Introduction to Sociology Flashcards
what is sociology?
the study of groups, group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups.
what is micro and macro level study?
micro level studies small groups and individual interactions. macro level looks at trends among and between large groups and societies.
what is sociological imagination?
the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in general and societal structures in particular.
what does sociology encourage?
the questioning of human interactions and human realities.
what is culture?
the group’s shared practices, values and beliefs. it encompasses a groups way of life.
give a brief note on Emile Durkheim
Moved sociology fully into the realm of an empirical science. Most well known empirical study is called Suicide, where he looks at the social causes of suicide. Associated with the functionalist perspective in sociology.
give a brief note on Karl Marx
His ideas are credited as the foundation of modern communism. He believed socialism will replace capitalism, and lead to communism. He believed religion caused and covered up political and economic inequality. Regarded as the founder of Conflict Theory.
give a brief note on Max Weber
Much of his work was a critique or clarification of Marx. His most famous work ‘The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism’ directly challenged Marx’s ideas in the role of religion in society. His primary focus was on the subjective meanings that humans attach to their own actions. Associated with the Symbolic Interactionism in sociology.
who are the founding fathers of sociology?
Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber.
what is the relationship between society and the individual?
society is the regularities, customs and ground rules of anti-human behaviour. the individual lives and acts within the society.
what is positivism?
the scientific study of social patterns.
who was the first female sociologist?
Harriet Martineau.
what do sociologists study?
social order, social change, the relationship between society and the behaviour of the individual.
what is the difference between sociology and psychology?
Sociology studies society as a whole, deals with social processes, and studies social forms and social structure. Psychology studies individual behaviour, deals with mental process, and is concerned with the individual and their behaviour.
what is the difference between sociology and common sense?
Sociology seeks to use a broad range of carefully selected observations and theoretically understand to explain those observations. Common Sense assumptions are usually based on very limited observation.
