Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of Sociology?
Sociology is a social science that involves looking AT social patterns and looking FOR social patterns
why is sociology important
sociology helps you develop an understanding about others around you in the multicultural and diverse social world
What does the term “Sociological imagination” mean and who was it coined by??
The term was coined by C. Wright Mills
sociological imagination is the “capacity” to shift from one perspective to another, from the political to the psychological
it allows us to understand individuals as shaped by social forces
Who was Ibn Khaldun and what did he do?
Ibn Khaldun was an Arab scholar, he developed a system of studying various types of societies and their histories, cultures, and economics
Where did sociology emerge as an area of academic interest? when?
what did it develop as a response to
France, Germany, and Britain during the 19th century
It developed as a response to industrialization =, urbanization, and population increases
Who was the founder of Modern Sociology, and what did this person do
Max Weber… he identified the values of early protestantism which he called Protest ethic
He believed these values contributed to the development of modern capitalism
Which university was the first sociology department founded
The University of Chicago
Who was the first sociology department founded by in Canada? and where
Carl Dawson, at McGill university
What did sociology textbooks lack in Canada
they lacked Canadian perspectives, they still underrepresent indigenous sociologists despite being Canadian origin
Who was John Porter
a sociologist who recognized class and ethnicity
What term did John Porter coin and what does it mean
He coined the term Vertical Mosaic - the concept that Canada is a mosaic of different ethnic, language, regional, and religious groupings that are unequal in status and power
What does Stratification mean
its the distribution of individuals or groups according to various social hierarchies of differing power, status, or prestige
Who was Annie Marion MacLean
First Canadian woman to obtain a PhD in sociology
Who was Aileen Ross
She was the first woman hired as a sociologist at a Canadian University (UofT)
Who was Helen C. Abell?
She was the founder of rural sociology in Canada
What are the five different approaches sociologists use to pursue their inquiries (asking for information)
- structural functionalism
- conflict theory
- symbolic interactionism
- feminist theory
- postmodern theory
What is structural functionalism
views social systems as various parts and structures of which they are made.
what is structural functionalism compared to and why
it is compared to a human body…because each body part has different functions and works together for survival
why has structural functionalism fallen out of favour amongst practicing sociologists
structural functionalists don’t think change is good for society yet they agree to it. they think change should be slow and gradual and evolutionary, not rapid
who was Emile Durkheim
He was one of the founders of sociology who also coined the term “Social Fact”
What does the term “social fact” mean?
Social facts ways of acting, thinking, and feeling based on social characteristics,
but as a group, it exerts social control over all people
What are the three essential characteristics of every social fact
- it was developed prior/separate from you
- it can be seen as a characteristic of a group
- it involves persuasive force that pushes individuals into acting a certain way ex.rituals
Who identified the three types of functions in functionalist thinking
Robert Merton
what are Manifest Functions
they are both intended and recognized (eg.religion fulfills spiritual/emotional needs
What are Latent Functions
They are unintended and unrecgnized (religion creates a support network)
what are Latent Dysfunctions
They are unrecognized and have a negative consequence (eg. religion justifies judging outsiders)
What is Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is based on the idea that conflict exists in all LARGE societies due to class division
What are the four C’s of Conflict Theory and what do they stand for
Conflict - exists in every society
Class - has existed in every society
Contestation - functions can be contested (to compete) by asking “what group does this function best serve?”
Change - society either will or should be changed
What did Karl Marx believe?
He believed that society is a hierarchy, and each groups position in the hierarchy is determined by their role in production of wealth
what is Symbolic Interactionism and who coined the term
The term was coined by Herbert Blumer
It’s an approach that looks at the meaning (or symbolism) of our daily social interactions
individuals/groups create and maintain social systems through interaction
What term did Erving Goffman coin and what does it mean
He coined the term ‘total institution” which are institutions that seek to regulate, control, and manipulate it’s residence (ex.military institutions, hospitals, prisons, boarding schools)
what are feminist theories
feminist theories address issues of systematic discrimination against woman
what are the waves of feminism
1st wave- campaign for civil and political rights
2nd wave- focus on public and private rights + fight for equality in home and workspace
3rd wave - inclusion of LGBTI and radicalized individuals
what is postmodern theory
Postmodern theory seeks to include a diversity of voices In society, especially those that are often drowned out by powerful and dominant groups
Who was Michel Foucault and what did he talk about
He was a postmodern theorist, he talked about totalitarian discourse
What is the meaning of totalitarian discourse
any discourse that makes a universal claim about how knowledge and understanding can be achieved
What are the 4 types of sociology in “Sociology by Audience”
- professional
- critical
- policy
- public
what is Professional Sociology
involves research designed to generate highly specific information and to apply it to a specific problem or question
what is critical sociology
it is the conscience of professional sociology. it challenges established sociological theories and research that sociologists do
explain public sociology
sociology that addresses an audience outside of the professional world, and is presented in a language that can be understood by the college-educated reader
what is policy sociology
sociology that is about generating sociological data for governments and large corporations
(used in the development of social policies, laws, rules, or plans)
