SOCIOLOGY 210 - TEST 1 STUDY
GUIDE - CHAPTERS 1-4 WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Define Sociology - ANSWER-Sociology: the study of social organization
Define social context - ANSWER-Social context: the patterns of human relationships
& interactions that characterize social life
What are some examples of social organizations? What function do social
organizations serve in a person's life? - ANSWER-Social organizations (schools,
churches, families, etc) provide the context that largely determine what a person
does in life.
What changes as your social context changes? - ANSWER-Human behavior is
largely determined by social context, not personality.-As your social context
changes, so does your behavior.
Define theory. - ANSWER-A theory is an organized way of explaining something.
What are the 3 major sociological theories? - ANSWER-There are 3 major
sociological theories: functionalism, conflict theory, & symbolic interactionism.
Define culture. - ANSWER-Culture is the totality of what a group of people think, do,
& create.
What are five primary aspects or components of culture? - ANSWER-symbols,
artifacts, values, norms and sanctions.
Explain individualism vs familism. - ANSWER-Individualism vs. Familism:
Individualism is a value of Western society (i.e.. US) whereby what is best for the
individual is of prime importance.-Familism is, in contrast, a prime value in Eastern
society (i.e.. China) whereby doing what is best for the family is of prime importance.
What is meant by functional theory? - ANSWER-Functionalism: views society &
other social contexts in terms of the function it serves
What is meant by conflict perspective theory? - ANSWER-Conflict perspective:
focuses on the aspects of context that are conducive to struggle and conflict
What is meant by symbolic interactionism theory? - ANSWER-Symbolic
interactionism: believes human beings are social actors that create and determine
the world around them through the use of language (symbols).
All social organizations can be described using four terms. What are the four terms?
- ANSWER-position, status, role, norm
GUIDE - CHAPTERS 1-4 WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Define Sociology - ANSWER-Sociology: the study of social organization
Define social context - ANSWER-Social context: the patterns of human relationships
& interactions that characterize social life
What are some examples of social organizations? What function do social
organizations serve in a person's life? - ANSWER-Social organizations (schools,
churches, families, etc) provide the context that largely determine what a person
does in life.
What changes as your social context changes? - ANSWER-Human behavior is
largely determined by social context, not personality.-As your social context
changes, so does your behavior.
Define theory. - ANSWER-A theory is an organized way of explaining something.
What are the 3 major sociological theories? - ANSWER-There are 3 major
sociological theories: functionalism, conflict theory, & symbolic interactionism.
Define culture. - ANSWER-Culture is the totality of what a group of people think, do,
& create.
What are five primary aspects or components of culture? - ANSWER-symbols,
artifacts, values, norms and sanctions.
Explain individualism vs familism. - ANSWER-Individualism vs. Familism:
Individualism is a value of Western society (i.e.. US) whereby what is best for the
individual is of prime importance.-Familism is, in contrast, a prime value in Eastern
society (i.e.. China) whereby doing what is best for the family is of prime importance.
What is meant by functional theory? - ANSWER-Functionalism: views society &
other social contexts in terms of the function it serves
What is meant by conflict perspective theory? - ANSWER-Conflict perspective:
focuses on the aspects of context that are conducive to struggle and conflict
What is meant by symbolic interactionism theory? - ANSWER-Symbolic
interactionism: believes human beings are social actors that create and determine
the world around them through the use of language (symbols).
All social organizations can be described using four terms. What are the four terms?
- ANSWER-position, status, role, norm
