The Story of Sociology Flashcards

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1
Q

Sociology

A

the systematic study of human society and behavior; identified as a science discipline by the U.S. National Science Foundation

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2
Q

Industrial Revolution

A

a period ranging from 1760 to 1840 when agricultural societies shifted to industrial ones; this transition affected every aspect of life

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3
Q

Population Growth Rate

A

measures the change in population over a unit time period

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4
Q

Auguste Comte

A

(1798-1857) a French philosopher who coined the term “sociology” in 1838 and created the doctrine of positivism which argued that understanding should be based on science; often referred to as “THE father of Sociology”

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5
Q

“The Law of Three Stages”

A

theory created by Auguste Comte that paved the way for the creation of Sociology that claimed the history of mankind could be broken down into three stages- theological stage, metaphysical stage, and the scientific stage

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6
Q

Theological Stage

A

the period of history that extends from the beginning of civilization to the end of the Middle Ages (mid-1300s) when society expressed God’s will; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”

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7
Q

Metaphysical Stage

A

the period of history that extends from the Renaissance of the 1400s through the mid-1500s when society was seen as a natural system rather than just a reflection of God’s will; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”

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8
Q

American Journal of Sociology

A

established in 1895 by Albion Small; the oldest academic journal of sociology in the United States

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9
Q

Scientific or Positivist Stage

A

the period of history that began with scientists applying scientific laws to the physical world (beginning with Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton) and that continued through Auguste Comte’s lifetime when scientific laws were then applied to society; one element of Auguste Comte’s “Law of Three Stages”

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10
Q

American Sociological Association

A

a non-profit organization founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society, currently the world’s largest association of professional sociologists

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11
Q

Social Sciences

A

a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society; includes the fields of psychology, sociology, political science, communication studies, social work, anthropology, and economics

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12
Q

Psychology

A

the science of the mind or of mental states and processes

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13
Q

Political Science

A

the science of politics, or of the principles and conduct of government

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14
Q

Communication Studies

A

an academic field that deals with processes of human exchange of information

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15
Q

Social Work

A

work designed to improve the social conditions in a community often through relief of poverty or the promotion of child welfare

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16
Q

Anthropology

A

the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, and social customs and beliefs of mankind

17
Q

Economics

A

the scientific study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

18
Q

Humanities

A

academic fields like literature, philosophy, art, etc. as distinguished from the sciences

19
Q

Scientific Method

A

a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data gathered, a hypothesis formulated, and the hypothesis empirically tested

20
Q

Society

A

a body of individuals living as members of a community; an organized interaction of people who typically live in a nation or some other specific territory

21
Q

Positivism

A

a way of understanding based on science; the world operates according to laws and intuition is rejected

22
Q

Culture

A

knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by members of a society

23
Q

Sociological Perspective

A

the special point of view of Sociology that sees general patterns of society in the lives of particular people

24
Q

Common Sense

A

sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge or training

25
Q

Sociological Imagination

A

the way sociologists look at the world; American sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term in 1959 to mean “ the vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society”

26
Q

C. Wright Mills

A

an American sociologist heavily influenced by Max Weber’s and Karl Marx’s interpretations of Sociology and personally stressed that the sociologist be able to connect individual experiences and societal relationships

27
Q

What historical factors preceded the creation of sociology as an academic field?

A

the Age of Enlightenment,
the Industrial Revolution, and
the urbanization of the population

28
Q

Why is Auguste Comte credited as
THE “father of Sociology?”

A

He blended science with
political philosophy and
coined the term “sociology.”

29
Q

According to Auguste Comte,
how did the nature of sociology
evolve historically?

A

Through the three stages of historical development

30
Q

what differentiates sociology from the humanities?

A

the use of the
scientific method to test hypothesis and
gather empirical evidence
to support conclusions

31
Q

What made Auguste Comte different from
the social philosophers that preceded him?

A

The social philosophers that preceded him
were more interested in studying ideal society
while he was interested in studying real society.

32
Q

Which sociologist developed the idea
of the sociological imagination?

A

C. Wright Mills

33
Q

What is the benefit of
incorporating a sociological perspective
in viewing the world?

A

one is better equipped to
determine the validity of “common sense,”
find opportunities and impediments within society,
increase the ability of individual participation in society and
help different cultures become more compatible

34
Q

What are other disciplines, besides sociology,
in the social sciences?

A

Psychology, Political Science,
Communication Studies, Social Work,
Anthropology, Economics

35
Q

Who developed the
Positivist approach to sociology?

A

Auguste Comte

36
Q

Give examples of how people in
Comte’s Three Stages of Historical Development
would interpret the cause and treatment of an illness

A

Theological Stage- God’s will,
Metaphysical Stage- Germs and Traditional Rituals,
Scientific Stage- Germs and Medicine

37
Q

Which two types of professions
employ the most trained sociologists?

A

teacher/professor and
researcher