Sociology Exam 1 Flashcards
Sociological imagination
The application of imaginative thought to the asking and answering of sociological questions. “thinks himself away” from daily life
Social perspective
Understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context
Social structure
underlying regularities or patterns in how people behave in their relationship with others
Social structure
Framework of societal institutions and social practices that make up a society and organize and limit people’s behavior
Values
ideas held by individuals or groups about what is desirable , proper, good or bad
Socialization
social process through which children develop an awareness of social norms and values and achieve a distinct sense of self
Social order
How people behave in society. What is classified as what is right and what is wrong in society. It is basically needed for society to function properly.
Comte
The Father of Sociology; coined the term “sociology”; argued that reliance on superstition and speculation was inadequate in understanding society. Founder of positivism.
Norms
Unwritten rules of society to guide behavior
Beliefs
Are the ideas, viewpoints and attitudes of the particular group of society. They are consists of fables, proverbs, myths, folklore ,traditions, superstition, education and etc. that influence the ideas, values, emotions, perceptions and attitude of the members of the society.
Values
A standard by which people define what is desirable or undesirable, good or bad, beautiful or ugly
Socialization
The lifelong process through which people learn the attitudes, values and behaviors appropriate for members of a particular culture
Industrial revolution
Brought about Sociology in the 19th century; Scientists began applying the scientific method to real world problems
Comte
The Father of Sociology; coined the term “sociology”; argued that reliance on superstition and speculation was inadequate in understanding society. Founder of positivism. ‘Law of three phases’. It is by his statement of this law that he is best known in the English-speaking world; namely, that society has gone through three phases: Theological, Metaphysical, and Scientific. He also gave the name “Positive” to the last of these because of the polysemous connotations of the word.
Culture
the values, norms and material goods characteristic of a given group
Durkheim
Pioneered the systematic application of scientific principles to sociology; first to use statistical methods to test hypotheses; Studied suicide. Division of labor…Social facts…Religion and categories of thought.
Marx
“Modern Conflict Theory”-separation/tensions in society that propel flow of history
- Model of the Social System
- Theory of Revolution (social change)
Weber
Made methodological and theoretical contributions to the discipline. Study of rationality.
Subcultures
values and norms distinct from those of the majority held by a group within a wider society
Mead
Founder of the symbolic interventionism theory. The ongoing use of language and gestures in anticipation of how the other will react; a conversation. The looking glass self.
Anomie
Merton’s Anomie Theory. Normlessness - may arise when there is inconsistency between the cultural goals and the means of achieving them. A social condition in which norms are absent, weak, or in conflict.
Peer groups
friendship group composed of individuals of similar age or social status
Anomie
Merton’s Anomie Theory. Normlessness - may arise when there is inconsistency between the cultural goals and the means of achieving them. A social condition in which norms are absent, weak, or in conflict.
Symbolic interaction
The dynamic exchange of symbol in interaction (society is made “real” through symbols, symbols emerge through interaction)
Culture
The ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people’s way of life.
Impression management
preparing for the presentation of once’s social role
Material goods
The physical objects that a society creates; these influence the ways in which people live.
Sociology
Systematic study of human society
Nature / Nurture
Relative importance of biological inheritance and environmental factors in human development
Subcultures
Group of people who share the same norms and values, they have a distinct identity, often distorted, often reject mainstream society
Ethnocentrism
The practice of judging another’s culture based on the standards of your own
Cultural relativism
The principle of understanding other cultures on their own terms, rather than judging or evaluating according to one’s own culture
Peer groups
(Agent of socialization) is a group of people who are linked by common interest, equal social position, and (usually) similar age
Social roles
Behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status.
Nonverbal communication
Communication using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions rather than speech.
Status
The social positions a person holds
Impression management
Presentation of Self-you purposefully portray yourself a certain way by adopting an identity/providing identities for others, thereby influencing the outcome of a situation.
In-groups
A social group toward which a member feels respect and loyalty
Out-groups
A social group toward which a person feels like a sense of competition or opposition
Reference groups
A social group that serves as a point of reference in making evaluations and decisions
Bureaucracy
A formal organization with a hierarchy of authority & a clear division of labor; emphasis on impersonality of positions & written rules, communications, & records
Society
A group of people who live in a particular territory, are subject to a common system of political authority and are aware of having a distinct identity from other groups.
