Unit 1

Question 1

What is Change and Sources of social change?

Answer 1

Social change is transformations in the beliefs, social interactions, practices, organization and structures of society. These changes occur over time; some changes happen slowly, while others are quick.
- can happen quickly due to crisis

Question 2

What is Macrosociology?

Answer 2

groups, social systems and social structures being analysed

Question 3

What is Confirmation Bias?

Answer 3

people favouring information that confirms their beliefs about an issue.

Question 4

What is conformity and the types?

Answer 4

• the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, etc. to what people in a society deem as normal
• Informational conformity: when you conform because the group convinces you they are right
• Normative conformity: when you conform in fear of the groups disapproval if you deviate

Question 5

What is alienation?

Answer 5

Distance of people from each other, from what they find meaningful or from sense of self

Question 6

What is a collectivist society?

Answer 6

society is valuing community goals over personal freedom. Value conformity, cooperation, and uniformity

Question 7

What is an individualist society?

Answer 7

society is valuing personal rights and freedom over the community goals. Creating distinction between personal rights and community goals. more accepting to change

Question 8

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 8

belief that one’s own culture, nation or ethic group is superior

Question 9

What is intercultural contact?

Answer 9

exchanges between cultures. high contact means more exchanges. (contact can be through war, trades, history, etc.)

Question 10

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 10

Fundamental change in approach/assumption occurring when usual ideas are replaced by new ideas

Question 11

What is structural functionalism?

Answer 11

sociological theory focusing on the importance of social structures and how social institutions explain why society functions the way it does

Question 12

What is Psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 12

examines the belief that the mind is divided into two parts: the conscious and unconscious mind
- argues that our unconscious mind has more influence in our behaviour

Question 13

What is cultural materialism?

Answer 13

explains cultural phenomena by prioritizing material, especially economic and technological, factors as the primary drivers of society and culture

Question 14

What is the learning theory

Answer 14

learning can alter one interpretation of life, leading to behavioural changes

Question 15

What is behaviourism?

Answer 15

behavioural modification to create change

Question 16

What is Marxism?

Answer 16

economic power and material wealth create natural competition

Question 17

What is conflict theory and how it relates to feminism and queer theory?

Answer 17

looks at how people with and without power are treated by structures in society
- social feminist believe capitalism is the root of male and female power struggle
- Queer theory examines the socially constructed nature of identity

Question 18

What would anthropology describe sources of change to be?

Answer 18

• change through inventions, discovery and diffusion (spreading ideas)
• looking at what culture is made up of (physical environment, level of tech, social institutions, and systems of symbols)

Question 19

What would psychology describe sources of change to be?

Answer 19

• cognitive consistency: having ideas that align with each other
• cognitive dissonance: discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions leading to increased dissonance
• wonder if its necessary to change ones attitude before behaviour can change

Question 20

What would sociology describe sources of change to be?

Answer 20

• describe change being caused by decay, cycles of growth and decay, and progression
• believe that human behaviour can be predicted through learning human patterns
• look at aspects of change such as direction (positive/negative), rate, source (exo/endogenous) and controllability
• believe people act according to social norms

Question 21

What is exogenous and endogenous?

Answer 21

• exogenous: coming from another society
• endogenous: coming from within the society

Question 22

What is absolute poverty?

Answer 22

the deprivation of resources that are considered essential- enough food and fresh water, and a safe place to live

Question 23

What is Relative Poverty?

Answer 23

measuring the deprivation of some people against those who have more

Question 24

What is below the poverty line?

Answer 24

if you are spending more than 56% of your income on basic necessities than you are below the poverty line. lone parent households, unattached individuals, people over 65 are more likely to experience this.

Question 25

What are some reasons for gender pay gap?

Answer 25

work experience, education, major of study, occupation, being promoted, bias in hiring and promotion, lack of access to affordable child care, etc

Question 26

What is the Employment Equity Act?

Answer 26

it requires employers to engage in proactive employment practices to increase the representation of four designated groups: women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and visible minorities.

Question 27

What is pluralism?

Answer 27

Pluralism: Widespread acceptance of differences in culture, religion, values and lifestyle

Question 28

What is singularity?

Answer 28

Singularity: Believe that everyone should act and think the same way.

Question 29

What is systemic discrimination?

Answer 29

a system exists that favours one or some groups over others in terms of hiring, benefits, promotions and pay increases. Usually racial minorities, Indigenous people, people with physical or mental disabilities, continue to encounter barriers

Question 30

What are two other responsibilities of the Employment Equity Act?

Answer 30

- All employers at the federal level (armed forces, health care, postal service) must tackle systemic discrimination - Equal pay for work of equal value: job classifications must be compared for the skills they require and the responsibilities they involve, their working conditions and the effort required, these must be paid at the same rates.

Question 31

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 31

discomfort felt by holding two or more conflicting thoughts. To achieve cognitive consistency, attitudes must change.

Question 32

What is inclusiveness?

Answer 32

all law abiding people, regardless of their particular background or circumstances, should be able to play a constructive role in the life of the nation

Question 33

What is Dominant Paradigm?

Answer 33

favoured by many in business and industry, holds that humans have a duty to create material wealth to make this and future generations richer and a right to dominate, change or even corrupt the natural world in order to do so

Question 34

What is Alternative Environmental Paradigm?

Answer 34

holds that society must place a higher importance on non-material values, encourage stronger communities built on better personal relationships and act with a greater respect for nature.

Question 35

What is technology?

Answer 35

creation of tools or objects that both extend our natural abilities and alter our social environment

Question 36

What is social change theory?

Answer 36

someone invents an item and a community accepts it. Society eventually changes to adapt to the item

Question 37

What is technology determinism?

Answer 37

social change is initiated by technology and technology takes on a life of itself, forcing people to adjust their behaviour

Question 38

What is future shock?

Answer 38

dizzying disorientation from premature arrival of the future

Question 39

What is technosis?

Answer 39

feeling out of touch when we don't check out phones which causes phobias and addictions

Question 40

What is the theory of cultural lag?

Answer 40

states that new technology follows these three stages: invention, discovery, and diffusion - transition to accepting new technology can be hindered by people against change, causing cultural lag