Week 1 - Making sense of sociology Flashcards
‘The transmission or reproduction of socially patterned behaviours that exist within [a] culture’
Socialisation
‘How people interpret their situation and negotiate with those around them according to that interpretation and the opportunities available to them’
Human Agency
‘Rules of behaviour about how people should behave’
Social Norms
‘The symbolic, learned and socially constructed aspects of society that include language, morals, values, meanings, beliefs and lifestyles, as well as scientific knowledge and technology’
Culture
‘A way of acting, thinking and feeling, independent of the will of the individual’
Social Fact
‘The ways human behaviour, interaction and social institutions change over time and vary across social and cultural contexts’
Social Construction
‘The idea that social relations are organised along patterned lines that endure over time and that act as a constraint on the individuals living within them, even though they may not be aware of it’
Social Structure
Which is a social norm?
a) some animals should not be eaten
b) it is not ok to bite into a hot cross bun that isn’t toasted or buttered
c) hard work should be rewarded
b) it is not ok to bite into a hot cross bun that isn’t toasted or buttered
‘The characteristics that people regard as part of their self but which are derived from their social environment’
Identity
Actions taken by individuals or groups to bring about social change or to address societal issues, often motivated by shared values or goals.
Social Action
Anthony Giddens’ theory that explores the interplay between individual agency and social structures, emphasising that social practices are both shaped by and shape the structures in which they occur.
Structuration
A form of colonialism where foreign settlers come to a land and establish a permanent presence, often displacing and exploiting indigenous populations and their resources.
Settler-Colonialism
Frameworks or sets of beliefs, values, and practices that shape how individuals or societies understand and interpret the world, often guiding scientific research and cultural norms.
Paradigms
A theoretical perspective that examines social phenomena through the lens of gender relations, emphasising the experiences and perspectives of women and advocating for gender equality.
Feminist Theory
‘The ways in which European modernity has also been associated with the spread of empire by the British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Germans, Dutch and Belgians in India, SouthEast Asia, Indonesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, most of Africa, and Central and South America’
Colonialism
‘The new social order that is believed by some sociologists to be replacing ‘modernity’ in advanced industrial societies’
Postmodernity
‘The complex range of phenomena associated with the historical process, commencing in the 17th century, which saw Western societies change from an agricultural to an industrial foundation, and from a feudal to a capitalist economy’
Modernity
Complex, integrated sets of social norms organised around the preservation of a basic societal value (e.g., family, education, religion).
Social Institutions
‘The process by which people’s daily lives are increasingly influenced by the growing technological and economic, political and legal, social and cultural integration of people and communities around the world’
Globalisation
Individuals who uncritically accept and adhere to the norms, values, and beliefs imposed by their culture without questioning or recognising the potential manipulation or control exerted by cultural forces.
Cultural Dupes
The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social influences. Coined by C. Wright Mills, it involves understanding personal issues within a broader societal context.
Sociological Imagination
What do sociologists study?
Social behaviour and human groups.
The structure and dynamics of societies.
Social institutions and processes such as family, education, religion, and government.
Social relationships and interactions.
Patterns of social inequality, such as class, race, and gender.
A theoretical perspective that views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources. It emphasises power, inequality, and social change. Key figures include Karl Marx and Max Weber.
Conflict Theory
A theoretical perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order. Key figures include Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons.
Functionalism
Structures in society that fulfil essential functions, such as family, education, religion, and the economy. They shape the behaviour of individuals and groups.
Social Institutions
A concept coined by C. Wright Mills.
It is the ability to see the connection between personal experiences and larger social forces.
Informs sociological research by encouraging researchers to look beyond individual circumstances to understand the broader social context.
Helps sociologists identify and analyse how societal structures influence individual lives and vice versa.
Sociological Imagination
The practice of reflecting on and critically examining one’s own beliefs, values, and research practices, as well as the influence of the sociologist’s position on their work.
Reflexivity in sociology
_____ refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own free choices, as opposed to being completely determined by social structures.
Agency
The shared principles, standards, and goals that are regarded as important and desirable by a society, guiding behaviour and social norms.
Social Values
Who is responsible for this tripartite division of sociology ?
1. Sociology as science
2. Sociology as politics and critical theory
3. Sociology as interpretation
Peter Hamilton
______ Perspective examines how societal structures and institutions work together to maintain stability and social order.
Functionalist
____ Perspective analyses the power dynamics and inequalities within society, highlighting conflicts between different social groups.
Conflict Theory
These are key concepts of what Perspective?
Gender, patriarchy, sexism, gender roles, and intersectionality.
Feminist
These are key concepts of what Perspective?
Symbols, meanings, social interactions, identity, and social construction.
Symbolic Interactionism
What Perspective examines how overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, class) interact to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege.
Intersectionality Perspective
What Perspective looks at how individuals’ education, skills, and experiences impact their economic outcomes.
Human Capital Perspective
Fragmentation, hyperreality, deconstruction, and relativism are key concepts for what Perspective?
Postmodern Perspective
________ give you a broad overview of a field or topic. They are normally good at describing the breadth of knowledge that exists, and they are less capable of capturing complexities and nuances.
Textbooks
______ advance specific arguments on a particular issue and contain abstracts, which you can think of as mini ‘blueprints’ that describe what the (_____) are about. Some are peer-reviewed (more trustworthy sources of information).
Published Articles
_____ typically outline the research findings, methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and conclusions of a specific study. They can sometimes be thought of as draft forms of published articles.
Conference Papers
______ is a comprehensive work that explores topics within the field of sociology. They can cover a wide range of subjects such as social theories, specific sociological issues (e.g., inequality, deviance, family dynamics), methodologies, and case studies. They are intended to provide in-depth analysis, theoretical frameworks, empirical data, and insights into various aspects of social life and social structures.
Sociological Books
_________ is a detailed, written study on a single specialised subject or an aspect of a subject, usually written by a single author. In sociology, they typically provides an in-depth analysis of a specific topic, phenomenon, or case study.
Monograph
What are some examples of the different types of sociological texts
Journal article
Textbook
Conference paper
Book review
Monograph
Book chapter in edited volume
Sociological Book
The process by which people’s daily lives become less integrated across the areas of economics, politics and culture.
De-globalisation
The process by which people’s daily lives are increasingly influenced by the integration of economics, politics and culture around the world.
Globalisation
A form of colonialism in which colonial characteristics have endured in places that were former colonies.
Post-colonialism
