Sociology test Flashcards
Chicago school
university of chicago
Ethnology and participant observation
Symbolic interactionalism: the study of interaction
With symbols and gestures
Ibn Khaldun
Arab philosopher and historian
The kitab al-lbar
precurser of sociology
Argued that older groups will be taken over by younger people (status)
The first figure to talk about society like a sociologist
Not a sociologist, but a philosopher
Asabiyyah
Symbolic Interactionism
micro theory
believes that the individual is the centre
The idea of the individual based on how they are percieved by others
you reshape yourself based on people’s reactions
depends on interpetation
your physical appearance and actions matter
the study of interaction
Max Weber
theory of rationalization
actions are dependant on efficiency
rationalization helps society function efficently
Example: you get promoted because it helps tge higher-ups, get your “best” work
Buraccucracy is better than revolution
He compared history like a game of clue
Rationalization: people are replaceable
referred to society as an “iron cage”
The idea that you are always trapped in everything
Always controlled
Agreed with Karl Marx about the harm of power, and that it wasn’t just money separating group, but it was gender, age, etc. that is affected by wealth
Thinks that everyone should be equal
Agreed with Emile about religion being essential but concluded that religion didn’t always lead to love
religious beliefs/values led to social changes
not all outcomes are possible in society, there are “tracks”
Positivism
Auguste comte
Saw the french revolution
positivism= natural world could be productively used to study the world
1. looking at sciences, scientific investigation, knowledge
2. laws
3. science + laws = change
4. science can be used to build a better world
Three stages of society in progress
1. Theological stage (religion)
2. Metaphysical stage
3. scientific stage
he was seen as too broad
Organic Solidarity
people have to adapt to certain situations
Emile durkheim
David Riesman
Americans stopped controlling themselves, and started being controlled (religion, consumerism)
First sociologist to be featured on time magazine
Zero-sum view of power
limited amount of power to go around
Conflict theory (Karl Marx)
Socialization
- primary socialization (simple, common)
- Secondary socialization (behaving properly)
- Anticipatory socialization (problem-solving)
- Resocialization (Transfrom negative behaviour into positive behaviour)
Primary: family, first thing you are brought into
Secondary: school, peer-groups, the workplace, media, religion
ADHD
Some people say that ADHD is overdiagnosed
There might be too much medication so doctors will over diagnose ADHD. Sociologists say that we must wait until there’s evidence to prove it
Auguste Comte
positivism
Saw the french revolution
positivism= natural world could be productively used to study the world
1. looking at sciences, scientific investigation, knowledge
2. laws
3. science + laws = change
4. science can be used to build a better world
Three stages of society in progress
1. Theological stage (religion)
2. Metaphysical stage
3. scientific stage
he was seen as too broad
Rational Choice Theory
in cases, someone’s actions seem inexcliciple, there are probably self-serving motives
humans are selfish
you will never do something perfectly
What people do vs. what people actually do
Cultural Toolkit
dressing/acting on something in certain areas which may not be acceptable in other areas. This is more broad
Ann swindler
C. Wright Mills
“The sociologist imagination”
Reminded society that sociologists exist to change society
pointed out that society was still rife with social problems
Douglas McAdam
resource mobalization theory
social movements from when people share grievance and are able to mobalize resources and take action
Rationalization
people are replaceable
referred to society as an “iron cage”
The idea that you are always trapped in everything
Always controlled
Max weber
Broken Windows Theory
Rudy Giulian
“more broken windows=more crime”
Robert Sampson and Stephen Raudenbush tested this theory
Giulian was wrong, since broken windows don’t mean more crime, but it says something about the area that makes people think there’s more crime
Examples of social facts
About half of marriages end in divorce
People can have different jobs in their lives
Most people don’t listen to classical music
This is a social thing, judging a group but not every single inidividual
Norms, values, laws
norms - normal
values- important
laws- roles that must be followed
Only laws are necessary
Ann Swindler
Cultural toolkit, dressing/acting on something in certain areas which may not be acceptable in other areas. This is more broad
Prudence carter
Code switching: actual act of switching (person to person)
Rationality vs. irrationality
rational choice theory: in cases, someone’s actions seem inexcliciple, there are probably self-serving motives
humans are selfish
you will never do something perfectly
What people do vs. what people actually do
Challenges to rational decisions
People make suboptional decisions
People make irrational decisions
Emotion
Altruism- balancing selfishness and selflessness
Symbolic interacionalism
micro theory
believes that the individual is the centre
The idea of the individual based on how they are percieved by others
you reshape yourself based on people’s reactions
depends on interpetation
your physical appearance and actions matter
Max weber
theory of rationalization
actions are dependant on efficiency
rationalization helps society function efficently
Example: you get promoted because it helps tge higher-ups, get your “best” work
Buraccucracy is better than revolution
He compared history like a game of clue
Rationalization: people are replaceable
referred to society as an “iron cage”
The idea that you are always trapped in everything
Always controlled
Agreed with Karl Marx about the harm of power, and that it wasn’t just money separating group, but it was gender, age, etc. that is affected by wealth
Thinks that everyone should be equal
Agreed with Emile about religion being essential but concluded that religion didn’t always lead to love
religious beliefs/values led to social changes
not all outcomes are possible in society, there are “tracks”
George Herbert Mead
Believed that symbols are key to understanding society
Symbols define our relationships
Without symbols, we wouldn’t know how to interact with each other
The looking glass self
theory
the way you percieve yoursel is how others percieve you
Step 1: imagine how you look to other people
step 2: imagine the judgements these people make about you
Step 3: Imagine yourself after people judged you
Re-inventing yourself
This is why you are never your true self
You will always think about what others think about you
C. Wright Mills
“The sociologist imagination”
Reminded society that sociologists exist to change society
pointed out that society was still rife with social problems
The history of sociology
1700’s-1800’s
people went from monarchy to republicans
3 most influencial and important sociologists
Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max weber
3 types of sociology
Microsociology- how society works from person to person
Network sociology- viewing society as a web
Macrosociology- society to society
religion-micro
comparing religions- macro
Emile durkheim
one of the founders of sociology
“organic metaphor’- society is a human body which has small parts
First sociologist
More positive than Karl Marx
people are governed by social facts
There’s “facts” that are not applicable to be true by some people
He believed as time went on, people change, and changes happen (sociological method)
Argues that crime can be normal only if it’s useful to society
Disgareed with marx about religion being bad, he believed that religion serves a funtion in society and that religion helps maintain solidarity
2 types of solidarity:
organic: people have to adapt to certain situations
mechanical: following rules and living in harmony
conclusion: religion is essential, encourages mutual respect, proves change over time, adapted because society also changed. He appreciated that religion can serv as a powerful form of social glue holding people together.
Empirical questions
- Theoretical questions- question about an idea “what is racism”
- Moral questions- question about what ti do morally “should racism exist”
- Empirical question- question about fact “does racism exist”
The broken windows Theory
Rudy Giulian
“more broken windows=more crime”
Robert Sampson and Stephen Raudenbush tested this theory
Giulian was wrong, since broken windows don’t mean more crime, but it says something about the area that makes people think there’s more crime
Pre sociologists
Theologians: studied religion, argued that God had a plan
Philosophers: looked at human nature
historians: studied past societies
Ibn Khaldun
Arab philosopher and historian
The kitab al-lbar
precurser of sociology
Argued that older groups will be taken over by younger people (status)
The first figure to talk about society like a sociologist
Not a sociologist, but a philosopher
Asabiyyah
Political revolutions
American revolution (1776)
French revolution (1789-1814)
Critisms of government (and it’s role pf society)
Discussion of fairness and human rights
The industrial revolution
18-19 century
Cities and jobs grew
Efficiency in production
Entertainment grew in quality
Too much work
Auguste Comte
Saw the french revolution
positivism= natural world could be productively used to study the world
1. looking at sciences, scientific investigation, knowledge
2. laws
3. science + laws = change
4. science can be used to build a better world
Three stages of society in progress
1. Theological stage (religion)
2. Metaphysical stage
3. scientific stage
he was seen as too broad
Karl Marx
First of the three thinkers
commented on capitalism, economic system
WI Freidrich Engels
Conflict theory:
competition of power
Inbalance of wealth
powerful instutions harm the poor
conflict of burgious and palitarian
He believed everything was a competition of power/money
He predicted that the lower class world
Conflict +revolution = societal evolution to Marx
Believed religion was bad because he understood that society was fundemental for gaining power
Dialetic Materialism
Every stage in history: mode of production (organizing production)
Our source of material changes
Each mode of production = conflict
Borgeais vs. protetariat
b= upper class, favored by capitalism
p= lower class, hurt by capitalism
technically, capitalism hurts everyone
The chicago School
university of chicago
Ethnology and participant observation
Symbolic interactionalism: the study of interaction
With symbols and gestures
David riesman
Americans stopped controlling themselves, and started being controlled (religion, consumerism)
First sociologist to be featured on time magazine
Talcott Parsons
Espoured functionalism: the same model of something exists for a reason since it works
He thought Reisman’s argument was a good thing
controvertial (for example, murder or racism)
Culture continuem
- art
- religion
- politics
- laws
- economy
- language
- technology
Different types of family
Nuclear family (basic family)
Extended family (more genrations)
Lone families (one parent)
Same sex family
Interracial family (increasing the most)