chapter one vocab Flashcards
sociology
the study of human society and social behaviors from large scale-institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions
society
a group of people who shape their lives in aggregated and patterned ways that distinguish their group from others
social sciences
the disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world
sociological perspective
a way of looking at the world through a sociological lens
beginners mind
approaching the world without preconceptions in order to see things in a new way
culture shock
a sense of disorientation that occurs when entering a radically new social or cultural environment
sociological imagination
a quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between individual circumstances and larger social forces
microsociology
the level of analysis that studies face to face and small group interactions to understand how they affect larger patterns/ structures in society
macro sociology
the level of analysis that studies large scale interactions to understand how they affect the lives of small groups and individuals
theories
abstract propositions that explain the social world and make predictions about the future
positivism
the theory that sense perception is the only valid source of knowledge
anomie
“normalness” a term used to describe the alienation and loss of purpose that results from weaker social bonds and increased pace changes
paradigm
a set of assumptions, theories, and perspectives that make up a way to understand social reality
social darwinism
the application of the theory that evolution and the belief that “survival of the fittest” to the study of society
structural functionalism
a PARADIGM based on the assumption that society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures
solidarity
the degree of integration within a certain society to the extent that individuals feel more connected to other members of their group
mechanical solidarity
the type of social bonds present in premodern, agrarian societies where shared traditions and beliefs create a sense of social unity
organic solidarity
the type of social bonds presented in modern societies based on difference, interdependence, and individual rights
sacred
holy, divine, or supernatural
profane
the ordinary or mundane
empirical
based on scientific experimentation or observation
structure
social institutions that are relatively stable over time and meet the needs of its society by performing necessary functions to maintain social order and stability
dysfunction
a disturbance to or an undesirable consequence of some aspect of the social system
manifest functions
the obvious intended functions of a social structure for the social system
latent functions
the less obvious perhaps unintended functions of a social structure
conflict theory
a paradigm that sees social conflict as a basis of society and social change that emphasizes a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo, and dynamic model of historical change.
