STUDY GUIDE – SECOND EXAM

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Spring 2008 - Kessler

The exam format will be essay and definition.  The exam will cover the following materials:

Chapters 5, 7 (pp 163-173), 8, & 9 in the Macionis text

All class lectures on and discussion of materials from the above readings

Chapter Five: Be able to explain and contrast the biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives on human social development, including the extent to which each leans toward a “nature” or a “nurture” explanation of personality and behavior.  Be familiar with the findings from the studies of isolated children and their contribution to the “nature versus nurture” debate.  Understand the fundamental differences between the behaviorists (for example, Watson, Skinner and Pavlov) and the social behaviorists (Cooley and Mead). Be familiar with the principal agents of socialization and their importance to the socialization process.

Chapter Seven (pp 163-173): Be able to discuss how sociologists view social groups, group leaders, and the impact of groups on the individual and society. Be familiar with the research of Asch, Milgram, and Janis, and how their concepts contributed to our knowledge of the power of group pressure on individuals and authority on groups. Be able to define and discuss the concept of in-groups and out-groups.

Chapter Eight: Be able to explain the differences between sex, gender, sexual orientation, and sexuality, the differences in sexual orientation, and both the social and biological explanations for the origins of our sexual orientations. Be able to explain how our sex is determined. Be able to briefly discuss the controversy that surrounds the following issues mentioned in lecture and text: teen pregnancy, pornography, prostitution, and sexual violence and abuse. Be able to explain the criticisms of pornography, as discussed in class. What is the defense of pornography based on? You will not be tested on the theoretical analysis of sexuality.

Chapter Nine: Be able to explain and contrast the non-sociological views of deviance (primarily the moralistic view and the biological view, as presented in class) with the sociological perspective on deviance and its principal premises concerning deviance. Be familiar with the structural-functional, symbolic interactionist, and social conflict analyses of deviance and the major theories within each paradigm.  Be able to discuss how deviance is gendered. Be able to describe how violent and property crime arrests break down by age, gender, social class, and race, and why.  Be able to identify the four justifications for punishment of criminals.

Be able to briefly define the following terms/concepts:

(Note: When studying the definition terms, keep in mind that an example is not synonymous with a definition. For example, “Ethnocentrism is like when people in the US look down on India’s society” is not a definition of ethnocentrism – it is an example of ethnocentrism. Examples lend support to, but do not replace, definitions. Also, be sure that you do not define a word or term with another form of the same word. For example, “Anger is something people have when they are angry” is not an acceptable definition.)

Socialization

Total institution

Resocialization

Behavioralism

Social behavioralism

Primary group

Secondary group

Groupthink

Deviance

Social control

Merton’s (structural) strain theory

Labeling Theory

Primary and Secondary deviance

White-collar crime

Hate crime

Retribution

Deterrence

Rehabilitation

Societal Protection

Recidivism

Sex

Gender