Ch.1 Sociological Perspectives

Question 1

What is Sociology?

Answer 1

The systematic study of human society and social interaction. (social patterns)

Question 2

How is Sociology studied?

Answer 2

Through scientific frameworks, theories, and methods. Systemic: uses both theory and research methods

Question 3

What is Sociology not about?

Answer 3

Commonsense notions

Question 4

How does an individual study Sociology??

Answer 4

By studying ourselves and our social standing in the World around us.

Question 5

3 Main Influential Social Factors of Sociology?

Answer 5

Revolution, Industrialization, and Urbanization.

Question 6

August Comte

Answer 6

First to theorize natural science applied to society using positivism. (metaphysical stages)

Question 7

Harriet Martineau

Answer 7

Sociology as the true science of human nature (call for equality of women).

Question 8

Herbert Spencer

Answer 8

Used (Social Darwinism) to create his ideologies and theories.
*Social Darwinism: Survival of the fittest

Question 9

Emile Durkheim

Answer 9

First publisher of a statistical study (on suicide).

Question 10

Durkheim’s famous empirical study of suicide:

Answer 10

Suicide is the result of social rather than personal factors; where there is no or little shared sense of community, suicide rates will be higher.

Question 11

Anomie

Answer 11

Lack of Norm/normlessness (lack of feeling normal)

Question 12

Karl Marx

Answer 12

Pointed out capitalism (inequality) in social classes.

Question 13

Max Weber

Answer 13

Influence of Religion on Social Factors.
(religious factors)

Question 14

George Simmel

Answer 14

Social Interaction in groups.

Question 15

Patricia Marchak

Answer 15

First major female sociologist: who published Ideological Perspectives on Canadian Society.

Question 16

Where was the First Sociology department created?

Answer 16

University of Chicago (1892)

Question 17

United States Sociology study?

Answer 17

Classic study of Philadelphia’s African American community.

Question 18

“Canadianization” of sociology?

Answer 18

The focus on regionalism, ethnic relationships, multiculturalism, social class, race, and gender

Question 19

Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives

Answer 19

Functionalist Perspective
Conflict Perspective
Feminist Perspective
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Postmodernist Perspective

Question 20

Functionalist Perspective

Answer 20

Assumption: Society is a stable, order-ly system; members share a common set of values, beliefs, and behavioral expectations
(Like a functioning organism)

Question 21

Conflict Perspective

Answer 21

Assumption: groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources.

Question 22

Criticism of perspectives

Answer 22

Both functionalist and conflict perspectives have been criticized for focusing primarily on whole societies, large scale social structures and social systems, i.e., (macrolevel analysis).

Question 23

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Answer 23

Assumption: Society is a sum of the interactions of individuals and groups

Question 24

Microlevel analysis

Answer 24

Focuses on small groups rather than large-scale social structures.

Question 25

Postmodern Perspective

Answer 25

Application of macro/micro analyses and critical thinking.

Question 26

2 Key Factors of Suicide in Canada

Answer 26

Social Class and Race