Social Class, Socioeconomic Status, and Stratification (10A) - Psych & Soc

1. What is meritocracy?

   A system where rewards and status are based on individual achievement. It emphasizes talent and effort in allocating positions, ideally reducing inherited inequalities.

2. What is the poverty line?

   An income threshold used to classify individuals or families as poor. This metric, often set by governments, determines eligibility for social welfare programs.

3. What is horizontal social mobility?

   Change in social position without major change in class rank. It involves shifts in roles or occupations without altering overall socioeconomic standing.

4. What is socioeconomic status (SES) as used in MCAT sociology and psychology?

   A composite of social standing based on income, education, and occupation. Combines three key indicators to measure social position.

5. What is intergenerational social mobility?

   Change in social position between parents and their children. Compares family generations across time periods.

6. What is social mobility?

   Movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy. Can be upward, downward, or horizontal in direction.

7. Identify the stratification theory that emphasizes power, exploitation, and class conflict.

   Conflict theory (Marxian perspective). Sees stratification as exploitation by dominant classes.

8. What is an open stratification system?

   A system with relatively high mobility based on achieved status. Merit and effort determine social position.

9. What is a closed stratification system?

   A system with low mobility; status is largely ascribed at birth. Birth determines lifelong position with little change possible.

10. What is intragenerational social mobility?

    Change in social position within an individual's lifetime. Occurs during one person's career or life course.

11. What is the difference between ascribed status and achieved status?

    Ascribed is assigned at birth; achieved is earned through choices and actions. Birth gives ascribed; effort creates achieved status.

12. What is a caste system?

    Closed stratification with little mobility; status is largely ascribed. Such systems enforce rigid, hereditary divisions, limiting opportunities for social advancement.

13. What is a class system?

    An open stratification system with mobility based on achievement and SES. Most modern societies use this flexible system.

14. What is intergenerational social mobility?

    Change in social class between parents and children. It measures status differences across generations, influenced by inheritance and opportunities.

15. What is structural mobility?

    Mobility caused by changes in the economy or occupational structure. Broad societal changes create new opportunities or diminish others, enabling group-level shifts.

16. What is vertical mobility?

    Upward or downward movement that changes social rank. Results in higher or lower social standing.

17. What is the difference between social class and socioeconomic status (SES)?

    Class is a broad group position; SES is a measured rank using key indicators. Class is categorical; SES provides numerical measurement.

18. What is a class system?

    Open stratification with possible mobility; status is more achieved. These systems promote mobility through individual efforts, reducing reliance on birth status.

19. What is structural mobility?

    Mobility caused by changes in the economy or society (not individual effort alone). Societal shifts create mobility beyond personal control.

20. What is class consciousness in Marxist theory?

    Awareness of one's class interests and shared economic position. It fosters solidarity and potential for collective action against exploitation.

21. What is cultural capital in Bourdieu's theory?

    Nonfinancial assets (knowledge, tastes, credentials) that confer advantage. Bourdieu argues it reproduces inequality by providing subtle advantages in social fields.

22. In Weberian theory, what three dimensions can determine social position?

    Class, status, and party (economic, social prestige, political power). Weber's model incorporates multiple axes, allowing for nuanced analysis of stratification.

23. What is social stratification?

    The hierarchical arrangement of individuals and groups in society. Creates layers of inequality based on resources and power.

24. What is a class system as a form of stratification?

    A more open system with social categories based on achievement and resources. Permits mobility through education, work, and wealth accumulation.

25. What is social mobility?

    Movement of individuals or groups within a stratification system. It indicates potential for change in socioeconomic position through factors like education or economic shifts.

26. What is the difference between absolute poverty and relative poverty?

    Absolute: basic needs unmet; relative: below societal standard of living. Absolute lacks necessities; relative lacks compared to others.

27. What is cultural capital?

    Nonfinancial assets (knowledge, tastes, skills) that promote social mobility. Education and refined tastes enable class advancement.

28. What is intragenerational social mobility?

    Change in social class across an individual's lifetime. It reflects personal trajectory changes due to career advancements or setbacks over time.

29. What is relative poverty?

    Poverty defined in comparison to others in the same society and time period. Based on social context, not absolute survival needs.

30. What is relative poverty?

    Poverty defined compared with typical living standards in a society. It highlights disparities relative to community norms, affecting social inclusion and well-being.

31. What is social stratification in a society?

    A hierarchical arrangement of groups with unequal access to power and resources. Creates inequality through differential distribution of resources.

32. Identify the stratification theory that argues inequality is functional and stabilizing.

    Structural functionalism (Davis–Moore thesis). Views inequality as necessary for societal functioning.

33. What is a caste system?

    A closed stratification system with hereditary status and minimal mobility. India's traditional system exemplifies this rigid structure.

34. What is socioeconomic status (SES) in sociological research?

    A composite measure of social standing using income, education, and occupation. Combines three key dimensions to quantify social position objectively.

35. What is cultural capital in the context of SES and stratification?

    Nonfinancial assets (knowledge, tastes, skills) that enable social mobility. Education and refined tastes can facilitate upward mobility.

36. What is meritocracy?

    Allocation of status and rewards based primarily on individual ability and effort. Assumes talent and hard work determine social outcomes.

37. What is socioeconomic status (SES) as used in sociological research?

    A composite ranking based on income, education, and occupation. SES integrates these indicators to assess position in societal hierarchies and predict outcomes like health and education access.

38. Identify the concept: unequal health outcomes by SES due to differential exposure to risks and resources.

    Health disparities (social gradient in health). Lower SES correlates with poorer health outcomes.

39. What is absolute poverty?

    Inability to meet basic needs for survival (food, shelter, clothing, health care). Lacks resources for physical survival regardless of society.

40. What is the Davis–Moore thesis about stratification?

    Stratification is functional, rewarding roles that are more important or scarce. Justifies inequality as necessary for society's functioning.

41. What is vertical social mobility?

    Movement to a higher or lower social class position. This type alters hierarchical ranking, often through personal achievement or economic changes.

42. What is horizontal mobility?

    Change in social position without major change in social rank. Like switching jobs at the same level or prestige.

43. What is downward social mobility?

    Movement to a lower socioeconomic position. Results from job loss, illness, or economic downturns.

44. What is absolute poverty?

    Inability to meet basic needs (food, shelter, safety) at a minimum level. This threshold ensures survival but ignores societal context or quality of life variations.

45. What is social capital?

    Resources gained through social networks, connections, and group membership. Who you know matters for accessing opportunities.

46. What is social class in sociology, and how does it differ from SES?

    A group sharing similar status and power; broader than the SES composite. Encompasses lifestyle and culture beyond just economic measures.

47. What is social stratification?

    A structured hierarchy of unequal access to resources and power. It creates persistent inequalities by organizing society into ranked groups with differential privileges.

48. What is social mobility?

    Movement of individuals or groups between social strata. Can occur upward, downward, or horizontally in society.

49. Identify the concept: education, income, and occupation are combined into one index.

    Socioeconomic status (SES). These three factors create a composite social position measure.

50. What is a class system?

    An open stratification system with possible mobility based on achieved status. Allows movement through education and effort.

51. Which Gini coefficient indicates greater inequality: $0.20$ or $0.45$?

    $0.45$. Higher values reflect greater income disparity, as the coefficient measures deviation from perfect equality.

52. Which theory argues stratification is driven by exploitation between bourgeoisie and proletariat?

    Marxist conflict theory. Views class struggle as the engine of social change.

53. What is intergenerational mobility?

    Social class change between parents and their children. Compares offspring's status to their parents' status.

54. What is relative poverty?

    Poverty defined in comparison to societal standards and typical living conditions. Based on social context rather than survival needs.

55. What is exchange mobility?

    Mobility where some move up as others move down, net change is $0$. This zero-sum process maintains overall distribution while allowing individual positional exchanges.

56. What is false consciousness in Marxist theory?

    Misunderstanding of one's class interests, often supporting the status quo. This ideology sustains inequality by obscuring true class relations and interests.

57. What is a closed stratification system?

    A system with restricted mobility based on ascribed status. Birth circumstances largely determine life outcomes.

58. What is an open stratification system?

    A system with relatively high mobility; status can be achieved. Allows movement between social positions through effort.

59. What is the key difference between social class and socioeconomic status (SES)?

    Class is a broad social grouping; SES is a measurable position using indicators. Class is conceptual; SES is quantifiable with specific metrics.

60. In Marxist theory, what defines social class most fundamentally?

    Relationship to the means of production (owners vs workers). Marx views class as rooted in production control, leading to exploitation and conflict.

61. What is social stratification in a society?

    A hierarchical arrangement of groups with unequal access to resources and power. Creates layers of inequality in society's structure.

62. What is social reproduction (of inequality)?

    Transmission of social and economic inequality across generations. Institutions like education perpetuate advantages, maintaining class structures over time.

63. What is meritocracy in the context of stratification?

    A system where status is based primarily on individual ability and achievement. Rewards talent and effort rather than inherited privilege.

64. What is socioeconomic status (SES) as used in sociological research?

    A composite measure of social standing, typically income, education, and occupation. Combines multiple indicators to quantify social position.

65. What is social capital in the context of SES and stratification?

    Resources gained through social networks, norms, and social connections. "Who you know" can provide opportunities and advantages.

66. What is upward social mobility?

    Movement to a higher socioeconomic position. Improves class position through achievement or opportunity.

67. What is intragenerational mobility?

    Social class change within a single individual's lifetime. Occurs when someone changes class during their own life.

68. What is the Gini coefficient used to measure?

    Income or wealth inequality within a population. The index quantifies disparity, with values from 0 (equality) to 1 (maximum inequality).

69. What is absolute poverty?

    Inability to meet basic needs for survival (food, shelter, sanitation, health). Lacks resources for physical survival, not just relative deprivation.

70. What is a caste system?

    A closed stratification system with little mobility and ascribed status. Birth determines lifelong position with rigid boundaries.

71. What is a caste system as a form of stratification?

    A closed system with hereditary, rigid social categories and minimal mobility. Birth-based ranks are permanent and often endogamous.

72. What is social class (in sociology) as distinct from SES?

    A group position defined by shared economic and social standing. Social class groups individuals with comparable lifestyles and opportunities, contrasting with SES as an individual metric.

73. What is horizontal social mobility?

    Movement to a similar-status position (role change without class change). Same prestige level but different occupation or location.

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