Definitions

Question 1

Define the Sociological imagination.

Answer 1

C. Wright mills - How we come to see the interaction of self society. The difference between personal troubles and public issues.

Question 2

Define Sociology.

Answer 2

The study of modern societies.

Question 3

Define Political Science.

Answer 3

the study of government, political systems, institutions and power.

Question 4

define social anthropology.

Answer 4

The study of traditional societies.

Question 5

Define psychology.

Answer 5

The study of individual behaviour and mental processes.

Question 6

Define society.

Answer 6

A population living in a unified geographical area that is subject to a shared political authority.

Question 7

Describe some sociological features?

Answer 7

Individual members e.g. inclusion/exclusion/marginalisation.

Social groups

Shared values and norms.

Institutional structures.

Collective agents that act on and influence e.g. the state.

Societies have histories and go through historical era e.g. biculturalism.

Question 8

Modern societies are the product of ?

Answer 8

Three revolutions.

Scientific - from c. 1550. (took over from religion)
Industrial - from c. 1780.(capitalist society)
Political - from c. 1750. - challenges religion.

August Comte - 1838 - created term sociology.

Question 9

Describe the society-self relationship?

Answer 9

us and society as separate. conversely in modernity - much more fluid relationship.

Question 10

What do sociologists think about the us-society relationship?

Answer 10

Everyday life - our thoughts, actions, feelings, decisions, interactions and so on - is the product of a complex interplay between societal forces and personal characteristics. Relationship of mutual influence. As part of society we also have an influence on society.

Question 11

Where do social influences come from?

Answer 11

Social structures and social processes.

Question 12

What are social structures?

Answer 12

Parts (building blocks) of society and the ties connecting them together (mortar)

Statuses and roles:

• Groups and collectives.
• Social institutions.
• Culture

Question 13

Define status?

Answer 13

Any socially defined position that a person can occupy.

• Acribed: acquired involuntarily e.g. at birth, prince/ss, or as part of life course - old age.
• Achieved through our own efforts e.g. student.

Question 14

Define roles.

Answer 14

Expectations of behaviour linked to particular status positions. Social norms.

Question 15

Define Groups.

Answer 15

Comprised of people who share an identity or who interact with each other on a regular basis.

Question 16

Define Institutions.

Answer 16

Stable forms of organisation that have roles, rules and relationships that guide behaviour and meet social needs.

Question 17

Define culture.

Answer 17

Language, values, beliefs, norms of conduct and physical artefacts.

Question 18

Define social processes.

Answer 18

The movement between social structures - how you are linked to social processes.

• Socialisation
• Stratification (hierarchy e.g. students, tutors, lecturers).

Question 19

Stratification can create?

Answer 19

conflict/struggle which leads to change.

Question 20

Stratification processes lead to?

Answer 20

unequal distribution of rewards and resources across society.

Question 21

What are some of the drivers of stratification?

Answer 21

Capitalism (class divisions) 
Imperialism, colonialism, and racism (ethnic divisions/racism) 

Patriarchy and heterosexism (gender and sexuality divisions)

Stable patters of inequality called social divisions.

Question 22

What are stable patterns (key words) of inequality?

Answer 22

Social divisions.

Question 23

How are social divisions connected to inequalities?

Answer 23

distribution of power, positions, and resources.

Connected to CAGES
Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity, Sexuality.

Question 24

What do social divisions do ?

Answer 24

Mediate our uptake of statuses and roles in social organisations and institutions.

Shape how we give meaning to our lives (source of identities.)

Question 25

Define sociologial imagination.

Answer 25

How we come to see the interaction of self society.

Seeing in general in the particular.

Personal troubles vs. public issues.