Chapter 1 Flashcards
Sociological Imagination
the capacity to think systematically about how personal issues are social issues, shared with others - the connection between public issues and private problems
In the U.S…
we tend to overlook the impact of social forces on our lives
Connection of Social Interactions and Social Structures
sociologists suggest that we are not as “in control” of our lives as we think we are
Agency-Structure Relationship
agency gives priority to the agent having power and capacity for creativity, agents both create and are constrained by social and cultural structures
Society
a large group of people who live in the same area and participate in common economic systems and shared culture
How Our Families Shape Us
giving us identities, teaching societal rules, exposing us to networks of people, and financial resources to help the next generation
Identities
the conceptions we and others have about who we are and what groups or categories we are members of
Social Structures
the external forces, like norms and social hierarchies that provide context for individual and group action
What are the two parts of social structure?
social hierarchies/rules and norms & institutions
Norms/Institutions
longstanding and important social practices and organizations that govern the practices
Structure of Sociology
individuals> groups> institutions> nation states> global
Social Context
social environments, including economic and cultural conditions that influence people’s lives
How are social structures long-term?
because they are external and coercive of individual human actors
Lessons from Sociology
what you think and do is affected by factors outside of you, individuals are also capable of having some impact on large scale structures
