SOSA 1003 Quiz 1 Flashcards
What is sociology?
Research driven by the idea of an ideal world
What are sociology’s powers?
- Dispel foggy assumptions about how the world works
- Improve the social world
- Help people come to grips with social change
What are social structures?
stable patterns of social relationships
What is agency?
Human capacity for change
What are the 3 levels of social structure?
- Microstructure
- Macrostructure
- Global Structure
What is the social imagination?
The ability to see the connection between personal struggles and social structures
Developed by C. Wright Mills
Originated from the Scientific, Democratic and Industrial revolution
What did Auguste Comte do?
Coined the term sociology, and applied scientific research methods to social life
What did Herbert Spencer do?
Theorized social darwinism, thought social inequalities were necessary for social evolution. Sterilized poor and disabled people
What is functionalism?
Human behavior is guided by social structures. Every social structure serves a function. Equilibrium solves all social problems
Who are the three functionalists?
Emile Durkheim
Talcott Parsons
Robert Merton
What is Emile Durkheim’s theory?
Social structures provide solidarity which is functional. Dysfunction causes suicides.
What is Talcott Parson’s theory?
developed AGIL
Thought institution would make people better, everyone should be the same and this will create a good social world
What is Robert Merton’s theory?
Social structures can have good/bad/no functions.
Social structures can affect different people in different ways
What is a dysfunctional consequence?
social structures creating social instability
What is conflict theory?
inequality can produce social stability and instability.
privileged stay privileged and the lower stay low
