A category is just a group of people with similar characteristics such as these people who all shop at cvs. A category can consist of any number of people and can be about lots of different things such as being tall or short.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Horatio alger myth
The Horatio alger myth was an idea that anyone that tries can get ahead. This is false because there have to be poor to support the rich. Not that there needs to be as big of a gap as there is right now.
Social mobility
Social mobility is the possibility that someone could move up or down the social ladder. For example if a father owned a sutherland lumber store and left it to his son. The son could take the company to new heights and profits, or he could run it into the ground and end up penniless.
Aggregate
Aggregates are just people who happen to be in the same place at the same time, but don't have to have anything in common other than that. For example: people in a park (assuming there were any on this day) might not know each other and may be there for completely different reasons.
Body language
Body language is a key part of communication especially for those who know best how to look for it. Shown in the picture are a couple of my friends showing a playful body language. This helps us know how the other person is feeling toward us and to then adjust our actions accordingly.
Social institution
A social institution can be a lot of things, from a church to the media or even things such as science. Social institutions are basically anything we work together to fulfill our societies needs.
In and out groups
In groups are groups who we feel loyalty to and out groups are who we feel antagonism toward. For example: in Rocky 4 when Rocky went to Russia to fight, all of the russians were an in group and Rocky and his friends were the out group.
Feminization of poverty
Feminization of poverty means that most poor families are led by single mothers. This is because it's hard enough to raise a family by yourself, but women also make less per hour than men.
Prestige
Prestige means having the respect of others for your accomplishments. For example I play a game called runescape where there are high scores for all the world to see. It may not seem like it to someone that doesn't play, but in certain circles I can get a nod of the head for the amount of time that I've spent playing.
Gender socialization
Gender socialization is the idea that boys are given play tools and girls are given dolls to play with. This idea continues into adulthood with people thinking that some jobs are only for men and some are only for women. There are many more women nowadays in fields where only a couple of decades ago it would have been unacceptable. I had a couple of female friends years ago when I used to pour concrete.
Achieved status
An achieved status is one that you earn through effort. For example: being bilingual is a great achieved status. Not all achieved status are good though. Someone could be a high school drop out and it would still be an achieved status. Although that sounds like the opposite of an achievement.
Master status
Master status is someones most prominent status. If someone were to ask a friend of someone else's they might say, oh he's a nice guy or a jerk. Someone's master status could even be that they like to drink a lot.
Ascribed status
Ascribed status is usually born with although it can also be involuntarily given to you later on in life. For instance being born white or eventually becoming hairy. Some of these things we can change, like if I chose to I could shave my arms.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Primary groups
Primary groups are usually family members that help you to learn what the world's norms are. In the picture is my niece Desiree. Her primary group would consist of my sister, her father, my nephew, and myself.
Secondary group
Secondary groups mostly consist of friends that you meet throughout your life. They can give you a different perspective than you might have gotten from your primary group. For instance one might say don't worry about doing your homework let's go have some fun.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Ideal culture vs. Real culture
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Ideal culture is a term used by sociologist to refer to the idea of how we should be or what we should strive for. For instance most people spend their whole lives in the pursuit of money because we are led to believe that if we get enough of it our lives will be better. On the flip side, Real culture is a term used to describe what we actually do or our "norms". For instance I shouldn't, but I can eat this entire bag of potato chips. |
Looking glass self
Monday, September 22, 2014
The scientific method
The scientific method means looking to more rational reasoning rather than just superstition. When this is applied to social life it becomes sociology.
Latent function
Latent function is something that wasn't part if the original plan but ends up still being beneficial. Surprisingly there are latent functions with video games. Studies have shown that video games increase hand eye coordination as well as cognitive skills.
Symbolic interactionism
Symbolic interactionism is the idea that symbols help us to know where we stand in our social order as well as what is acceptable in everyday life. For example this sign tells us that this room is off limits to men. Without symbolic interactionism there would be chaos.
Survival of the fittest
Survival of the fittest is the idea that societies evolve to a higher or civilized form over the course of generations. Herbert Spencer might say that we would not need a helmet law for motorcycle riders because if someone is willing to put their life in danger like that then they should be weeded out instead if the more fit (or in this case more intelligent) guiding then.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Functional analysis
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