Ch 1,3,4

Question 1

What is Sociology?

Answer 1

It is the systematic study of human society. Sociology is a way of understanding and contextualizing personal experiences and broader social forces.

Question 2

C. Wright Mills: What is sociological imagination?

Answer 2

Sociological imagination is the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society. It helps us understand an individual’s circumstances as shaped by social forces.

Question 3

Why study sociology?

Answer 3

• Gain a better understanding of ourselves and the social world
• Assists us to move beyond relying on common sense
• Learn about what causes certain social patterns and what effect they could have on society

Question 4

Importance of narrative

Question 5

When and where did sociology originate?

Answer 5

It originated in the 19th century in Europe, however did eventually spread to North American then soon after, Canada.

Question 6

Auguste Comte

Answer 6

• Coined the term “sociology” in 1838 to describe a new way of looking at society
• Founder of positivism
• Analyzed social order and stability

Question 7

What is positivism?

Answer 7

In sociology, it refers to taking the scientific approach when studying society. Scientific methods ONLY should be used to research, such as performing experiments and statistics.

Question 8

Herbert Spencer

Answer 8

• Believed in “survival of the fittest”
• Applied Darwin’s theory to natural societies

Question 9

Emile Durkheim

Answer 9

• Studied the importance of social solidarity. (study of suicide)
• Patterns of human behaviour
• Coined the term social fact - describes how individual and societal actions and beliefs are controlled by values, culture and norms

Question 10

Karl Marx

Answer 10

• How does capitalism affect people? It makes man a prisoner of material interest.
• Believed in constant class conflict

Question 11

How did sociology spread in the 19th century?

Question 12

John Porter

Answer 12

• Cultural mosaic and vertical mosaic - the first comprehensive study of Canada’s national structure of class and power
  -Canada is a mosaic of different ethnic, language, regional and religious groups unequal in power.

Question 13

What are the different kinds of sociology?

Answer 13

• Microsociology
• Macrosciology
• By approach
• By audience

Question 14

Macrosociology

Answer 14

• Focuses on the “big picture” of society
• Some examples: structural functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory, postmodern theory

Question 15

Microsociology

Answer 15

• Focuses on the plans, motivations, and actions of individuals and small groups
• An example is symbolic interactionism
• Face-to-face interactions, studying specific groups

Question 16

Structural Functionalism

Answer 16

A macro theory which shows how all structures or institutions in society all work together.

Question 17

What is socialization and why is it important?

Answer 17

The interaction with other members of society. It is crucial for human development as it develops physical, intellectual, social, and emotional skills. It is the foundation of personality.

Question 18

Determinism

Answer 18

The degree to which an individual’s behaviour, attitudes and other personal characteristics are determined or caused by something specific.

Question 19

Biological determinism

Answer 19

The belief that an individual’s behaviour, attitude, or other personal characteristics are inherited (genetics).

Question 20

Social determinism

Answer 20

The belief that an individual’s behaviour, attitude, or other personal characteristics are learned throughout experiences (taught).

Question 21

What are agents of socialization? Examples?

Answer 21

This refers to the persons, groups, or institutions which teach us what we need to know in order to participate in society.
- Examples: family, peer groups, mass media, school, neighbourhood/community

Question 22

Voluntary resocialization

Answer 22

Assuming a new status as a result of our own free will.
- Examples: starting university, transferring schools, starting a new job, retiring, religious conversion

Question 23

Involuntary resocialization

Answer 23

Assuming a new status as a result of force (against one’s free will).
- Examples: prison, court mandated drug rehabilitation, becoming a widow, residential schooling

Question 24

Anticipatory resocialization

Answer 24

The process by which knowledge and skills are learned for future roles. This concept was introduced by Robert Merton.

Question 25

Conflict theory

Answer 25

A Marxist based theory which implies that conflict exists in all large societies due to class division. - The four C's : Conflict, Class, Contestation, and Change.

Question 26

Karl Marx

Answer 26

A major figure in the early history of sociology. Saw class conflict as the driving force behind all major socio-historical change.

Question 27

Postmodern theory

Answer 27

Mid 20th-Century movement characterized by broad skepticism, subjectivism, or relativism.

Question 28

Symbolic interactionism

Answer 28

An approach that looks at the meaning of our daily social interactions. A framework that helps understand how society is preserved and created through repeated interactions between individuals.

Question 29

Herbert Blumer

Answer 29

Coined the term "symbolic interaction". According to Blumer, human groups are created by people, and it is only actions between them that define a society.

Question 30

Social consensus

Answer 30

When majority of members of a society share a common set of values, beliefs, and behavioural expectations.

Question 31

Manifest Function

Answer 31

Intended and recognized consequences of a social function. Beneficial to society ! - Example: School educates children.

Question 32

Latent Function

Answer 32

Unintended and unrecognized consequences of a social function. Beneficial to society ! - Example: Children are taught manners, how to listen to rules, how to be nice, etc in school.

Question 33

Dysfunction

Answer 33

Unintended or unrecognized, have a negative effect on society. Can be either latent or manifest. - Example: School can cause a lot of stress on kids and can eventually develop anxiety or depression.

Question 34

Robert K. Merton

Answer 34

Major contributor to functionalist thinking. He identified three types of functions: Manifest, Latent and Dysfunction.

Question 35

Goffman's theory

Answer 35

the idea that people, as they interact together in social settings, are constantly engaged in the process of "impression management," wherein each tries to present themselves and behave in a way that will prevent the embarrassment of themselves or others.