Chapter 1 - A sociological compass Flashcards
What is sociology?
the systematic study of human groups and their interactions
The sociological perspective
Looking at the patterns of social relations that might encourage or inhibit actions
Social Structures
Relatively stable patterns of social relations. Sociologists explore how an individual’s personal troubles are connected to the social structures in which the individual lives
Microstructures
patterns of close social relations formed during face-to-face interactions
ex. family, friends, colleagues
Macrostructures
patterns of social relations that lie outside and above your circle of intimates and acquaintances
ex. class relations (power systems) and patriarchy
Global structures
patterns of social relations that lie outside and above the national level, including international organizations, patterns of worldwide travel and communications and economic relations between countries
The Social imagination
By C. Wright Mills
The quality of mind that enables a person to see connection between personal troubles and social structures
(or social issues are caused by larger social factors) such that individual challenges arise from social issues
Originated from the scientific revolution (that people should use evidence to draw conclusions) and democratic revolution (people are responsible for organizing society and that humans can solve social problems) and industrial revolution
Quality of mind
refers to one’s ability to look beyond personal circumstances and into social context
ex. looking at the greater forces at work that influence your actions and livelihood - lie why are you at university
Invitation to Sociology
By Peter Berger
- goal is to see the general in the particular
- to look at seemingly unique events and recognize the larger features involved
- think about what is familiar and see it as strange (not always easy)
Charles Wright Mills
The Social Imagination
- to look at how society influences our personal troubles
Peter Berger
Invitation to Sociology
- the goal to see the general in the particular (look at how society influences seemingly normal things in your life)
- so see the strange in the familiar
Auguste Comte
Introduced Sociology as a scientific methodology (study of society with scientific methods)
Max Weber
Rationalization
- rationalize society to achieve given goals, but makes life like living in a glass cage
- loss of individuality, autonomy, and individual freedom. Also makes everyone specialized and have an obsession with bigger and better things
Pierre Bourdieu
Cultural Capital
- that the beliefs, normas, and values that people draw upon in everyday life influences how we see others
- cultural capital is symbolic not material
George Herbert Mead
Action and Internal Dialogue (child development)
- actions are guided by our internal dialogue
- use internal dialogue to regulate their behaviour
Emile Durkheim
The sociological perspective
- looking at the individual actions through sociological factors
Also - fuctionalism
- social relations or structures govern human relations
Michel Foucault
Dominant vs subordinate culture
- he believed that society was a fight between dominant and subordinate culture
Conflict theory
social classes struggling against each other to avoid oppression - Karl Marx
Symbolic Interactionism
- microlevel social interactions that says to understand these interactions you need to look at the subjective meanings people attach to these interactions
Feminist Theory
The belief that patiarchy influences women and how society view them influences their actions and behaviours
fuctionalism
- social relations or structures govern human relations
