Core Sociological Concepts Flashcards
What is sociology
an invitation to engage ones intellectual imagination about social relationships, social actions, and culture
how supra-individuals and social forces make and shape us
what is supra-individual
above an beyond
be able to look at social factors beyond yourself
what is social thinking
being able to see that the social world partially shapes my life
my life is somewhat constrained by social forces
what is sociological imagination ( C. WRIGHT)
A way of thinking by which we interpret our personal lives through the lens of larger social forces
What is sociological imagination ( LOST IN TRANSITION)
It seeks to understand personal experiences of an individual on one hand and larger social and cultural trends , forces and power on the other hand
what is social location
our place in the social world in a specific place at a specific time with specific social problems
what is core tension
structure vs agency
structure
how society shapes us (product)
agency
our ability to shape our own lives (producer)
what is social structure
constraints our activities limiting what we can do as individuals
based on expectations
Social Problems
a social condition that has negative consequences for individuals , the social world, or the physical world
EX: social world - racism/ economic inequality
physical world- pollution/ global warming
Objective Reality
acknowledging that particular social problems exist ( can be confirmed by data and evidence
EX: global warming can be measured
Subjective Reality
addresses how a problem becomes defined as a problem (who labels this problem a problem [everyone will not always agree that there is a problem])
Social Construction
Theory that indicates that things only exist because we give it power
EX: money is just paper but is consider valuable because we have given it value
