What Do You Know About the Notion of Social Structure Theory Flashcards

What do you know about social structure? In the study of sociology, distinctive, internal relationships are separated but are part of interrelated groups. This relationship includes family and community. Social structure is a live structure that is created and maintained for time and changes. It is essential because it demonstrates unequal access to individual rights, such as resources and education. Read and study these flashcards and take the quiz to see what you learned.

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Cards In This Set

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Stratified society
People grouped according to economic ot social class characterized by the unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige
Social class
Segment of the population whose members are at a relatively similar economiv level and who share attitudes, values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle
Culture of poverty
A separate lower-class culture, characterized by aathy, cynicism, helplessness, and mistrust of social instituions such as schools, governement agencies, and the police, that is passed from one generation to another
Underclass
The lowest social stratum in any country, whose members lack the education and skills needed to functino siccessfully in modern society
Social sturcture theory
The view that disadvantageed economic class position is a promary cause of crime
Social disorganization theory
Branch of social structure theory that focuses on the breakdown in inner-city neghborhoods of instituitions such as the fmaily, school, and employment
Strain theory
Branch of social structure theory that sees crime as a function of the conflict netween people's goals and the means available to obtain them
Strain
The anger, frustration and resentment epereienced by people who believe they cannot achieve their goals through legitimate means
Cultural deviance theory
Branch of social structure theory that sees strain and social disorganization together resulting in a unique loewr-class culture that conflicts with conventinoal social norms
Subculture
A set of values, beliefs, and traditions unique to a particular social class or group within a larger society
Cultural transmission
Process whereby values, beliefs and traditions are handed down from one generation to the next
Transitional neighborhood
An area undergoing a shift in population and structure, usualy from middle-class residential to lower-class mixed use
Concentration effect
As working and middle class fmailies flee inner-city poverty-ridden areas, the most disadvantaged popluation is consolidated in urban ghettos
Collective efficacy
Social control extorted by cohesive communities and based on mutal trust, including intervention in the supervision of children and maintenance of public order
Anomie theory
The view that anomie results when socially defined goals (such as wealth and power) are universally mandated but access to legitimate menas (such as education and job opportunities) is stratified by class and status