Introduction to Sociology CLEP

Sociology

The scientific study of social life and human behavior

Compte

The founder sociology from 1798 — 1857, who claimed that the scientific method could be explain human social life the same way that it does gravity

Karl Marx

From 1818 — 1883, he created the class conflict. He proposed that our society is made up of two distinct social classes: the beauogoise and the exploited workers. He argued that eventually the exploited workers would revolt and cause revolution and class conflict

Emile Durkheim

From 1858 — 1917, he focused on suicidal rates and found consistent patterns across countries. He discovered that the more integrated a person is in society, the lower chance they have of committing suicide. These people included women, Protestants, and married individuals

Theory

Provides a conceptual framework of how facts are related to one another and makes assumptions about different aspects, such as what we see and how we behave. However, it is not a law or a casual guess

Functionalist Perspective

The idea that society is a system of interrelated parts that work together as a living organism (family, religion, education, politics…)

Founder of the functionalist perspective

Durkheim. He looked to study how all of the parts that make up societal systems work together to contribute to the continuation of the system

Anomie

“Normlessness and chaos.” This was used by Durkheim to describe what things would be if there were not clear cut norms to govern moral conduct.

Merton

A part of the functionalist perspective that distinguishes between manifest functions, latent functions, and dysfunctions

Manifest functions

Obvious, intended functions or purposes

Latent functions

Are important and likely positive, but are not recognized or intended

Dysfunction

Negative functions that disrupt the system

Surveys

Are meant for random sample asked questions of a set of individuals. Questions cannot be biased, and must be open needed or closed questions. A common tool for this method are structured interviews

Rapport

The feeling of trust gained after research

Participant observation or field work

When a researcher is observing by participating in a research setting

Case studies

When there is a study focus on a single event, person, or relationship

Secondary analysis

Using previously collected censuses, surveys, and data as an analysis

Content analysis

Summarizing by collecting and counting various aspects of a certain content. Is usually expressed in mathematical terms

Experiments

Are the most complicated and difficult research method to determine cause and effect

Independent variable

Causes a change to happen in the dependent variable

Dependent variable

The variable that changes as

Experimental group

The group of an experiment that receives the independent variable, such as therapy or a stimulant. If there is a change, it can be attributed to that independent variable

Positive correlation

When as the independent variable increases, so does the dependent variable

Negative correlation

When as the independent variable increases, the dependent variable decreases

Good ethnics

Is required for a research methods. This includes honesty, truth, and openness

Requirements when using subjects in experiments

1. Must be informed that they are a part of the study

2. Can’t be harmed by the research

3. Should remain anonymous

Weber

A famous sociologist that argued sociology should remain value free so that your own values do not affect the outcome. He also said that the experiment should be replicated to get more trusted results

Hawthorne effect

When people change their behavior because they know they are being watched for a study

Symbols

Things that we attach meaning to that are key to understanding how we view a person or society. An example is handshaking

Cooley

In 1902, he proposed the theory of the looking glass self which explains that individuals view themselves how they think others see them

George Herbert Mead

1934, he emphasized the importance of symbols, such as language and gestures, and social roles and developed his own theory involving the generalized other

The conflict theory

Society is an arena of individuals fighting for what they want at the expenses of others. Marx claimed that this struggle is what brings about societal change

Socialization

The process of learning norms, rules, values, and attitudes of society. It is a vital, life long process of learning how to live in a society with a specific culture

Social Structure

Forms society as a whole and determine the actions of the individuals that are socialized within that particular structure. It is something that guides our behaviors and social location

Social classes

Economic or cultural arrangements of a group in society, usually through social stratification

Social stratification

Comprised usually by three layers: upper class, middle class, and lower class. These things are often determined by income levels, occupational prestige, and education levels

Social status

A position or rank of a person or group in society

Ascribed status

The status you are born with and inherit. This includes gender and ethnicity

Achieved status

The status that you earn, such as as an athlete or a mother

Status symbols

Denotes your social status. Examples are a wedding band or a Ferrari

Master status

Primary status that supersedes all other statuses

Groups

A collection of people who interact with one another and feel that the interests, values, and norms that they all share are important

Enthomethodology

When a sociology looks at how people interact with the world and make sense of reality

Aggregate

People who temporarily share the same physical space, but do not see themselves as belonging together

Category

People who share similar characteristics but are still not connected

Primary groups

Defined as the springs of life by Cooley. These are the long term, face to face relationships, where you can be open and truly be yourself

Secondary groups

A group of people that meet together out of a shared interest, but is a formal, not intimate

Organic solidarity

A sense of interdependence that keeps society together in much more complex groups

Mechanical solidarity

When there is a great deal of similarity between individuals and is the social glue in less complex societies

Voluntary association

A type of secondary group that is comprised of volunteers that gather for some mutual interest

Iron Law of Oligarchy

The tendency of the inner group in secondary groups to dominate the organization

In-group

Groups that demand loyalty and superiority and consider their behaviors as virtues

Characteristics of Bureaucracies according to Weber

Clear cut levels

Division of labor

Written Rules

Written communication and records

Impersonality

Peter principal

The idea that as a person is promoted in a current job, they will eventually reach a job that they cannot fulfill and that their level of incompetence will increase

Authoritarian

A leadership type that gives instructions without very much information. The outcome is aggressive, and difficult

Democratic leadership style

Is more friendly and seeks out mutual approval when deciding things

Laissez faire leadership style

Will ask more questions, but make less decisions on their own

Group think

When people in a group think alike and any disagreement will be seen as a sign of disloyalty

White collar crime

Crimes that are committed by people who are of a respectable and high social status throughout the course of their occupation. Example is a physician stealing money on clients health insurance

Street crime

Crime committed by the lower classes in order to survive or get ahead, such as property crime

Power

Defined by Weber as the ability to get your way despite resi

Authority

Legitimate power, usually by a government

Coercion

Illegitimate power that is not considered just (such as a mugger demanding money)

Traditional based power

Where a custom determines power (such as a parent has power over their children)

Rational legal authority

The type of authority that is based on written rules

Charismatic authority

Based on an individual’s charisma and outstanding traits that result in a following from other people

Credential Society

Where the employers in a society use diplomas and degrees to determine job eligibility

Ecclesia

When a religion is so integrated into the dominant culture that it is nearly impossible to separate one from the other