The Basics
This is the study of social behavior, as well as the structure and function of society. It focuses on the values and ideas shared by members of a society, the groups and institutions that share those values and the forces that change the society.
Sociology
(p. 1-2)
This is the study of how public institutions and the experiences of students affect education and its outcomes.
Sociology of Education
(p. 31-32)
According to Karl Marx, throughout history social change has been sparked by _____.
a) discoveries made by explorers
b) racial discrimination
c) class conflict
d) leaders’ desire for more territory
C) Class Conflict
"Capitalism contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction."
The father of Structural Functionalism
Emile Durkheim
What are the two other terms used to describe the "Single Story"?
Stereotype (overly simplistic assumptions about a group)
Ideology (a set of ideas about a group)
This is the ability to see and understand the connection between broad social forces (public issues) and personal experiences (private troubles).
Sociological Imagination
(p. 2)
Educational institutions serve two types of social functions. _________ functions are those obvious ones that an educational institution intends to do, such as educating students with knowledge and academic skills such as reading, writing and maths. ________ functions are those "hidden" actions unintended by the institution, such as social integration, social control, and the determination of status.
Manifest (obvious functions)
Latent (hidden functions; "hidden curriculum)
p. 172-176
According to Marx, the functions of education include transmitting shared values and beliefs, transmitting knowledge and skills and establishing social control over youth.
True or False
False
This is Durkheim (functionalism). Marx says that education serves the capitalist class (Bourgeoisie) by producing skilled workers (Proletariat) with habits such as punctuality (being on time) and respect for authority.
p. 63-64
The theory that explains how all social groups are systems whose parts are interdependent is:
a) conflict theory.
b) functionalism.
c) symbolic interactionism.
d) labeling theory.
B) Functionalism
Chapter 3
A prediction that causes itself to become true, because the prediction itself affects behavior.
Self-fulfilling Prophecy (Labeling Theory)
p.169
These systems each carry out certain tasks and serve a different purpose that contributes to the overall functioning, stability and survival of a society. They are like the "bike parts" and society is the "bicycle."
Social Institutions:
Economic, Governmental, Family, Educational and Religious Institutions.
(p. 52-53)
All institutions socialize (train) members of society. Education is the most powerful tool of socialization because it ha access to children. The process __________ is how education maintains and increases the conditions of inequality in society and benefits the dominant group/class.
Social Reproduction of Inequality (Marx/Conflict Theory)
(p.33-35)
Ability to control the actions, behaviors and course of action of others; control of resources.
Power
Related to:
(Exploitation: treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work/labor.
Oppression: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control of another.)
Theory explaining how a name that society places on an individual gives the individual a social identity. This "title” tells the juvenile that they are a certain type of person, so the juvenile will no longer try to improve themselves, but will begin to take the role of the title.
Labeling Theory (Symbolic Interactionism)
p.169
According to Marx, the two main "classes" under capitalism are:
a) bourgeoisie and the capitalists.
b) lords and peasants.
c) bourgeoisie and the wage workers.
d) wage laborers and the lumpenproletariat.
C) bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the wage workers (proletariat)
p. 5-6
This is how we learn about social expectations and how to interact with other people. It is a life-long process of inheriting norms, customs, values, language and ideologies. It is the transformation of the human being into the social being.
Socialization
(Learning skills necessary to perform as a functioning member of society.)
p. 75-76
Dominant groups use _______ through other institutions to promote the myth that education is for all and provides a means for wealth and status. Anyone who fails to do this must blame himself, not social inequality or an unfavorable educational system.
Ideology
P. 32-35
Which of the following is an example of a social institution located in Marx’s concept of the social superstructure?
a) education system
b) government
c) marriage/family
d) all of the above
e) none of the above
D) All of the above.
Chapter 3
Durkheim believed that crime is always pathological (abnormal) in society. Why?
a) True, because....
b) False, because...
b) False
Durkheim believed Crime to be normal and necessary in society because it has positive functions in social regulation (confirming the boundaries of acceptable behaviour), social cohesion and social change (shows if a law does not match feelings and values of the majority).
p.167
Labeling Theory argues that religion provides social cohesion and social control to maintain society in social solidarity.
True or False?
False.
Labeling theory refers to how negative social labels negatively affect a person's self concept and social identity.
p. 169
This is the process whereby individuals are categorized into social layers based on social and economic status that is determined by an individual's income, education and occupation (job).
Stratification
(p. 108-110, 120-126)
Using the Sociological Imagination explain this situation:
A young Zambian man is unable to find employment and is burdened with a loan that he needs to pay back. He tries very hard to get a job, but fails. So, he chooses to join a Zambian gang and engages in illegal and criminal activities to acquire money.
Analyzed individually, you may say that this boy did not try hard enough to get a job and resorted to illegal activities to gain easy money. Analyzed with the sociological imagination, you would see that the larger forces such as, economic meltdown, governmental corruption and/or high unemployment, had a direct impact on the life of this guy. We could blamed the personal character of the individual if very few guys went through the same situation. But when there is a significant number of young men facing the same problem, then it becomes a social or public problem where government policies about employment need to be changed.
According to ___________, religion provides Social solidarity (social unity) by strengthening society's commonly shared values, reinforcing social norms and social bonding, and giving meaning/purpose for life.
Durkheim (Functionalism)
p. 64-65
*Contrast with Marx's ideas about religion
Marx thought that the ruling class used ________________ to cover the contradictions (problems and conflict) under capitalism.
a) Wages
b) Ideology
c) Commodities
d) Tools
b) Ideology
__________ referred to religion as the "opiate (opium) of the masses." What does this saying mean?
Marx;Marx believed that religion had certain practical functions in society that were similar to the function of opium in a sick or injured person: it reduced people's immediate suffering and provided them with pleasant illusions which gave them the strength to carry on. He saw religion as harmful because it prevents people from seeing oppression/domination and keeps workers from rebelling against exploitation.
p. 64