Chapter 1: The Three Perspectives

Question 1

sociology

Answer 1

study social behavior and human groups scientifically

Question 2

sociological theory

Answer 2

• clarify concepts
• test hypotheses
• construct theory

Question 3

hypothesis

Answer 3

a speculative statement about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 4

theory

Answer 4

set of statements that explain how and why specific facts are related

Question 5

3 sociological perspectives

Answer 5

1- functionalist
2- conflict
3- symbolic interactionism

Question 6

functionalist perspective

Answer 6

society is like an organism:
- everything that survives over time/place contributes in some way to keep that society going
- discover manifest and latent functions
- anything destabilizing is dysfunction

Question 7

functionalism on police systems

Answer 7

every society has some system of police, therefore a police force contributes to the stability and operation of society

Question 8

manifest

Answer 8

what it is meant to do

Question 9

latent

Answer 9

what it actually does

Question 10

conflict perspective (Karl Marks)

Answer 10

order in the social world is the result of competition and struggle for power, control, or access
- elites use rules and structure to hold rank over others
- economic and power focused
- politically-charged

Question 11

proletariat

Answer 11

working class

Question 12

interactionist perspective

Answer 12

society is the product of people’s everyday interactions
- people assign meaning through experiences
- our shared meanings allow interaction
- our identity is a reflection of our environment