Cultural Lag Theory
- Technology drives social change
- occurs when non-material culture can’t adapt to new material conditions (technology).
McLuhan’s 4 Laws of Media
- Enhance (Enhancing an ability): Enhances the ability to speak to each other
- Obsolete (Getting rid of an ability): Writing on paper
- Retrieve (Medium recovers which was previously lost): Talk to people at long distances
- Flip (What does the medium reverse/flip into when pushed to extremes?): Social Media
Future Shock
the effect of too much change in too short a period of time
Technosis
not knowing how to function successfully without technology
Technostress
distress caused by being overwhelmed by technology
Relative deprivation
feeling of discontent or dissatisfaction based on comparison to someone else
Neo-Marxism -
Economic power
Has and the have-nots (rich vs poor).
Learning Theory
- Behaviour is learned
Technological Perspective: Do violent video games make people violent?
Neo-Marxism -
Institutions
Created power dynamics between the “haves” and “have-nots”. Society is set up so the rich can always stay rich.
Psych Behaviourism -
- Is Google making us stupid?
- Diminished incentive to remember facts/information
Sociology:
Neo-marxism -
- The Internet is another way for the powerful elite to repress the average citizen
- Internet is full of advertisements which are fulfilled by the wealthy
Biometrics
measurement and statistical analysis of people’s unique physical and behavioral characteristics. Ex. Beauty detector
Anthropology
Determinist perspective, the internet has taken on a life of its own.
We can no longer control it – for good or bad.
Smart Wallet
Apple pay, online credit, etc.
Evolution of Communication through technology
The Evolution of Language
- Short Form, etc.
Evolution of spell check
Milgram-six degrees of separation
people are connected by an average of six social connections
Conspicuous consumption
purchasing and displaying goods or services primarily to demonstrate one’s wealth, status, or social standing
What are the different forms of social inequality
racism
sexism
transgender oppression
heterosexism
classism
ableism
religious oppression
ageism
Social Stratification
structured systems of inequality that rank people according to a hierarchy
What is the difference between open and closed systems
Open systems -
Achievement based economic system
Closed systems -
Social status is ascribed by birth, how the rich stay rich.
Achieved vs. Ascribed Status
Achieved -
Achieved status is attained through an individual’s efforts or action
Ascribed -
assigned at birth or based on inherent characteristics like race, gender, or family background.
Determinants of Social Deviance
location
age
social status
societal differences
Functionalist
(Social Deviance)
Deviance is common and necessary, defines appropriate behaviour
Societal norms are reinforced by punishing and/or correcting non-normative behaviour (Parents disciplining their children)
What is the strain theory? (Robert Merton)
If there is a gap, they are more likely to partake in deviant behaviour
