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The Sociological Perspective (SOC204) > What Is Sociology > Flashcards

What Is Sociology Flashcards

Learn what sociology covers as a field and how everyday topics are shaped by social and historical forces.

1
Q

Sociological Imagination

A

Application of imaginitive thought to the asking and answering of sociological questions

Somone using socioligical imagination “thinks himself away” from the familiar routines of daily life

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2
Q

Social Structure

A

Underlying regularities/patterns in how people behave in relationships with one another
Framework of society; how a society is set-up and organized
Encourages stable patterns of behavior

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3
Q

Social Construction

A

Idea or practice that a group of people agree exists

Maintained over time by people taking it’s existence for granted

EXAMPLE: the american flag, college admission process

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4
Q

Socialization

A

Social process where children develop awareness of social norms & values and achieve a distinct sense of self

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5
Q

Auguste Comte

A
  • Invented the word sociology
  • scientific method/evidence to study human behavior
  • use science to predict & control human behavior
  • believed social order is constructed by individuals
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6
Q

Herbert Spencer

A
  • natural order
  • survival of the fittest
  • laissez-faire approach
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7
Q

Social Facts

A

Emile Durkheim; aspects of social life that shape our actions

Durkheim believed social facts could be studied scientifically

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8
Q

Organic Solidarity

A

Durkheim; social cohesion resuls from various parts of a society functioning as a whole

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9
Q

Social Contraint

A

Conditioning influence on our behavior of groups & societies we are members of

Durkheim’; one of the distinctive properties of social facts

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10
Q

Sociology

A

Study of society; study of social lives of people, groups, and societies

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11
Q

Social Sciences

A

Examine individual and social relationships

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12
Q

Sociological Perspective

A
  • Particular way of seeing the world
  • Offers a view of the world
  • Understanding behavior within its social context
  • Fresh look at familiar worlds
  • Use of sociological imagination
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13
Q

C. Wright Mills on Sociological Imagination

A
  • Critical component of socioligical perspective
  • People tend to understand their lives in terms of immediate surroundings
  • Importance of understanding the influence of society on people’s lives
  • Requires imagination: thinking about possibilities of what might or could be
  • Encourages people to examine the role of society, social forces and historical context in understanding people’s lives and patterns of social behavior
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14
Q

Social Institutions

A

Help compose the social structure of a society
Groups of people come together for a common purpose
Organized way to meet socially agreed upon needs
Help maintain and sustain society

EXAMPLES: family, religion, education, media, law, politics, and economy

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15
Q

The Thomas Theorem (W.I. Thomas)

A

If we believe something to be real, it becomes real in its consequences

EXAMPLES: money or currency

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16
Q

Division of Labor

A

Specialization of work within a production system

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17
Q

Anomie

A

Durkheim; social norms lose their hold over individual behavior

18
Q

Materialist Conception of History

A

Marx; material or economic factors have a prime role in determining historical change

19
Q

Macrosociology

A

Focus on large scale social systems

20
Q

Microsociology

A

Focus on face-to-face interactions, small groups

21
Q

Theory

A

General statement about how the world works

22
Q

Role of Theory

A

Provides framework for understanding the empirical world

Filters, organizes, and interprets information and data

23
Q

Captialism

A

Economic system based on private ownership of wealth

24
Q

Bureaucracy

A

Organization marked by clear hierarchy of authority and existence of written rules

25
Q

Fuctionalism

A
  • Focuses on large scale phenomena
  • Social structures that shape society as a whole
  • Sees society as a complex system that promotes solidarity and stability
  • Analyzes social structure & social activity and their contribution of society
  • Stability
26
Q

Robert Merton Functionalism

A
  • Introduced the notion of manifest functions & latent functions
  • Distinguished between functions & dysfunctions
27
Q

Marxist Theory

A
  • Sees society as divided along lines of economic class between working class and ruling class
  • Focuses on social implications of the economic organization of a society
28
Q

Social Conflict Theory

A
  • Roots in Marxist Theory
  • Focuses on social theory
  • Focuses on the competition between groups within society over limited resources
29
Q

Marxism / Social Conflict Theory (How are they the same?)

A
  • Both are macro theory perspectives
  • Emphasize the impact of power, coercion, and friction in shaping social structure, social processes and patterns of behavior
  • How groups compete for resources
  • Social order is maintained by those who dominate the most resources
30
Q

Rationalization

A

Weber; process which modes of precise calculation and organization that involve abstract rules and procedures come to dominate the social world

31
Q

Symbolic Interactionism

A

George Herbert Mead; emphasizes the role of symbols & language as core elements of all human interactions

32
Q

Symbol

A

One item used to stand for or represent another

33
Q

Manifest Function

A

Functions of a type of social activity that are known and intended by the individual involved in the activity

34
Q

Latent Functions

A

Functional consequences that are not intended by the members of a social system

35
Q

Conflict Theory

A

Emphasizes the role of political & economic power & oppression constributing to the existing social order

36
Q

Conflict Theory

A

Emphasizes the role of political & economic power & oppression constributing to the existing social orderMar

37
Q

Marxism

A

A body of thought deriving its main elements from the ideas of Karl Marx

38
Q

Power

A

Ability of individuals to achieve aims or further interests they hold

39
Q

Ideologies

A

Shared ideas or beliefs that serve to justify the interests of dominant groups

40
Q

Rational Choice Approach

A

Theory that an individuals behavior is purposive

41
Q

Postmodernism

A

The belief that society is no longer governed by history or progress

The Sociological Perspective (SOC204) (1 decks)

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