Sociology Clep exam Study Guide brand New Latest Version 2024 -2025 questions and expert verified answers already gra ded A+ with 300 questions an d correct answers 100% Absolute poverty A standard of poverty based on a minimum level of subsistence below which families should not be expected to exist. Achieved status A social position attained by a person largely through his or her own efforts. Activity theory An interactionist theory of aging that argues that elderly people who remain active will be best -
adjusted. Adoption In a legal sense, a process that allows for the transfer of the legal rights, responsibilities, and privileges of parenthood to a new legal parent or parents. Affirmative action Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities. Ageism A term coined by Robert N. Butler to refer to prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. Agrarian society The most technologically advanced form of preindustrial society. Members are primarily engaged in the production of food but increase their crop yield through such innovations as the plow. Alienation The condition of being estranged or disassociated from the surrounding society. Amalgamation The process by which a majority group and a minority group combine through intermarriage to form a new group. Anomie Durkheim's term for the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective. Anomie theory of deviance A theory developed by Robert Merton that explains deviance as an adaptation either of socially prescribed goals or of the norms governing their attainment, or both. Anticipatory socialization Processes of socialization in which a person "rehearses" for future positions, occupations, and social relationships. Anti -Semitism Anti-Jewish prejudice. Apartheid The former policy of the South African government designed to maintain the separation of Blacks and other non -Whites from the dominant Whites. Argot Specialized language used by members of a group or subculture. Ascribed status A social position "assigned" to a person by society without regard for the person's unique talents or characteristics. Assimilation The process by which a person forsakes his or her own cultural tradition to become part of a different culture. Authority Power that has been institutionalized and is recognized by the people over whom it is exercised. Bilateral descent A kinship system in which both sides of a person's family are regarded as equally important. Bilingualism The use of two or more languages in particular settings, such as workplaces or educational facilities, treating each language as equally legitimate. Birthrate The number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. Also known as the crude birthrate. Black power A political philosophy promoted by many younger Blacks in the 1960s that supported the creation of Black -controlled political and economic institutions. Bourgeoisie Karl Marx's term for the capitalist class, comprising the owners of the means of production. Bureaucracy A component of formal organization in which rules and hierarchical ranking are used to achieve efficiency. Bureaucratization The process by which a group, organization, or social movement becomes increasingly bureaucratic. Capitalism An economic system in which the means of production are largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits. Castes Hereditary systems of rank, usually religiously dictated, that tend to be fixed and immobile. Causal logic The relationship between a condition or variable and a particular consequence, with one event leading to the other. Census An enumeration, or counting, of a population. Charismatic authority Max Weber's term for power made legitimate by a leader's exceptional personal or emotional appeal to his or her followers. Class A term used by Max Weber to refer to a group of people who have a similar level of wealth and income. Class consciousness In Karl Marx's view, a subjective awareness held by members of a class regarding their common vested interests and need for collective political action to bring about social change. Classical theory An approach to the study of formal organizations that views workers as being motivated almost entirely by economic rewards. Class system A social ranking based primarily on economic position in which achieved characteristics can influence mobility. Closed system A social system in which there is little or no possibility of individual mobility. Coalition A temporary or permanent alliance geared toward a common goal. Code of ethics The standards of acceptable behavior developed by and for members of a profession. Cognitive theory of development Jean Piaget's theory explaining how children's thought progresses through four stages. Cohabitation The practice of living together as a male -female couple without marrying. Colonialism The maintenance of political, social, economic, and cultural dominance over a people by a foreign power for an extended period of time. Community A spatial or political unit of social organization that gives people a sense of belonging, based either on shared residence in a particular place or on a common identity. Concentric -zone theory
adjusted. Adoption In a legal sense, a process that allows for the transfer of the legal rights, responsibilities, and privileges of parenthood to a new legal parent or parents. Affirmative action Positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities. Ageism A term coined by Robert N. Butler to refer to prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. Agrarian society The most technologically advanced form of preindustrial society. Members are primarily engaged in the production of food but increase their crop yield through such innovations as the plow. Alienation The condition of being estranged or disassociated from the surrounding society. Amalgamation The process by which a majority group and a minority group combine through intermarriage to form a new group. Anomie Durkheim's term for the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective. Anomie theory of deviance A theory developed by Robert Merton that explains deviance as an adaptation either of socially prescribed goals or of the norms governing their attainment, or both. Anticipatory socialization Processes of socialization in which a person "rehearses" for future positions, occupations, and social relationships. Anti -Semitism Anti-Jewish prejudice. Apartheid The former policy of the South African government designed to maintain the separation of Blacks and other non -Whites from the dominant Whites. Argot Specialized language used by members of a group or subculture. Ascribed status A social position "assigned" to a person by society without regard for the person's unique talents or characteristics. Assimilation The process by which a person forsakes his or her own cultural tradition to become part of a different culture. Authority Power that has been institutionalized and is recognized by the people over whom it is exercised. Bilateral descent A kinship system in which both sides of a person's family are regarded as equally important. Bilingualism The use of two or more languages in particular settings, such as workplaces or educational facilities, treating each language as equally legitimate. Birthrate The number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. Also known as the crude birthrate. Black power A political philosophy promoted by many younger Blacks in the 1960s that supported the creation of Black -controlled political and economic institutions. Bourgeoisie Karl Marx's term for the capitalist class, comprising the owners of the means of production. Bureaucracy A component of formal organization in which rules and hierarchical ranking are used to achieve efficiency. Bureaucratization The process by which a group, organization, or social movement becomes increasingly bureaucratic. Capitalism An economic system in which the means of production are largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits. Castes Hereditary systems of rank, usually religiously dictated, that tend to be fixed and immobile. Causal logic The relationship between a condition or variable and a particular consequence, with one event leading to the other. Census An enumeration, or counting, of a population. Charismatic authority Max Weber's term for power made legitimate by a leader's exceptional personal or emotional appeal to his or her followers. Class A term used by Max Weber to refer to a group of people who have a similar level of wealth and income. Class consciousness In Karl Marx's view, a subjective awareness held by members of a class regarding their common vested interests and need for collective political action to bring about social change. Classical theory An approach to the study of formal organizations that views workers as being motivated almost entirely by economic rewards. Class system A social ranking based primarily on economic position in which achieved characteristics can influence mobility. Closed system A social system in which there is little or no possibility of individual mobility. Coalition A temporary or permanent alliance geared toward a common goal. Code of ethics The standards of acceptable behavior developed by and for members of a profession. Cognitive theory of development Jean Piaget's theory explaining how children's thought progresses through four stages. Cohabitation The practice of living together as a male -female couple without marrying. Colonialism The maintenance of political, social, economic, and cultural dominance over a people by a foreign power for an extended period of time. Community A spatial or political unit of social organization that gives people a sense of belonging, based either on shared residence in a particular place or on a common identity. Concentric -zone theory
