Assimilation Back Stage/Front StageCausation and CorrelationDevianceEthnocentrismFolkwaysGemeinschaft/GesselschaftHarry Harlow’s ExperimentIngroup vs outgroupdeJure/defato racismKohlbergLabeingMores

NormOrganic SolidarityPrestigecliQuesRolesSanctionThomas theoremhUnting/gatheringVershehemWealth and Powerkarl marXsYmbolic interactionismZimbardo Prison Experiment

A IS FOR Assimilation

Assimilation is the blending of minority groups into dominant

society. The theories of assimilation include Melting Pot

(many groups in, Americans come out), Mixing Bowl (Become

American, but hold onto traditions), Anglo-conformity

(Everyone conforms to American ways), Accommodation (just put

up with different groups)

B IS FOR Backstage and Front stage

Backstage/Front stage is part of Goffman’s Dramaturgical Approach

which states that life is like a drama and everyone has front

stage and backstage. Front stage is how you manage the impression people have of you. Back stage is more casual and less formal. For instance, while a student might

raise their hand and do their homework for their front stage, they will complain about a class and a teacher while in their back

stage.

C IS FOR Causation and Correlation

Causation is the idea that one event leads to another.

Multiple causation is when several factors combine.

Correlation is the relationship between two different items,

that are related to some extent. For instance, the legalization of abortion decreased crime rates.

D IS FOR Deviance

Deviance is behavior that violates a norm. It depends on the time and

place you live. Society decides what is deviant, and the way society reacts is

more important than the action. There is positive deviance, which is an overconformity to norms, an example is anorexia. There is negative deviance which is a rejection of norms, which is

crime. Benefits of deviance include promoting social change, clarifying

norms, and promoting unity.

E IS FOR Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is thinking that one ethnicity is superior to others. For

instance, ethnic jokes and stereotypes are examples of ethnocentric

behavior. Also, white supremacist organizations such as the Klu Klux Klan

are ethnocentric organizations.

F IS FOR Folkways

Folkways are everyday habits and manners. If you violate a folkway,

you are considered a “slob.” Folkways help people get along. An

example of a folkway is brushing your teeth. If you don’t brush your

teeth, you are considered gross.

G IS FOR Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft

Gemeinschaft is an intimate community, such as a small farming

village with the same ideas and beliefs, where you know everyone.

The Amish are a Gemeinschaft community. Gesselschaft is

impersonal association, where lives are not centered on family, most

time is spent with strangers. American society is generally

gesselschaft.

H IS FOR Harry Harlow’s Experiment

Harry Harlow’s monkey experiment proves that nurture triumphs over nature. Harry Harlow created two

“mother” monkeys, one was rough, but had food, the other was soft and

comforting. The monkeys spent more time with the soft monkey “mother” than the wire monkey

“mother.” The monkeys chose comfort over food.

1950’s

I IS FOR Ingroup versus Outgroup

A group is people who have something in common and believe that the thing they

have in common is significant. Ingroup is people like you, and

an outgroup is people different than you.

J IS FOR de Jure and de facto racism

De Jure racism is discrimination by law. For

instance, in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, the Supreme court ruled that facilities could be separate but equal. De facto racism is racism by practice,

not by law, it is everyday practice of discrimination.

K IS FOR Kohlberg

Kohlberg created moral development sequences. The first is from age 0-6, and

is amoral (no sense of morals). The second is from 7-10 and is

preconventional, where you learn the rules. The third is conventional from

ages ten and older, and where you try to follow society’s norms. The final is Adult,

which is post conventional, where you model right and wrong and question

what if.

L IS FOR Labeling

Labeling can be racial, gender, ethnic, wealth, age, social class, etcetera. It is a self

fulfilling prophecy. You act in a way to fill the label. Sykes and Matza say that people resist labels. For instance, if you label someone as deviant,

they will act more deviant in order to fill that label.

M IS FOR Mores

Mores are norms vital to the well being of society and to

our values. They are universal. For instance, no incest, and

there is very strong punishment if you are caught.

N IS FOR Norms

Norms are specific guidelines for behavior. They describe

what is expected. Norms are often converted into laws. For

instance, you cannot date your sister.

O IS FOR Open Question and Closed Question

Open questions provide a true and honest answer while

revealing attitudes, but they are harder to count and see trends. Closed question has limited answers, is easy to

count, and easy to see trends and patterns. Surveys are very

common forms of questionnaires.

P IS FOR Prestige

Prestige is your social position. It generally comes with respect and

honor. Prestige is valued and honored. Upper class has more

prestige than lower classes. Different presidents can have different levels of respect. For

instance, Abraham Lincoln versus Richard Nixon.

Q IS FOR Quantitative and Qualitative

Quantitative data is data involving numbers. Qualitative data is descriptive. Qualitative data allows for more feeling.

R IS FOR Roles

Roles are expected behaviors that lead to obligations and

privileges. You occupy a status within society and the role you

play depends on the status. Ascribed role is what you are

born with, such as being a woman. Achieved role is a role

you earn, such as CEO.

S IS FOR Sanction

Sanctions are punishments for violating norms or reward for

following them. There are positive, negative, formal, and informal

sanctions. For instance, a positive informal sanction would be “good job.” A negative informal sanction

would be a frown. A positive formal sanction would be honor roll. A negative formal sanction

would be jail time.

T IS FOR Thomas Theorem

“If men define situations as real, they are real in their

consequences”

1928

U IS FOR Hunting and Gathering Society

This society has the most equality. The men hunt, the

women gather. It is a nomadic society. It is the

most simple society.

V IS FOR Verstehen

It is a concept created by Weber. It is a way to

examine society through the use of symbolic

relationships.

W IS FOR Wealth and Power

Wealth is concentrated. The wealthy are getting wealthier, and the poor are getting poorer. The wealthiest

ten percent of Americans own 70% of the nation’s wealth. Power does not necessarily come from wealth. Power can come from knowledge, wisdom, or influence. For instance, Hispanics can swing the vote in the

election.

X IS FOR Karl MarX

Karl Marx created the conflict theory. The conflict theory states that the

key to human history is class conflict between the bourgeoisie (wealthy) and the proletariat (worker). There

are opposing interests, competition, and change. Wealth, prestige, and

privilege lead to power. An example of the conflict theory is race

relations, the dominant race keeps the other races in a subordinate

position

Y IS FOR sYmbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism was created by Cooley and Meade.

Symbols help define yourself and others. It helps to determine

what you “should” and “should not” do. Interactions are based

on mutually understood symbols, such as a flag and cross.

Z IS FOR Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment

Some students participated in the experiment as prison guards,

and some students were the prisoners. Within a few days, the guards became sadistic, and the

prisoners became extremely depressed. Both the prisoners and the guards became deeply

attached to their roles.