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SOCI 1311:Study Guide
3 Things Comte Proposed
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Social laws: statements of fact that are unchanging under given conditions and can be used as ground rules for any study of society
Social statics: cultural elements of society
Social dynamics: change in those elements
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Comte Believed..
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things occur in society for specific function -> functions help maintain stability
values and norms -> provide foundation for rules/laws society creates
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Field Research
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ethnography, case studies, and participant observation
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Theorist who proposed social laws and social statics
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Auguste Comte
functionalist
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Theorist - Stay at Rest/Stay in Motion
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Talcott Parsons
functionalist
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Theorist - Darwanism
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Herbert Spencer
functionalist
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Theorist- manifest/latent functions
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Robert Merton
functionalist
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theorist: solidarity/social control/ organic/ mechanical
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Emile Durkeim
functionalist
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Theorist - equal wealth
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Karl Marx
conflict theorist
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Theorist - favoritism
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Harriet Martineau
conflict theorist
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Theorist - structural barriers
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Jane Addams
conflict theorist
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Theorist - capitalism
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John Bellamy Foster
conflict theorist
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Theorist - history
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W.E.B Dubois
conflict theorist
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Theorist - acting
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Erving Goffman
symbolic interactionist
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Theorist - symbols
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George Herbert Mead
symbolic interactionist
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Theorist - labels
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Howard Becker
symbolic interactionist
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Theorist - meanings
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Herbert Blumer
symbolic interactionist
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Dysfunction
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unintended consequence that works against intended purpose of institution
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Function
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social factors that affect people in a society
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Reliability
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degree to which information can be trusted
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Deviance -
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the recognized violation of cultural norms
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Bigamy
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the offense of willfully and knowingly having more than 1 wife of husband at the same time
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Strain
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-caused by society's push to success without improving all members to get the dream
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Mertons 4 types of Deviance
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Innovators
Ritualist
Retreatist
REBELS
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gerontology
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the study of aging and the elderly
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age stratification
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the unequal distribution of wealth power and privilege among people at different stages of life
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gerontocracy
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a form of social organization in which the elderly have the most wealth power and prestige
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caregiving
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informal and unpaid care provided to a dependent person of family member, other relatives or friends
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ageism
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prejudice and discrimination against older people
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disengagement theory
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the idea that society functions in an orderly way by removing people from positions of responsibility as they reach old age
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Activity theory
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the idea that a high level of activity increases personal satisfaction in old age
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euthanasia
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assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease also known as mercy killing
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social stratification
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a system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierachy
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social mobility
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a change in position within the social hierarchy
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caste and class system
caste system
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social stratification based on ascription or birth
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class system
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social stratification is based on both birth and individual achievement
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meritocracy
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social stratification based on personal merit
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status consistency
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the degree of uniformity is a persons social standing across various dimensions of social inequality
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structural social mobility
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a shift in the social position or large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts
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ideology
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cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements including patters of inequality
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davis moore thesis
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the functional analysis claiming the social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of society
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blue collar occupations
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lower perigee jobs that involve mostly manual labor
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white collar occupations
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higher prestige jobs that involve mostly mental activity
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socioeconomic status SES
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a composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality
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conspicuous comsumption
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buying and using products because of the statement they make about social position.
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global stratification
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patterns of social inequality in the world as a whole
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high income countries
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the nations with the highest overall standards of living
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middle incomes countries
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nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a whole
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low income countries
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nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor
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colonialism
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the process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations
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neocolonialism
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a new form of global power relationships that involves not direct political control but economic exploration by multinational corporations
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multinational corporation
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a large business that operates in many countries
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modernization theory
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a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations
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dependency theory
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a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of poor nations by rich ones
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Education in Society
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formal system in which society passes its information and values from one generation to next
- schools connect to job system
- since industrial revolution, there's been link between economic advancement and education
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Educational Attainment
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educational attainment of population in U.S has increased
men still receive most degrees
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Hidden Curriculum
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lessons taught in school that are unrelated to academic learning
- includes lessons on citizenship, patriotism, capitalism, democracy, cooperation with others, values such as following orders, routines, etc.
- none of lessons have to do with reading, writing, or arithmetic
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Roots of Modern Education Systems
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expansion of education system stem from ideas related to nation-building and forming a national identity
- these ideas are vital to success of nation -> educated electorate is required for democracy to work
- myths are part of the hidden curriculum
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Myth of the Individual - Myths of Education
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primary unit in society is the individual (not the family, clan or ethnic group)
- it's up to the individual to improve their place in society
- society is a group, yet schools in the U.S stress the individual
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List of Myths of Education
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1. myth of individual
2. myth of nation as group of individuals
3. myth of progress
4. myth of socialization and life cycle continuity
5. myth of state as guardian of nation
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Myth of Nation as Group of Individuals - Myths of Education
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individuals make up society and nation - by developing your skills and knowledge, you're bettering yourself and, by then, your community
- welfare of the group is secondary to that of the individual
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Myth of Progress - Myths of Education
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society's goal is to improve status of both current and future residents, thus, education for children is one way a nation can support idea that it's working toward self-improvement
- notion of progress for its own sake is a "good"
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Myth of Socialization and Life Cycle Continuity -Myths of Education
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childhood socialization leads to adult character- therefore, if children are socialized properly, this will lead to good character that benefits the nation in the long run.
- thus, educating children plays vital role
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Myth of the State as the Guardian of the Nation - Myths of Education
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it's states job to raise good, loyal, patriotic children who will then be next generation of good, loyal, and patriotic adults
- socializing children into the nation becomes role of the state, not the family
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Purposes of Education
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- in developing countries, most effective approach to economic development is provision of universal elementary education
- high level of human capital played key role in U.S economic growth during 20th century
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Education throughout the World
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every nation has some type of education system; amount of resources available and value placed on education varies significantly
- country's wealth plays central role in education - lack of funding and resources can weaken system; poor education systems = low literacy rates
- education can cause and maintain inequality between individuals; U.S contributes significant amount of money to education (especially higher education)
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Education Discrepancies in Race and Gender
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bachelor's completion
white: 29.8%
asians: 52.6%
blacks: 19.6%
hispanics: 13.3%
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Teacher Expectancy Effect
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the impact a teacher's expectations have on student's performance
- studies show that expectations influence individual and school performance
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Academic Achievement
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students GPA have increased over time
related to
- school performance
- grade inflation: the trend of assigning higher grades than previously assigned to students for completing the same work
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Home Schooling
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reasons for home schooling:
- concern about quality of education
- inability to afford private education
- religious concerns
- belief that caring parent is better educator
- desire to be more involved in children's education
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Higher Education: bureaucratization and cost
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traditional schools have all qualities of bureaucracies which include:
- division of labor
- rules and regulations
- impersonality
- hierarchy of authority
- technical qualifications
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Costs and Higher Education
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cost is large factor in determining where students attend college
- unlike state-funded primary and secondary education, higher education charges tuition
- higher tuition costs deter low-income students from attending higher education
- in some countries higher education is also paid by state
- in U.S, education is the litmus test of who is/isn't qualified
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Human Capital - theories behind higher education
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refers to a person's combination of skills, knowledge, traits, and personal attributes
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Credentialism - theories behind higher education
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refers to an emphasis on educational degrees in assessing skills and knowledge
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Economic Outcomes -Education and Life Outcomes
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those with more education earn more on avg. then those with less schooling even when family background and academic ability are statistically controlled
- # of private-sector workers in labor unions shrinking
- U.S. manufacturing jobs shifting overseas
- growing concentration of financial assets in large global corporations
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Education is positively related to health and life expectancy - Education and Life Outcomes
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people with more education...
- more likely to demonstrate healthy behavioral habits + be in better physical condition
- more likely to live longer
- more likely to have insurance + better access to health info.
- less likely to smoke; more likely to quit
- less likely to be involved in dangerous, toxic work conditions
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Family Life - Education and Life Outcomes
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in U.S today, more educated people are..
- more likely to marry than less educated people
- more likely to marry at a later stage
- more likely to rate their marriage as "very happy"
- educational homogamy
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Education and Religion
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student's religious affiliation and involvement play a part in educational outcomes
- some studies show religious students score better on standardized tests
- appears to be related to social control and motivation toward education
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Religion
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unified system of beliefs and practices related to the sacred, which unite all those who adhere to them into one moral community
- religion and education are both important agencies of socialization in most societies
- three major religions: judaism, christinaity, and islam (all practice theism)
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Theism
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belief in a god or gods
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Monotheism
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belief in just one God
- judaism, christianity, islam
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Polytheism
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belief in number of gods, ancient nordic mythology
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Philosophies of Life
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ways of life that focus on set of ethical, moral or philosophical principles
- ex] buddism, confucianism, taoism
- religions are all dedicated to achieving a kind of moral enlightenment
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Totemism
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practice of honoring a totem or sacred object
- practiced by preliterate societies
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Simple Supernaturalism
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belief in a verity of supernatural forces that affect and influence people's lives
- practiced by preliterate societies
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Animism
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belief that recognizes that animate spirits live in natural objects and operate in the world
- practiced by preliterate societies
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Religion and Immigration in America
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current immigration influences the religious affiliation in U.S.
- majority of immigrants are coming from Mexico, China, Philippines and India
- immigrants from Mexico and Philippines = catholic
- chinese immigrants = buddhist or unchurched
- indian immigrants = hindu
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Organization in Religion
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religions go through series of stages before they become integrated part of society
1. cults
2. sects
3. church
4. theocracy
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Cults
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new religious movements led by charismatic leaders with few followers
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Sects
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religious groups that have enough members to sustain themselves to go against society's norms
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Church
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large, highly organized group of believers
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Theocracy
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if a church becomes highly integrated into the dominant culture, it may join a state
theocracy: state religion that's formed when government and religion work together to shape society
ex] Iran = current example w/ religious leaders at head of the government
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Religion in Society - Durkheim
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Durkheim: analyzed functions of religion for society
- provided values and reinforcing cultural norms
- inspiring awe or reverence which refers to the sacred and dividing it from the profane or ordinary aspects of life
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Rituals
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established patterns of behavior closely associated with experience of the sacred
- variations of "the golden rule" of treating one like one wants to be treated exists in many religions
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Rituals
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established pattern of behavior closely associated with experience or of the sacred
- allows new followers to come together and contribute to these rituals, strengthening groups bonds and further integrates the individuals into the group
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Religion and the Economy - Karl Marx
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- didn't view religion as a way to unify people but as the opiate of the masses
- believed religion was tool of wealthy to mislead poor b/c it did little to change their plight
- religion masks the real problem - oppression
- capitalism determines religious values and teachings
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Religion and the Economy - Max Weber
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- Protestant Work Ethic: in order to show god's favor it was necessary to work hard, which also promoted individualism and capitalism
- capitalism started in the "western world" b/c of this protestant work ethic which supported its creation
- religion created the economic system
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Secularization
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overall decline in importance and power of religion
- as societies become more complex, people become less tied to old ways
- ^ not always true, the U.S remains a very religious society
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Civil Religion
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Bellah: argues that there's a civil religion in the U.S
Civil Religion: binding force that holds society together through political and social issues
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Religious Trends in U.S
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- shift away from mainstream religions
- intermarriage is more common
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Intermarriage
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marriage between people of two different religions
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Postdenominationism
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recent trend that stretches religious boundaries
ex] growth of nondenominational churches
increase in conservative church growth due to larger families
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System of Beliefs
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relates sacred objects to religious rituals and define and protect the sacred form in society
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Organization of Believers
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maintains a religion's systems of beliefs
- group of people that ensure prosperity and effectiveness of religious experience
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Functionalism - Religion
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- religion strengthens norms and values
- rituals unite group when they celebrate/perform actions
- acts as mean of social control by influencing person's actions
- created social stability that supports governmental authority
- Durkheim: religion binds community together through rituals and tradition
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Conflict Theory - Religion
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- religion strengthens inequalities of social classes
- dogma created to benefit wealthy and condemn poor
- Marx: religion promotes capitalism and inequality because churches often support idea that wealthy deserve privileges
- religion also promotes obedience and legitimizes government
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Sacred
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things connected to God or dedicated to a religious purpose
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Profane
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related or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical, bu labeling certain objects, events, and people as sacred
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Symbolic Interactionism - Religion
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- everything is either sacred or profane
- system of beliefs define meaning and morals to specific actions
- organization that supports belief system ensures continuation and effectiveness of religious experience
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Sociology
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The study of human society
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Sociological perspective
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Special poivt of view of soci of particular ppl
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Global perspective
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the study of the larger world and our society
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Global perspective
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The study of the larger world and our society's place in it
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August Comte
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Father of Soci
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Theological Stage
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The Divine answers all
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Metaphysical Stage
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Transition stage, between accepting science and the divine
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Positivism Stage
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Scientific stage, science rules all
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Theory
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A statement of how and why specific facts are related
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Theoretical approach
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basic image of society
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