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Origins of Sociology Flashcards

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1
Q

The Sociological Perspective

A

Sees the general in the particular

Sees the strange in the familiar

Sees how society and social position shapes individual experiences and opportunities

understands social action in terms of context and the meanings it has for social actors

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2
Q

Sociological Perspective: Assert that to explain social action, we must:

A

understand its context

how humans understand their situation and act on it

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3
Q

Sociological thinking is reflexive

to be reflexive means that we…

A

are fully conscious of the lenses through which we view the world

consider how our worldviews are shaped by our own subjectivity

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4
Q

Sociological reflexivity involves…

A

recognizing that individual attitudes, behaviors, and life chances are influenced by social factors

using this knowledge to reassess and either revise or reaffirm one’s pre-existing beliefs

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5
Q

Wright Mills

A

influenced by classical tradition of 19th century sociology (Weber, Marx) concern for socio-cultural systems

emphasis on inequalities of power (conflict theory) and sociology as a tool for social change (critical approach)

key contributions: the sociological imagination and power elite

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6
Q

The Sociological Imagination (Mills)

A

allows us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two in society

lies not in just changing individuals, but in transforming society

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7
Q

Strategies for developing Sociological Perspective (Bernard McGrane)

A

adopt a beginners mind (as if a stranger)

reflect upon experiences of culture shock, and social exclusion and inequality

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8
Q

Sociology is a Social Science

Define

A

a discipline that examine the human or social world

others include anthropology, psychology, economics, and political science

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9
Q

How to develop Sociological Reflexivity

A

develop an awareness

reflect on worldviews

engage with social facts and revise/reaffirm values and beliefs

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10
Q

Practice Sociological Reflexivity

A

develop an awareness of the lenses through which we view the world

reflect upon our worldviews and subjectivity

engage with social facts to either revise or reaffirm values and beliefs

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11
Q

Precursors to Sociology

A

proto-sociology in the ancient world

Greek philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the distinction between physis (nature) and nomos (law or custom)

Chinese philosophy: Confucious and power of social norms

The Arab World: Ibn Khaldun and social cohesion

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12
Q

Ancient Greece

the distinction between physis (nature) and nomos (law or custom) presents society as a

A

human creation that is distinct from nature

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13
Q

Muhammad ibn Khaldun (14th century)

A

introduced as sabiyah (group feeling, solidarity, group consciousness) to study tribalism

anticipates Durkheim’s notion of social solidarity by 400 years

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14
Q

Emergence of Sociology

A

emerged as “science of society” during 19th century

formal methods of science (reason and empiricism) applied to study the social world

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15
Q

Key Founders of Sociology

A 
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Max Weber (1864-1920)
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16
Q

Early sociologists sought to understand modern life and patterns that emerged from:

A

The Enlightenment
Democratic Revolutions
The Industrial Revolution
Modern Science

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17
Q

The Enlightenment

A

Gave rise to the belief that:

  1. “man” has the innate ability to reason as an inalienable right to govern themselves and their relations with others
  2. scientific reasoning based upon empirical observation was the only valid means to knowledge
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18
Q

Democratic Revolutions

A

in the U.S. and France

legitimized the use of reason to address social ills and emancipate humanity

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19
Q

Industrial Revolution

A

wage labor and capitalist competition transformed society leading to urbanization, massive disruption, and numerous social ills (poverty, crime, poor sanitation and health, economic inequality, disconnection

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20
Q

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

A

first to develop sociology as “positive science” based on empirical observation

modeled sociology after the natural sciences (i.e. physics) and sought “laws of society”

  • Focus: social order and progress
  • Context: French Revolution and Reign of Terror
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21
Q

Sociological Theories

A

guiding principles and abstract models that attempt to explain and predict the social world

some seek to explain or predict certain relationships/ outcomes

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22
Q

Sociology is a multi-perspectival science….

A

offers various paradigms that offer distinct approaches to knowledge and competing explanations of social phenomena

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23
Q

Social Theory’s Basic Unifying Premise

A

Humans are social and collective beings

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24
Q

Macrosociology

A

examines how large scale social structures influence groups and individuals

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25
Microsociology
studies face-to-face and small group interaction to understand how they impact larger structures and patterns in society
26
Enlightenment on Sociology
Many were able to take a step back and question traditional ways of looking at life and then make changes to better society
27
Structural Functionalism
society is composed of structures- regular patterns of behavior and organized arrangements that persist through time, and the functions they serve: the biological and social needs of individuals who make up that society disorganization or dysfunction leads to social change and new equilibrium
28
Emile Durkheim
society consists of interrelated social structures that function to meet basic needs of individuals argued that a new form of social integration is what defined modern world (compare and contrast mechanical and organic solidarity)
29
Durkheim Key Ideas
``` social regulation and integration equilibrium dysfunction anomie social facts ```
30
Functionalism: A change in one leads to a change in the other example
women go to college and pursue careers to contribute to family income -NOW: programs oriented to help women (ex. nursing programs) -emergence of daycares and preschools maintain balance of order or we might see social disorder
31
Mechanical solidarity
bonds based on shared traditions, beliefs, and experiences - greater dependence on particular individuals - automatic
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Organic solidarity
based on division of labor, interdependence and individual rights, but no individual matters as much
33
Culture
ways of thinking and acting, and the physical objects that form a people's way of life -shared belief systems, rituals, and conversational styles
34
Material Culture
Physical objects/ cultural artifacts
35
Values
shared beliefs about what is worthwhile or desirable - ex. hard work - ex. at SU: achieve, lead, serve
36
Norms
rules and guidelines for acceptable behavior - laws, mores, folkways - ex: be punctual, wear a mask,
37
Sanctions
means of enforcing norms | -reward or punishment
38
Folkways
making a distinguish between right and rude | -stems from casual interactions
39
Taboos
very strong social norms | -if you break them, you will be expelled, define status
40
Mores
norms that distinguish between right and wrong | -going topless to the beach in US vs France
41
Ethnocentrism
attitude that one's own group, ethnicity, or nationality is superior to others
42
Cultural Relativism
understanding a cultures based on its own standards
43
Sociobiology
study of biological (especially ecological and evolutionary) aspects of behavior
44
The Bell Curve
Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life by Herrnstein and Charles Murray proposed a genetic basis for IQ that varied by race
45
Contemporary "Social Genomics"
focuses on complex interplay of social and genetic factors and how social factors regulate genetic action
46
Socialization
Process by which individuals learn the values and norms of a group, and become functioning members of society -life long process
47
The Self
our experience of a personal identity that is separate and different from all other people -believed self is created and modified through interaction with others over the course of one's life
48
Sigmund Freud
Developed idea of subconscious mind and the unconscious mind, which he believed control most of our drives, impulses, thoughts, behaviors
49
Freud's Elements of Personality
Personality reflects opposing forced of biology and culture
50
Id
unconscious basic drives of Eros (libido) and Thanatos (aggression)
51
Ego
conscious efforts to balance innate pleasure-seeking drives with demands of society -develops to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world
52
Superego
incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned from one's parents and others
53
Charles Cooley
sense of self depends on seeing oneself reflected in interactions with others
54
Looking Glass Self
self develops through our perception of others' evaluations and appraisals of us
55
George Herbert Mead
Expanded Cooley's ideas | -self is created through social interaction LOOK IN NOTES
56
Mead's Theory of Social Seld
A self is... - a social and dialectical process - the capacity to take role of particular other and see from the perspective of the generalized other
57
Mead "Self"
interactive, temporal, and socially emergent
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Mead "I"
subject, active, spontaneous
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Mead "Me"
how we imagine others see us
60
Mead: Awareness of "I" only occurs as
it passes into memory
61
The Thomas Theorem
"if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences" - social "reality" is ambiguous and socially constructed - how we define situations has real consequences
62
Erving Goffman
believed meaning is constructed through interaction | -saw social life as a game
63
Goddman: Dramaturgy
compares social interaction to theater, while individuals take on roles and act them out for an audience
64
Goffman: Impression Management
where we work to control the impressions others have of us
65
Status
position in social hierarchy that comes with a set of expectations
66
Role
set of stereotypes behaviors that are expected from a particular status position
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Role Conflict
arises when two or more roles have contradictory expectations
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Role Strain
occurs when contradictory expectations emerge within a single role one person plays
69
Role Exit
occurs when a person leave a role they once occupied
70
Looking Glass Self: A 3 Step Process
1. we imagine how we appear to others 2. we imagine how they are assessing us 3. we internalize these perceptions to experience feelings about ourselves
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Mead: Preparatory Stage
Imitation
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Mead: Play Stage
taking role of the "particular other"
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Mead: Game Stage
learning to take the perspective of the "generalized other" (general and cultural norms)
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Ascribed Status
one we are born with
75
Embodied Status
located in our physical self | -disability, beauty
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Achieved Status
one we have earned | -law decides you're a criminal
77
Master Status
status that seems to override all others and affects all other statuses that we possess
78
Agents of Socialization: Family
most important arena, where we learn core values and norms | -gender roles
79
Agents of Socialization: Schools
taken on multiple aspects of primary socialization in modern society -"hidden cirriculum"
80
Agents of Socialization: Peers
more important as children age
81
Agents of Socialization
- family - schools - peers - media (recent but increasingly powerful)
82
Resocialization
replacing previously learned norms with new ones as part of a transition in life
83
Total institution (Goffman)
cuts individuals off from rest of society so that their lives can be controlled and regulated (prison, mental hospital)
84
Social Institution
major spheres of social life organized to meet human needs -organize social relationships -family, education, economy, media, law
85
Characteristics of Social Institutions
-fulfills some basic need some level of formal/ informal organization -associated statuses and roles -has associated values and norms
86
Theorists associated with symbolic interactionism
- Mead | - Blumer
87
Georg Simmel
social interaction is both a mutual attunement and an act of creation -mutual influence creates enduring social forms
88
Georg Simmel and "Formal Sociology"
study of enduring patterns of association. sociability, and social geometry (dyads and triads)
89
Meso-Level of Analysis
What are the characteristics of networks, groups, and organizations? How do collectivities constrain and enable the individual actions of their members?
90
Social group vs. Social Aggregates
Group: interact with each other Aggregate: Same place at the same time
91
Group
collection of people who share some attribute, identify with one another, interact with each other - provide values, norms, rules - made up of people with shared experiences, loyalties, interests
92
Crowd
temporary gathering of people in a public place | -an example of an aggregate
93
Primary groups
smaller, personal orientation | -family, friends
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Primary Relationships
first group experienced in life | -initial interaction
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Secondary Groups
large membership, formal and polite
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Secondary Relationships
weak emotional ties
97
Social Networks
group memberships form social webs, consisting of the individual connections (ties) we have to others
98
Group Dynamics
patterns of interaction between groups and individuals
99
Group Dynamics: Dyad vs. Triad (Simmel)
Dyad: smallest possible,, unstable Triad: more stable, conflict can be mediated by third person As groups get beyond certain point, conflict increases (jealousy, power struggles)
100
In-Group
a group a person identifies with and feels loyalty toward
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Out-Group
group that a person feels opposition, rivalry, hostility towsrd
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Reference Group
provides a standard comparison against which people evaluate themselves
103
Group Cohesion
sense of solidarity or loyalty thay individuals feel toward a group to which they belong
104
Groupthink
tendency of very cohesive groups to enforce a high degree of conformity among members, creating a demand for unanimous agreement
105
Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
influence of one's fellow group members on individual attitudes and behaviors
106
Compliance
mildest form of conformity; actions to gain reward or avoid punishmemt
107
Identification
conformity to establish or maintain a relationship with a person or group
108
Internalization
strongest type of conformity; an individual adopts beliefs or actions of a group and makes them his or her own -ex. personal growth of Sigma Kappa
109
Social Loafing
efficacy declines as size of group increases
110
Social Identity
degree to which someone identifies with a group; recognizing individual effort can increase. group efficacy
111
Instrumental Leadership
task or goal oriented | -less concerned with people's feelings
112
Expressive Leader
concerned with emotional and relational harmony within the group because it will lead to a positive environment and improved productivity
113
Power
ability to control actions of others - coercive power (backed by threat of force) - influential power (supported by persuasion)
114
Weber: Traditional Authoirty
based in custome, birthright, or divine right and usually associated with monarchies or dynasties
115
Weber: Charismatic Authority
based on perception of remarkable personal qualities in leader
116
Weber: Legal- Rational Authority
based in laws
117
Bureacracy
formal organization/ type of secondary group designed to perform tasks efficiently -impersonal, but efficient
118
Bureacracy Characteristics
``` specialization hierarchy of positions rules and regulations technical competence impersonality formal, written communication ```
119
McDonaldization of Society
form of rationalization`; fast food chain model applied to many areas of social life - efficiency - predictability - uniformity - control
120
Irrationality of Rationalization
they can be unreasonable
121
Cultural hegemony
domination of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class which manipulates the culture of that society — the beliefs and explanations, perceptions, values, and mores
122
What concern does Sherry Turkle raise about what may happen when people replace face-to-face conversations with texts, tweets, and other forms of online interaction?
People lose the ability to show empathy - focuses on the problems of the social media age. - When we interact online, we can control when, where, and how we communicate - If we want, we can keep others at arm’s length, which further allows us to perform a self that may or may not correspond to who we are in real life. - When we interact online, we can control when, where, and how we communicate. This means that, if we want, we can keep others at arm’s length, which further allows us to perform a self that may or may not correspond to who we are in real life. - concerned that when we replace face-to-face communication with tweets, texts, and snaps, our ability to conduct meaningful face-to-face communication atrophies and with it our capacity for empathy.
123
Feeling rules
socially constructed norms regarding appropriate feelings and displays of emotion.
124
Definition of the situation
an agreement with others about “what is going on” in a given circumstance -Each of these definitions leads to a different set of potential consequences—you might intervene, call the police, stand by and laugh, ignore them, summon paramedics, or ask for an autograph, depending on which meaning you act upon.
125
Copresence
face to face interaction or being in the presence of others | -we find ourselves outside of physical co presence because of advance in technology
126
What is a benefit some sociologists see in online communication?
a space for teens to have privacy

Sociology (2 decks)

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