Chapters 1 & 2 Flashcards
Critical Thinking
The ability to evaluate claims about truth by using reason and evidence. Recognizes poor arguments, rejects statements not supported by evidence, and questions our assumptions
Six Rules of Critical Thinking
- Be willing to ask any questions, no matter how difficult
- Think logically and be clear
- Think about assumptions and biases (including yours) that affect all studies
- Back up arguments with evidence
- Avoid anecdotal evidence
- Be willing to admit when you are wrong or uncertain
Empirical Evidence
Information gathered through observations or experiments
Sociology
Scientific study of human social relationships, groups, and societies. Aims to understand behavior, relations, and institutions on large scale, very broad., scientific approach
Sociological Imagination
The ability to grasp the relationship between individual lives and the larger forces that shape them. Economics impact marriage. Connect what is happening in your individual life to greater patterns
Troubles
Personal problems
Issues
Public problems
Structure
patterned social arrangements that have an effect on agency
Agency
ability of individuals and groups to exercise free will
Social Institution
Any institution in a society that works to shape the behavior of the groups or people within them (education, justice system, family). Created with a purpose and a FUNCTION. They change over time and region and reflect the values of society.
Development of Sociological Thinking is rooted in 4 historical developments
- Scientific Revolution
- The Enlightenment
- The Industrial Revolution
- Urbanization
Auguste Comte
Founder, Positivism
Positivism
knowledge based on scientific reasoning and facts
Harriet Martineau
The first female sociologist. Societies must ensure social justice for women, enslaved people, and other oppressed groups. “How to Observe Morals and Manners” about methods. Marriage and feminism
Karl Marx
Society is characterized by class conflict. The bourgeoise exploit the proletariat. Workers express false consciousness and alienation. There will eventually be a classless communist system. All about economics and money. All forms of inequality stem from economic inequality
False consciousness
Workers collectively and individually did not understand that owners had a different self-interest. Misled to believe that what is good for owner is good for them. If they work hard enough then one day they will make it.
Alienation
The workers labor for others and are separated from what they created
Bourgeoisie
Rich, upper class as seen in Conflict Theory
the birds work for them
Proletariat
Poor or middle working class, exploited as seen in Conflict Theory
Max Weber
Critical of Marx’s narrow focus on the economy and social class, and he felt other areas of influence needed to be examined. He also stressed the importance of Verstehen.
Emile Durkheim
Pioneered methodology, mechanical v organic solidarity
Mechanical Solidarity
traditional bonds based on similarity, people might get replaced, gears in a watch, is replaced by organic
Organic Solidarity
modern industrial bonds based on specialization and interdependence, organs in a body
W.E.B. Du Bois
African Americans experience double-consciousness
Double Consciousness
Are aware of themselves being black and that they are never free of social stigma
Robert Merton
Manifest v Latent functions
C. Wright Mills
Sociological Imagination, troubles v issues
Jane Addams
Hull House, served new European immigrants, women who provided social and educational opportunities for working class
Mary Wollstonecraft
“A Vindication of the Rights of Women”
Power and Inequality
how the unequal distribution of social, economic, and political power and resources shape opportunities, obstacles, and relationships
Macro-level of analysis
broad, institutions, patterns
Micro-level of analysis
individuals and how they interact
Sociological Perspectives
explanations for various social patterns within a society, groups of theories (there’s 3)
Functionalism
Society is composed of different parts with a variety of functions. Explains social organization and change in terms of the functions performed by different social structures. Asks: What is the function of ______ for the maintenance of society? If it exists and persists, it must serve a function. Weakness: fails to recognize inequality’s detrimental effects on social relationships. Manifest vs Latent functions (Merton). Doesn’t challenge status quo, slow change.
Manifest function
needed and intended function for society Economics: encourage people to work towards harder and higher paying jobs
Latent function
extra and unintended functions. both manifest and latent contribute to societal equilibrium
Conflict Theory
Explains social organization and change in
terms of the conflict built into social
relationships. ASKS: Who benefits? Who loses? Conflict between competing interests as the animating force of social change and society in general. Each group in society (class, race, gender, etc.)
will act in its own interests. WEAKNESS: overlooks the forces of stability, equilibrium, and consensus in society, focuses on laws that benefit elite and ignore ones that benefit all. Inequality is not needed.
Symbolic Interactionism
Both the individual self and society are the
result of social interactions based on
language and other symbols ASKS: How do we interact? How do we create and interpret symbols? People acquire a sense of who they are through interaction with others. I am who I think you think I am. WEAKNESS: focus on micro-level obscures larger structural context, George Herbert Mead
Verstehen
Approaching the study of social behavior from the perspective of those engaging in that behavior, “interpretive understanding”
Sociological Eye
noticing what others may not notice, notice how clients will look to the male representative over the female
Generalizations
statements backed by evidence to describe groups in overall terms while understanding that there can be exceptions
Stereotypes
predetermined ideas about a group based on hearsay or personal experience regardless of contrary evidence
Two Core Commitments
- Sociological Eye
- Taking action
Theories
explanations for various social patterns within a society
Self
a sense of place in society and who we are in relationship to others
Front Stage
where the interaction takes place
Back Stage
where one prepares for the interaction
Presentation of Self
trying to control how others see and evaluate us
True Consciousness
if the proletariat come to grips with the depths of their exploration, lead them to bring out change
