that views society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system
Genie
girl found at age 13 who had been confined to a small bedroom, tied to a potty-chair or wrapped in a sleeping bag; unable to talk and was never fully able to function as a social being even after rehabilitation
genocide
extermination aimed at intentionally destroying an entire targeted population
Herbert Spencer-"survival of the fittest
social Darwinism" founder, follower of Charles Darwin in a social sense
horizontal mobility
type of social mobility in which the individual moves from one position in a social-class level to another position in that same social-class level
in group
group that an individual belongs to and identifies with
interactionist perspective
theoretical perspective that focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society
intergenerational mobility
form of vertical mobility in which status differs between generations in the same family
Jim Crow laws
passed in southern states during the late 1800s; required African Americans to use separate public facilities and schools
John Locke-"tabula rasa
Locke claimed that each of us is born without a personality and that we acquire our personalities as a result of our social experiences; "blank slate
looking-glass self
interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others
master status
status that plays the greatest role in shaping a person's life and determining his or her social identity
material culture
physical objects created by human groups: the term artifacts is used to refer to the physical objects of this
minority group
category of people who share physical characterisitcs or cultural practices that result in the group being denied equal treatment
nature vs. nurture
nature-instinctual drives were responsible for practically everything; nurture-Pavlov, supposedly instinctual behavior can be taught, Watson (Little Albert); nature-most of human social life is determined by biological factors; now believe that it is a bl
nonmaterial culture
abstract human creations, such as language, ideas, beliefs, rules, skills, family patterns, work practices, and political and economic systems
out group
any group that an individual does not belong to or identify with
prejudice
unsupported generalization about a category of people
psychology
science that deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms
racism
belief that one's own race or ethnic group is naturally superior to other races or ethnic groups
role conflict
situation that occurs when fulfilling the expectations of one role makes it difficult to fulfill the expectations of another role
scapegoating
practice of placing blame for one's troubles on an innocent individual or group
social class
grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige
social inequality
unequal sharing of social rewards and resources
social stratification
ranking of individuals or categories of people on the basis of unequal access to scarce resources and social rewards
socialization
interactive process through which individuals learn the basic skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of society
sociological imagination
ability to see the connection between the larger world and our personal lives
sociology
social science that studies human society and social behavior
stereotype
oversimplified, exaggerated, or unfavorable generalization about a category of people
stigma
mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society
strain theory
theory of deviant behavior that views deviance as the natrual outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society
subculture
group with its own unique values, norms, and behaviors that exists within a larger culture
subjugation
maintaining of control over a group through force
vertical mobility
movement between social classes or strata in which the individual moves from one social-class level to another
white collar crime
crime that is committed by an individual or individuals of high social status in the course of their professional lives