Chapter 1 Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is social imagination and who coined the term?
-Society is the primary focus
-Allows us to understand an individual’s circumstances shaped by social forces and connections between politics and the person.
-Coined by C. Wright Mills
Who was the first person to carry out a systematic study of sociological subjects?
Arab scholar named Ibn Khaldun, developed a systematic approach to studying various types of societies and their histories, cultures and economies
Who is Max Weber and what is he known for?
-A German founder of modern sociology (Primarily macrosociology)
-Explored how a set of values embodied in early Protestantism (protestant work ethic) led to the development of modern capitalism
Who is John Porter and what is he known for?
-He examined the relationship between social class and ethnicity
-Coined the term vertical mosaic
-Found that anglo-saxon protestants occupied the top of hierarchy, followed by french-canadians while racially marginalized groups concentrated at the bottom of hierarchy
What does vertical mosaic mean?
Describes hierarchical stratification of racial, ethnic and religious groups due to systemic discrimination
Who was Annie Marion MacLean and what did she do?
-First Canadian woman to obtain PhD in sociology (University of Chicago)
-Pioneered the sociological study of working women (outside of the home)
Who was Aileen Ross and what did she do?
-First woman hired as a sociologist at a Canadian university (University of Toronto)
-Completed the first study of homeless women in Canada
Who was Helen C. Bell and what did she do?
Founder of rural sociology in Canada
What are the five basic sociological theories?
-Structural Functionalism
-Conflict (Critical) Theory
-Symbolic Interactionism
-Feminist Theory
-Postmodern Theory
What is macrosociology and the types of sociological theories used to research it?
-Focuses on the “big picture” of society and institutions
-Uses include structural functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory and postmodern theory
What is microsociology and the types of sociological theories used to research it?
-Focuses on plans, motivations and actions of individuals and small groups
-Uses include symbolic interactionism
What is structural functionalism?
Key representatives: Emile Durkeheim, Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons
-Identifies various structures of society (e.g., family) and describes their functions to maintain the social system and produce social cohesion
-Focuses on the system’s contributing functions during conflict/social change
-Used to instill harmony and balance among social structures (lack of this is a threat to the functionality of society)
What is the social contract?
-An implicit agreement between government and people to agree to do their respective roles to maintain the functionality of society
-Compliment one another, help each other to progress
Define the term social fact.
-Patterned ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside of individuals but exert social control over people
-Allow sociologists to examine larger social forms
What are the three essential characteristics of every social fact?
- It was developed prior to and separate from you as an individual
- It can be seen as a characteristic of a particular group
- It involves a constraining or coercing force that pushes individuals into acting in a particular way
Define the term anomie.
Durkeheim’s term for a societal state of breakdown/confusion or an individual’s lack of connection or contact with society
Who was Robert K. Merton?
-Major contributor to functionalist thinking (Primarily macrosociology)
-Identified Manifest functions, Latent functions and Latent Dysfunctions
What is a manifest function? Give an example
-The intended and readily recognized function of a societal structure
-Ex. Postsecondary education provides students with skills and knowledge to find a career
What is a latent function? Give an example.
-A function of a societal structure that is largely unintended and unrecognized
-Ex. Religion creates a social support network and marriage market
What is a latent dysfunction? Give an example.
-An unintended function of a societal structure that produces socially negative consequences
-Ex. doughnut shops provide late-night venues for drug dealing
Who was Emile Durkheim and what was he known for?
-One of the founders of sociology (primarily macrosociologist)
-Key contributor to functionalist thinking
-Coined the terms “social fact” and “anomie”
-These early concepts were important in understanding social forms and how different parts of society function
What is Conflict (Critical) Theory?
-Opposes structural functionalism
-Based on the idea that conflict exists in all large societies due to class division and is the reason for socio-historical (cultural) change
-The four “C’s”
-Holds that social order is maintained by domination and power rather than consensus and conformity
What are the four “C’s” that make up Conflict (Critical) Theory?
-Conflict: exists in all large societies
-Class: has existed in every society
-Contestation: functions can be contested by asking “What group does this function best serve?”
-Change: society either will or should be changed
Who is Karl Marx and what is he known for?
-German sociologist (primarily macrosociology), founder of Conflict (Critical) Theory
-Stated that society is a hierarchy and each group’s position is determined by their role in the production of wealth
-Saw conflict between the bourgeoisie (the capitalists) and the proletariat (workers) which could initiate a socialist revolution that would produce an egalitarian (classless) society
- His insight spread to feminist sociology, queer theory, anti-colonialism and other sociological approaches
-Suggested that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources
