Intro to Sociology
This sociologist argued that society is structured by class conflict and focused on economic relationships. Who is he?
Karl Marx
In sociology, what do "symbols" refer to?
Anything that represents something else (words, gestures, objects with shared meaning)
What term refers to shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act?
Norms
Which sociological perspective would highlight the role of education in promoting social cohesion and upward mobility?
Structural Functionalism
What is "social stratification"?
The division of society into categories, ranks, or classes
The term for using a perspective that sees the connection between personal troubles and public issues is called what?
Sociological Imagination
What term describes the process by which a norm becomes part of an individual's personality?
Internalization
A status assigned according to qualities beyond a person's control (such as age or race) is called what?
Ascribed status
What is an example of material culture related to education?
Textbooks, computers, school buildings, desks
Which term combines education, occupation, place of residence, and income to determine a person's social rank?
Socioeconomic status (SES)
Which sociological perspective views society as a system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order?
Structural Functionalism
What is a counterculture?
A group that rejects and seeks to replace major values of the dominant society (example: a subculture that intentionally rejects mainstream norms)
What is the difference between achieved status and ascribed status? Provide one example of each.
Achieved status = earned/voluntary (example: doctor). Ascribed status = assigned (example: race).
Name one function that the institution of the family performs in society (from a structural‑functional view).
Socialization of children; emotional/economic support; regulation of sexual activity
Define "social mobility" and give an example of horizontal mobility.
Social mobility = movement between social positions. Horizontal mobility = change in occupation/role without change in social class (example: a postal worker becomes a retail manager with similar income/class).
What is the sociological perspective that examines how individuals use symbols to communicate and convey meaning in daily life?
Symbolic Interactionism
Explain "cultural relativism" and contrast it briefly with "ethnocentrism."
Cultural relativism = judging cultures by their own standards. Ethnocentrism = judging other cultures by one's own cultural standards, often claiming superiority.
Define "master status" and explain how it might influence a person's interactions.
Master status = the status that dominates a person's identity and affects other roles/interactions (example: a celebrity or a criminal record that overshadows other roles).
What is "bureaucracy" and which bureaucratic weakness is shown when excessive paperwork causes unnecessary delay?
Bureaucracy = formal organizational structure with rules, hierarchy, specialization. Weakness = "red tape."
According to conflict theory, how does religion function in society?
Religion can perpetuate existing inequalities and serve dominant groups by legitimating the status quo or distracting attention from material inequality.
Define "manifest function" and give one example from education.
Manifest function = the intended and recognized outcome of some element of society. Example: Schools teach literacy and numeracy.
Describe "cultural lag" and give a clear, real-world example.
Cultural lag = when nonmaterial culture (laws, norms, beliefs) lags behind material innovations. Example: privacy laws lagging behind social media technology.
Explain the difference between formal groups and reference groups, and give an example of each.
Formal group = clearly defined structure and goals (e.g., school board). Reference group = a group used for self-evaluation or aspiration (e.g., admired professionals or peers).
Explain how mass media can function as an agent of socialization (include one example of framing or agenda‑setting).
Mass media shapes values, norms, and perceptions by presenting information and framing issues. Example: news framing of crime increases public fear and influences policy support (agenda-setting).
Explain labeling theory of deviance and describe how a self‑fulfilling prophecy might occur in an educational setting (use a short classroom example).
Labeling theory = deviance is created by societal reaction/labels. Example: A teacher labels certain students "low achievers," provides them less attention and feedback, they then perform worse, reinforcing the label (self‑fulfilling prophecy).