Sociology

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

• The study of human societies/groups
• how these groups influence other humans
• i.e. family, religions, etc.

Question 2

What does a sociologist do?

Answer 2

• study how a group thinks and how that line of thinking affects its members
• look for any changes or patterns in a society as a result of the influence of particular groups

Question 3

Who is A. Comte?

Answer 3

• the father of sociology
• had a quite optimistic view on society
• believed that bc society was made by ppl it could also be changed by ppl
• thought family was very important
• influenced by French Revolution

Question 4

Who was E. Durkheim?

Answer 4

• sociologist w/ quite a cynical view of society
• believed that humans needed rules and punitive institutions in order to stay in order
• otherwise they will succumb to chaos and kill each other and themselves

Question 5

Who was K. Marx?

Answer 5

• the minority of wealthy ppl impose their power/oppression on the majority
• wealthy minority controlled insitiutions to stay rich
• thought religion was a bad thing and made poor ppl want to stay poor
• his ideas helped ATTRIBUTE to communism

Question 6

What is the marginalization theory?

Answer 6

• belief that social institutions purposely keep the rich rich and the poor poor
• they do so through norms and “isms”

Question 7

What is meritocracy?

Answer 7

• you get what you deserve
• but this isn’t necessarily reflected in society
• bc even if one may be hard working and deserving of money, they still may not get it