Key Terms
What are social institutions?
Things that exist in society that address basic human needs. They are accepted and persistent norms, values, and statuses that create social order.
Modern society's complexities creates transactional relationships
Tönnies
What do structural functionalists believe?
Institutions and traditions are good and should be upheld
What was Herbert Spencer's theory?
Social Darwinism
What is socialization?
Process where someone learns and internalizes norms, values, behaviors, and social skills of their society
People form an ecosystem of interdependent individuals who influence others.
Durkheim
What do conflict theorists believe?
Sees society as constant struggle for power and resources.
Those in power control the institutions and needs are not evenly met.
Institutional change is fundamental to society.
What are social norms?
Specific rules, behaviors, or activities of a group
Explain the differences of Nature v. Nurture
Nature: Biological/inherited
Nurture: Society, culture, social processes
"Father of Sociology"
To advance society, use scientific observation to study.
There are three stages: Theological, Metaphysical, Positive
Comte
What do symbolic interactionist believe?
Sees society on a micro scale as interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols.
People make decisions based on these interactions and assumptions made.
List a symbolic interactionist
Cooley--Person's identity grows from interaction and perceptions of others
Mead--The mind is not a biological thing, but formed by language and social experience.
What is dysfunction in institutions?
The negative consequences
Modern people do things for larger purposes (earn more money than they need to live).
Complex bureaucracies create social efficiency and order
Weber
List a conflict theorist.
Du Bois--Social Darwinism (AA could never be equal)
Marx-- The upper class owns profits so workers will want to overthrow
Martineau-- Economic limits on women kept them inferior
What happened to Genie Wiley?
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Define social perspective
Focuses on the world at the social level as opposed to the other sciences.
Internal conflict experienced by marginalized groups when they view themselves through the lens of a dominant, prejudiced society.
Du Bois
List a structural functionalist
Durkheim-- Societies that are firmly segmented maintain stability and survive over time (disrupt order = chaos)
Spencer--Weakest will perish which will make society better
Why are twins a good test subject for nature v. nurture?
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