Term Test 1 Flashcards
reviews classical social theorists etc
what is Sociology
study of groups and their interactions
Macro vs. micro approach
Macro: The study of society as a whole, Larger analyses
theorists: Marx, Weber, Durkheim
Micro: The study of individual or small group dynamics
theorists: mead, Cooley, Blumer
what is the Sociological perspectives?
The connection between individuals and the larger social
Theory: Quality of mind
by Charles Wright Mills
Ability to look beyond personal circumstances and into social context
Seeing the general in the particular theory
by Peter Berger
To look at seemingly unique events (particular) and then recognizing the larger (general) features involved
Laws of 3 stage
Comte
Theological : Came from early ancestors. Supernaturalism= gods will, Mystery’s explained by god
Metaphysical: Ppl challenged and questioned many things such as the church
Positive: Understanding the social world using science
Objective reality, research will be value free and needs to be objective
5 social factors that define people
Minority status, gender, socioeconomic status, family structure, urban - rural differences
Industrial revolution
Changes in production made
Technology changed social life
Changed every aspect of social life; jobs, peoples hopes, future ideas
Brought urbanization and capitalism
The enlightenment
A period of science and challenging the churches beliefs
Anti and positivism
Positivism
This considers all understandings to be based on science.
believes: science is nor good or bad/ science will merge/ using observation, logic, experimentation
Anti positive
theidea that social science needs to be studied differently then science.
Opposite of positivism
QuaNtitative vs. QuaLitative
QuaNtitative
Is positivism
Measurable behaviour
Numbers i.e. crime rate, poverty rate…
QuaLitative
Anti-positivism
Non measurable items
i.e. the experience of living in poverty…
what is Functionalism
Social structures exist to help people fulfill their wants.
Society is similar to organisms, when it fails to work together the “system” will fail.
Society must meet the needs of the majority.
theory: Social facts
A controlsystem that is accepted by majority.
Durkheim
i.e. the legal system
Theory: Anomie
Emile Durkheim
A state of normlessness, which comes from the lack of clear goals
Creates feeling of confusion
May result in higher suicide rates
Individual is not connected to the community
Theory: Social solidarity
Emile Durkheim
1.)Mechanic solidarity
describes early society’s based on similarity’s and independence likeness
2.)Organic solidarity
Describes society’s organized around interdependence and increase division of labor.
Each person is doing a part to help the larger group
Cohesion
3 rules of sociological method
1.Sociology is a distinct field of study
2. The methods of natural science can/ should be used in social science
3. Social field is also distinct from psychology
Durkheim’s theory on suicide
men kill themselves for 2 reasons
1. Lack of integration and 2. Lack of regulation
FOUND: suicide as a social act
He found that Protestant, wealthy, males and unmarried killed themselves more the catholic, jews, poor, females, and the married
4 different types of suicide
1.)Egoistic suicide
the persons connects are weak
2.)Altruistic
Extremely attached to the group.
3). Fatalistic
Opposite of Anomic
Overburdened by society
No sense of freedom
4). Anomic suicide
Individual is not integrated
Conflict theory
society is based on inequality and competition
Power is core in all social relationships
theory: Social class
Karl Marx
2 main classes
1. Bourgeoisie
Owners of production
- Proletariat
Working class who only have their labor to sell
Alienation & Exploitation in Karl Marx
- Alienation
the process by which workers are disconnected from what they produce - Exploitation
The difference between what workers are paid and the wealth they create for the owners
theory: False Class Consciousness
Karl Marx
belief in and support of the system that oppresses you
theory: Class consciousness
Karl Marx
recognizing domination and oppression
Central movement for workers to have this realization
Base/ structure concept
The material and social society
base; materials of a society
i.e. forces and relations to production
superstructure: things society values once their material needs are met
i.e. laws, religion connects to our material existence
