SOC 1001 Intro To Sociology COMPLETED EXAM

SOC 1001

Intro To Sociology

COMPLETED EXAM

2023/2024

• What is sociology and what are its main goals? (2 points)

Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior, groups, and societies. Its main goals are to describe, explain, and understand the patterns and processes of social life, and to apply this knowledge to improve social conditions.

• What are the three major sociological perspectives and how do they differ? (3 points)

The three major sociological perspectives are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Functionalism views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability and order. Conflict theory views society as a arena of inequality and struggle between different groups over scarce resources and power. Symbolic interactionism views society as a product of everyday interactions and meanings that people create through symbols and language.

• What is the difference between culture and society? Give an example of each. (2 points)

Culture is the shared way of life of a group of people, including their values, beliefs, norms, symbols, language, and material products. Society is the organized and patterned interaction of people who live in a specific geographical area. For example, American culture includes the values of individualism, freedom, and democracy, as well as symbols like the flag and the dollar. American society consists of the institutions, groups, and networks that structure the social relations of people living in the United States.

• What are some of the main agents of socialization and how do they influence our social

development? (3 points) Some of the main agents of socialization are family, peers, school, media, religion, and workplace. They influence our social development by teaching us the skills, values, norms, roles, and expectations that we need to function in society. For example, family socializes us into our gender identity, class position, and ethnic background; peers socialize us into our peer group culture and subcultures; school socializes us into academic knowledge and citizenship; media socializes us into consumerism and popular culture; religion socializes us into moral values and beliefs; and workplace socializes us into occupational roles and norms.

• What is social stratification and what are the main dimensions of inequality in society? (2

points) Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of people into different categories based on their access to valued resources such as wealth, power, and prestige. The main dimensions of inequality in society are class, race/ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, and disability.

• What are some of the causes and consequences of poverty in society? (3 points)

Some of the causes of poverty in society are structural factors such as unemployment, low wages, lack of education, discrimination, globalization, and neoliberal policies; individual factors such as illness, disability, addiction, divorce, or crime; and cultural factors such as values, attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors that may discourage or prevent upward mobility. Some of the consequences of poverty in society are material deprivation such as hunger, homelessness, or lack of health care; social exclusion such as stigma, isolation, or marginalization; psychological distress such as stress, depression, or low self-esteem; and political disempowerment such as lack of voice, representation, or participation.

• What is the difference between sex and gender? How do sociologists explain the variations

in gender roles and identities across cultures and over time? (3 points) Sex is the biological distinction between male and female based on chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy. Gender is the social and cultural construction of masculinity and femininity based on norms, expectations, and behaviors associated with each sex.Sociologists explain the variations in gender roles and identities across cultures and over time by using concepts such as gender socialization, gender ideology, gender inequality, gender stratification, gender oppression, gender resistance, and gender change.Gender roles and identities are not fixed or natural, but rather fluid and dynamic, shaped by historical, cultural, and situational factors.

• What is race and what is ethnicity? How do sociologists analyze the construction

and consequences of racial and ethnic categories in society? (3 points) Race is a socially defined category based on physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, or facial features.Ethnicity is a socially defined category based on cultural characteristics such as language, religion, nationality, or ancestry.Sociologists analyze the construction and consequences

of racial and ethnic categories in society by using concepts such as racialization, racial formation, racial identity, racial ideology, racial prejudice, racial discrimination, racial oppression, racial resistance, and racial change.Racial and ethnic categories are not fixed or natural, but rather fluid and dynamic, shaped by historical, cultural, and situational factors.

• What is deviance and what are the main theories that explain it? (2 points)

Deviance is any behavior, belief, or condition that violates the norms of a given society or group. The main theories that explain deviance are strain theory, control theory, labeling theory, and conflict theory. Strain theory argues that deviance results from the mismatch between the cultural goals and the institutional means of achieving them. Control theory argues that deviance results from the weakening of the bonds that connect people to society.Labeling theory argues that deviance results from the social reaction and definition of others.Conflict theory argues that deviance results from the power struggle between different groups over scarce resources and values.

• What is social change and what are some of the sources and consequences of it? (2 points)

Social change is the transformation of the structure and culture of society over time. Some of the sources of social change are environmental factors such as natural disasters, population growth, or climate change; technological factors such as innovation, diffusion, or obsolescence; cultural factors such as ideas, values, or movements; and political factors such as revolutions, wars, or social movements. Some of the consequences of social change are adaptation, resistance, or conflict; progress, decline, or stagnation; continuity, discontinuity, or emergence; and integration, differentiation, or fragmentation.

• The figure from France from the following picture who states that sociology studies society

through social action is... .

• Auguste Comte
• Selo Soemardjan
• Pitirim A. Sorokin
• Max Weber
• Emile Durkheim

• Pay attention to the following statement!