Chapter 1

Question 0

Sociology

Answer 0

Studies human society and social behavior

• social interaction
• social phenomena
• focuses on complex, more advanced societies

Question 1

Social sciences

Answer 1

Any study that studies humans and the world around them (geography, sociology, etc.)
Or
Disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and the functions of human society in scientific manner

Question 2

Social interaction

Answer 2

How people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior

Question 3

Social phenomena

Answer 3

Observable facts or events that involve human society

Question 4

Anthropology

Answer 4

Comparative study of past and present cultures

Question 5

Things to know about anthropology

Answer 5

-Focuses on simple, less advanced present cultures

Question 6

Psychology

Answer 6

Study of behavior and mental processes

Question 7

Social psychology

Answer 7

Study of how the social environment affects an individual’s behavior and personality

Question 8

Economics

Answer 8

Analyzes the choices people make to satisfy their needs and wants

Question 9

Things to know about economics

Answer 9

• processes by which goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed
• connection to sociology: effects of certain economic factors on groups

Question 10

Political science

Answer 10

Examination of the principles organization and operation of government

Question 11

History

Answer 11

Studies the people and events of the past

-sociologists use the past to try to explain current social behaviors and attitudes

Question 12

Thinking like a sociologist

*impact of the Internet

Answer 12

• helped create new form of isolation

- broadens horizons and access to more info

Question 13

The sociological perspective

Answer 13

a. Looking at social life in a scientific, systematic way rather than depending on a common-sense explanation usually found in the media
b. look at the hidden meanings behind human actions
c. Behavior is influenced by social factors and that behavior is learned from others
d. “Viewing the world from others’ eyes”

Question 14

The sociological imagination (c. Wright mills)

Answer 14

a. Ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life

Question 15

Theories

Answer 15

Explanations of the relationships among particular phenomena

Question 16

Theoretical perspectives

Answer 16

Set of assumptions about the nature of things

Question 17

Functionalist perspective

Answer 17

a. View society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system
b. Society is held together through consensus (agreement)
c. Topics of interest: functions of family, religion, education, and economy
d. Look at an elements positive consequences for society as a whole
e. Dysfunction
f. Manifest function
g. Latent function

Question 18

Dysfunction

Answer 18

Negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system

• disrupts the working of society and creates social problems
• can lead to social change (things learn to adapt and adjust)

Question 19

Manifest function

Answer 19

Intended and recognized consequence of some element of society
*automobile:speedy transportation

Question 20

Latent function

Answer 20

Unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element of society
*automobile:gain social standing

Question 21

Conflict perspective

Answer 21

a. Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change
b. Examine how those who have power control those who don’t
c. Interested in violent conflict and nonviolent competition
* men and women, age groups, racial and ethnic backgrounds
d. Topics of interest: decision-making in the family, relationships among racial groups and disputes among workers and employers
e. Basis of social conflict: conflict over scarce resources
f. Feminist perspective

Question 22

Basis of social conflict

Answer 22

Competition over scarce resources

• compete for power and wealth
• dominant groups establish rules and procedures that protect their interests

Question 23

Feminist perspective

Answer 23

• view society as a sex/gender system in which men dominate women
• things considered masculine are more highly valued
• reinforced by social institutions of family, religion and education

Question 24

Interactionist perspective

Answer 24

a. Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society
b. Interested in meanings that individuals attach to their own actions and the actions of others
c. Topics of interest: child development, relationships within small groups and mate selection
d. Particularly interested in the role that symbols play in our lives
e. Symbolic interaction
* meaning
* language
* thought

Question 25

Symbol

Answer 25

Anything that represents something else

Question 26

Symbolic interaction

Answer 26

How people use symbols when interacting

-texting

Question 27

Macrosociology

Answer 27

Study of large-scale systems or society as a whole

• includes the analysis of long-term processes, such as industrialization
• functionalists and conflict perspectives

Question 28

Microsociology

Answer 28

Looking at small-group settings and the face-to-face interactions among group members

• used to measure the impact of teacher expectations on student achievement
• interactionists perspective

Question 29

Globalization

Answer 29

Development of economic, political and social relationships that stretch worldwide (modern analysis)