Cultural Capital, Social Capital, and Meritocracy (10A) - Psych & Soc
- What is bonding social capital?
- In-group ties that strengthen solidarity within a relatively homogeneous group. Strengthens group cohesion but may limit exposure to new resources.
- Identify the concept: a mentor introduces a student to a professional network outside their community.
- Bridging social capital. This scenario exemplifies bridging social capital by linking individuals to external opportunities via diverse ties.
- Which term describes cultural capital embodied as manners, accent, and tastes?
- Embodied cultural capital. Internalized through socialization as habits and dispositions.
- What is credentialism in the context of cultural capital and education?
- Overreliance on degrees as signals of ability, regardless of actual skills. Inflated importance of credentials creates barriers to mobility.
- What is a weak tie in social network theory?
- Acquaintance-level connection that often provides novel information or opportunities. Distant connections bridge social circles and offer diverse resources.
- What is the sociological critique of meritocracy regarding inequality?
- It can legitimize inequality by ignoring unequal starting resources and barriers. Critics argue meritocracy masks systemic disadvantages, justifying disparities as deserved rather than inherited.
- What is cultural capital in sociology (Bourdieu)?
- Nonfinancial cultural knowledge and skills that confer social advantage. Includes tastes, manners, and knowledge that signal class position.
- What is cultural capital in sociology (Bourdieu)?
- Nonfinancial cultural knowledge, skills, and tastes that confer status. Bourdieu defines cultural capital as intangible assets like education and tastes that enable social mobility and reproduce class distinctions.
- Which option best describes bonding social capital?
- Strong ties within a homogeneous group that provide support and solidarity. Bonding social capital fosters cohesion and emotional support within similar social groups.
- What is the Matthew effect as it relates to capital accumulation?
- Initial advantage compounds, producing increasing inequality over time. "Rich get richer" phenomenon where advantages accumulate exponentially.
- What is symbolic capital in Bourdieu's framework?
- Prestige, recognition, and legitimacy that function as social power. Symbolic capital arises when other capitals are recognized and legitimized, granting authority in social fields.
- What is social capital in sociology?
- Resources and advantages gained through social networks and relationships. Networks provide access to opportunities, information, and support.
- Identify the concept: a job offer comes from a friend's referral rather than an open posting.
- Social capital. Network connections provide job access beyond formal channels.
- Identify the best label: a parent's alumni network helps a student get an interview.
- Social capital. Network connections provide privileged access to opportunities.
- Which term describes unequal access to valued cultural signals that advantages higher-SES students in school?
- Cultural capital advantage. Cultural capital advantage privileges students with dominant cultural knowledge, exacerbating educational inequalities.
- Which option best describes how elite internships often function in stratification?
- They convert social connections into career opportunities and status. Networks matter more than merit in accessing elite positions.
- What is habitus in Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital?
- Internalized schemas and dispositions shaped by one's social environment. Unconscious patterns of behavior reflecting one's social position.
- Which type of social capital connects individuals to institutions and authority?
- Linking social capital. Vertical connections to power structures enable resource access.
- Which term refers to the gap between one's cultural norms and those valued by dominant institutions?
- Cultural mismatch. Cultural mismatch occurs when minority cultural practices conflict with institutional expectations, hindering success.
- Identify the concept: owning a grand piano and curated art collection signals high status.
- Objectified cultural capital. Objectified cultural capital uses material possessions to convey and reinforce socioeconomic status.
- What is bridging social capital?
- Connections across diverse groups that provide broader access to resources. Cross-group ties expand opportunities and reduce social isolation.
- Identify the concept: a student gains an internship through a family friend's referral.
- Social capital. This example illustrates social capital as leverage from personal networks to secure professional advantages.
- Which term describes cultural capital as credentials such as degrees or titles?
- Institutionalized cultural capital. Formal recognition that legitimizes cultural competence.
- Which option best describes bridging social capital?
- Weaker ties across diverse groups that provide new information and opportunities. Bridging social capital connects disparate groups, enabling access to novel resources and broader networks.
- Identify the concept: blaming poverty on laziness rather than unequal opportunity.
- Fundamental attribution error (dispositional attribution). Overemphasizes personal traits while ignoring situational factors.
- Which option best describes objectified cultural capital?
- Material cultural goods valued by society (for example, books, art, instruments). Physical objects that signal cultural knowledge and class position.
- What is the hidden curriculum in schooling?
- Implicit norms and behaviors schools teach beyond formal academics. Teaches conformity, punctuality, and deference to authority.
- What is the hidden curriculum in schools?
- Implicit norms and values taught indirectly (for example, obedience, punctuality). Schools socialize students into dominant cultural values beyond academics.
- Which belief most directly supports meritocracy as an explanation for inequality?
- Success primarily reflects individual effort and talent. Ignores structural barriers and assumes equal starting conditions.
- Identify the concept: a student's elite accent and etiquette are rewarded in interviews.
- Embodied cultural capital. Embodied cultural capital rewards internalized traits from elite socialization in evaluative settings.
- What is social reproduction in education and stratification?
- Transmission of class advantages across generations through institutions. Social reproduction maintains class structures by passing privileges via education and cultural mechanisms.
- Which type of social capital connects people within a similar group identity?
- Bonding social capital. Strong ties within homogeneous groups provide emotional support.
- What is habitus in Bourdieu's theory?
- Durable dispositions shaped by upbringing that guide perceptions and actions. Habitus represents ingrained habits and mindsets from one's social environment, influencing behavior in various fields.
- Identify the concept: a hiring manager favors applicants from elite universities.
- Institutionalized cultural capital. Elite credentials function as cultural capital in hiring decisions.
- Which type of tie most often provides access to new job information across groups?
- Weak ties. Granovetter showed weak ties connect to different social circles.
- What is the "myth of meritocracy" most directly used to explain?
- Persistence of inequality despite claims that success is purely earned. Structural advantages contradict claims of purely merit-based success.
- Identify the concept: a bachelor's degree is used as a hiring screen for many jobs.
- Institutionalized cultural capital. Institutionalized cultural capital serves as a gatekeeping mechanism by validating competence through formal credentials.
- What is social capital in sociology?
- Resources and benefits gained through social networks and relationships. Networks provide access to opportunities and information.
- What is habitus in Bourdieu's theory of social reproduction?
- Internalized dispositions and norms shaped by one's social environment. Unconscious patterns of behavior learned from one's class position.
- What is the Matthew effect as applied to education and achievement?
- Early advantages compound over time, producing widening achievement gaps. The Matthew effect describes how initial disparities amplify over time through cumulative advantages in education.
- What is social reproduction in the context of capital and stratification?
- Intergenerational transmission of social advantage and disadvantage. Class advantages persist across generations through capital transfer.
- What is objectified cultural capital?
- Cultural goods (for example, books, instruments, art) that signal status. Objectified cultural capital includes physical objects that embody cultural value and can be transmitted or sold.
- Identify the concept: parents teach interview etiquette and "professional" speech patterns.
- Cultural capital. Parents transmit class-based behaviors and communication styles.
- Identify the concept: unequal school resources produce unequal outcomes across classes.
- Structural inequality (institutionalized inequality). Systemic barriers create persistent disparities between groups.
- What is a strong tie in social network theory?
- Close, frequent, emotionally intense relationship (for example, family, best friends). Deep bonds provide emotional support but limited new information.
- What is embodied cultural capital?
- Internalized dispositions, language style, and skills acquired through socialization. Embodied cultural capital consists of long-lasting personal attributes developed through cultural immersion and family upbringing.
- Which option best describes institutionalized cultural capital?
- Credentials that certify competence (for example, degrees and licenses). Formal recognition that converts cultural knowledge into economic value.
- What is economic capital in Bourdieu's framework?
- Material wealth and financial resources that can be directly used or invested. In Bourdieu's theory, economic capital encompasses tangible monetary assets that can be converted into other forms of capital.
- What is meritocracy as an ideology of stratification?
- Belief that status and rewards reflect individual ability and effort. Assumes success is earned, ignoring structural advantages.
- What is cultural capital in sociology (Bourdieu)?
- Nonfinancial cultural knowledge, skills, tastes that confer social advantage. Bourdieu's concept includes education, tastes, and behaviors that signal class.
- Which term describes the belief that success is earned solely through hard work and talent?
- Meritocratic ideology. Meritocratic ideology attributes outcomes to personal qualities, often overlooking structural inequalities.
- What is the main critique of meritocracy in stratified societies?
- It obscures structural inequality by attributing outcomes to individual merit. Meritocracy ideology masks how privilege shapes outcomes.
- What is institutionalized cultural capital?
- Credentials (for example, degrees) that certify cultural competence. Institutionalized cultural capital provides official recognition of skills, enhancing employability and social standing.
- Which term describes cultural capital in objects like books, art, or instruments?
- Objectified cultural capital. Physical possessions that signal cultural knowledge and status.
- What is social reproduction in relation to cultural capital?
- Intergenerational transmission of advantage that maintains class stratification. Cultural capital passes from parents to children, preserving inequality.
- What is social capital in sociology?
- Resources and benefits gained through social networks and relationships. Social capital refers to the advantages derived from one's connections, facilitating access to opportunities and resources.
- Which type of social capital links people across different social groups?
- Bridging social capital. Weak ties across diverse groups expand opportunities.
- What does Bourdieu mean by a social field?
- A structured social arena where actors compete for valued forms of capital. Bourdieu's social field is a competitive space governed by specific rules where agents vie for dominance using capitals.
- Identify the best label: a student learns debate norms that match elite universities.
- Cultural capital (embodied). Speech patterns and argumentation styles match dominant class norms.
- What is meritocracy as a model of social stratification?
- Status and rewards are allocated based on individual merit and achievement. Assumes equal opportunity and rewards based on ability/effort.
- Which statement best describes how cultural capital can affect teacher expectations?
- Shared norms with teachers can be misread as higher ability and motivation. Class-based behaviors are interpreted as intelligence or effort.