MCAT Psychology Ch. 12 Social Stratification

Social differentiation whereby a society groups people into socioeconomic strata, based upon their occupation and income, wealth and social status, or derived power (social and political).

Depends on:

• Ascribed Status: involuntary, derives from clearly identifiable characteristics, such as age, gender, & skin color
  • Achieved Status: acquired through direct, individual efforts

Category of people w/ shared SES characteristics. 3 main classes are upper, middle, & lower. These classes have similar lifestyles, job opportunities, attitudes, & behaviors

Respect & importance tied to specific occupations or association (ex: doctor = high prestige)

Capacity to influence people through real or perceived rewards & punishments. Often depends on unequal distribution of valued resources. Power differentials create social inequality

State of normlessness. Anomie conditions erode social solidarity by means of excessive individualism, social inequality, & isolation

The investment people make in their society in return for economic or collective rewards. Social networks (institutional or positional) are one of the most powerful forms of social capital & can be achieved through establishing strong & weak social ties

Society in which advancement up social ladder is based on intellectual talent & achievement (merit)

Allows one to acquire higher-level employment opportunities by achieving required credentials & experience. Social mobility can either occur in positive upward direction or negative downward direction depending on whether one is promoted or demoted in status

An SES condition. In U.S. poverty line is determined by gov't calculation of minimum income requirements for families to acquire the minimum necessities of life (does not take into account location however, stuff costs different depending on location)

Passing on of social inequality, especially poverty, from one generation to the next

When people don't have enough resources to acquire basic life necessities like shelter, food, clothing, & water

When one is poor in comparison to a larger population (teacher living in upper class Manhattan)

Sense of powerlessness when individuals feel alienated from society

Form of social stratification across territories & their populations. Can occur along residential, environmental, & global lines