Society

1. Society People who interact in a defined territory and share a culture

2. Sociocultural Evolution Lenski argued that changes occur as societies gain more technology (p.90)

3. Hunting & Gathering Societies • Use simple tools to hunt animals and gather vegetation. • Generally live in small groups • Often nomadic • Women often responsible for the majority of work

4. Horticultural and Pastoral Societies • Horticulture refers to the use of hand tools to raise crops. • Adopted by those who lived in fertile areas • Simple tools might include a hoe and digging stick

5. Horticultural and Pastoral Societies • Pastoralism is the domestication of animals • Adopted by those who lived in dry or mountainous areas

6. Horticultural and Pastoral Societies • First time societies are able to have a surplus • Not everyone must work to provide food • Specialization occurs – trades, crafts, religion

7. Agrarian Societies • Agriculture is large-scale cultivation using plows harnessed to animals or more powerful energy sources. (p. 92) • “The Dawn of Civilization” • Could farm larger areas and create larger surpluses

8. Agrarian Societies • Even greater specialization • Money replaced barter system • Men became socially dominant • More life choices, hence great variation between agricultural societies

9. Industrial Societies • Industrialization is the production of goods using advanced sources of energy to drive machinery. (p. 94) • Gave people the power to change the environment • Change came faster than any other time in history

10. Industrial Societies • Took people out of the home, thus loosening familial bonds • Provide schooling for more people and greater political rights

11. Postindustrial Society • Postindustrialismis the production of information using computer technology. • Service sector becomes the predominant employer. • New knowledge and information often come faster than our ability to use them.

12. Marx: Conflict Perspective of Society • Industrialization led to two groups of people: • Capitalist • Workers • Industrialization also created a false consciousness. • Belief that social problems are a result of individual shortcomings rather than flaws in society

13. Marx: Conflict Perspective of Society • Alienation from • The act of working • The products of work • Other workers • Human potential

14. Weber: Rational Society • Rationality emphasizes deliberate, matter-of-fact calculation of the most efficient way to accomplish a particular task. (p 101) • Rationalization of society is the change from tradition to rationality

15. Weber: Rational Society • The Protestant Work Ethic • Based on Calvinism (religion practiced by Pilgrims and Puritans) • Predestination: God has already decided who will be saved and who will not. • Worldly prosperity a sign of being chosen • Pursued success because it was a sign of being chosen • Poverty a sign of God’s rejection

16. Durkheim: The Function of Society • Society has the power to guide our thoughts and actions • Social facts – patterns of human behavior • All social facts (including crime for example) are necessary for society to function.

17. Durkheim: The Function of Society • Modernity, because it imposes relatively few restrictions, may lead to anomie • Anomie – sense of normlessness

18. Durkheim: The Function of Society • Mechanical solidarity • Social bonds based on common sentiment and moral values; generally found in preindustrial societies • Organic solidarity • Social bonds based on specialization and interdependence; generally found in industrial societies