Sociological Imagination Flashcards
Sociological Imagination
How we can relate our own individual experiences to the larger aspect of our lives and how social forces play a role in it
Social Facts
Values and norms that exist outside the individual and puts constraints on behaviour
Sociological Theory
Provides explanations of how society works. Answers “why” and “how” based on patterns. It’s based on the sociological perspective, which is that human behavior is shaped by groups and the social interactions within that group
Micro-level Theories
Looks at person-to-person interactions; specific relationships
Macro-level Theories
Looks at how institutions, economies, nation, and societies operate. Large-scale issues and groups of people
Functionalist Perspective. Macro or Micro?
Macro-level. Society is a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole
Conflict Perspective. Macro or micro?
Macro-level. Society is composed of different groups and are only interesting in competing for power and resources
Symbolic Interactionalism. Micro or Macro?
Micro-level. Human behavior is influenced by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interaction with others
Karl Marx. What term did he coin?
Social conflict, a struggle between groups because of differing needs and interests. Based on economic relationships–capitalist society: consists of capitalists (owners) and workers. Capitalism caused culture
Émile Durkheim
Structural properties of social life–forces that influence individual behavior and the outcome of that behavior. Looked at society as a whole and how others interact with each other and how they’re integrated, called solidarity. Sociology is a science
Mechanical Solidarity
Personal and direct. Society is cohesive and integrated, reliant on each other, but fragile society. People feel essential
Organic Solidarity
Division of labor, specializations, replaceable. Others are distantly connected, but still rely on each other. Robust society–people are less essential and feel alone
Regulation
The idea of a set of rules within a group
Anomie
When expectations/rules are unclear, others feel less integrated. Unclear moral standards and leads us to follow our own desires and can break society
Max Weber. What term did he coin?
Methodological individualism–focus on the perspective of the individual to explain social phenomena. Culture caused capitalism. The values of people guide their social actions. Sociology is a science
Social Action. Who coined the term?
Max Weber. Behaviors that produce structures of a society. Actions are interpretive and emphasizing its meaning
Jane Addams
Hull House–social reform for women. Made social statistics significant. Insisted on socially-engaged scholarship–engaging with others and learning from them
W.E.B Du Bois
Capitalism and slavery reinforced each other. White workers had psychological wages, where they get paid with status, apart from money. Makes them feel more superior to African Americans. Hierarchy
Alienation of Workers (Marx)
Alienated from the product
Alienated from the production process
Alienated from themselves, creative thinking, and human capacity
Alienated from the social group
Traditionalism. Max Weber
Sees the world as having a basic order, and that order is the way things ought to be
Rationality or Rationalization. Max Weber
Consists of three aspects that people display:
- ) Calculability - If you know the inputs, you know the outputs
- ) Methodical Behavior - People’s behavior are predictable; methodological, there are procedures to follow
- ) Reflexivity - Thinking about what you’re doing. People are constantly looking for new ways to improve the process, become more efficient
