Untitled Flashcards Set

Sociology

The scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies, focusing on social interactions and institutions.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to link personal experiences to larger social structures.

Personal Troubles vs. Public Issues

Personal troubles affect individuals (e.g., losing a job), while public issues are societal problems (e.g., high unemployment rates).

Culture Shock

The realization that society is constructed and things are not as they seem.

Society

A group of individuals who reside in a defined geographical area, share a common culture, and interact with each other.

Sociological Perspective

Understanding individuals as social beings shaped by society, with the power to change society.

Differences Between Sociologists and Psychologists

Sociologists focus on social structures and external influences; psychologists focus on internal mental processes.

Beginner's Mind

A mindset that approaches the world without preconceptions to gain a new perspective.

Auguste Comte

The founder of sociology who promoted positivism (scientific study of society).

Bourgeoisie and Proletariats

Bourgeoisie are the capitalist class; proletariats are the working class, with a relationship based on exploitation causing class conflict.

Capitalism

An economic system where private entities own the means of production for profit.

Minimum Wage vs. Living Wage

Minimum wage is legally set; living wage is what is needed to maintain a decent standard of living.

Color-Line

The racial divide that enforces segregation and inequality.

Other

Women are viewed in relation to men, preventing them from being fully autonomous, according to Simone de Beauvoir.

Social Inequality

Systematic disparities in wealth, power, and status reinforced by social structures.

Social Stratification

The ranking of individuals into hierarchical groups based on social and economic status.

Micro-sociology vs. Macro-sociology

Micro focuses on individual interactions; macro examines large-scale social structures.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

Quantitative uses numerical data; qualitative explores meanings and experiences.

Scientific Method

A systematic observation approach that differs from common sense based on assumptions.

Nacirema

A satirical representation of Americans to critique ethnocentrism and illustrate cultural practices.

Tuskegee Study

An unethical experiment on African American men with syphilis, lacking informed consent and causing harm.

Culture

A way of life for a group of people, including emergent processes, learned behaviors, and established boundaries.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own ethnic group is superior, which creates a hierarchy and discourages cultural diversity.

Material vs. Nonmaterial Culture

Material culture includes physical objects; nonmaterial culture consists of values and beliefs.

Norms

The specific rules or behaviors that society expects, enforced through sanctions.

Cultural Appropriation

The use of elements from one culture by members of another, often leading to misrepresentation.

Prejudice

A preconceived, typically negative judgment about a group or individual based on perceived characteristics.

Patriarchy

A male-dominated system where women are often objectified through the male gaze.

Human Agency

The capacity of individuals to make their own choices and influence the world around them.

Socialization

The process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group.

Self

Who you are, formed by your interactions with others and societal perceptions.

Looking-glass Self

Concept by Charles Cooley that describes how self-perception is shaped by others' views.

Gender Socialization

The process of learning societal expectations based on gender starting from birth.

Social Group vs. Aggregate

A social group has shared identity and relationships, while an aggregate is just a collection of individuals.

Primary vs. Secondary Group

Primary groups involve close personal relationships; secondary groups are larger and more impersonal.

Social Interaction

The process by which people act and react in relation to others.

Social Networks

Webs of relationships connecting individuals that can influence feelings of normlessness.

Virtual Communities

Online social groups that facilitate communication, with strengths in global connection and weaknesses in misinformation.

Dyad vs. Triad

A dyad is a two-person group, intimate but unstable; a triad is a three-person group, more stable but introduces power dynamics.

Conformity Types

Compliance (outwardly conforming), identification (fitting in), internalization (adopting beliefs as personal).

Reference Group

A group that influences an individual’s behavior and self-perception.

Social Media

Platforms that connect people and provide both opportunities for community and risks for misinformation.

Eating Disorders

Mental and physical health conditions characterized by disturbances in eating behaviors.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Obsession with healthy eating without concern for weight; different from anorexia which focuses on body appearance.

Body Image

How one sees and feels about their body, impacted by societal standards and comparisons, especially on social media.

Assimilation

The process of minority groups adopting the dominant culture, either voluntarily or through coercion.

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills' concept of linking personal experiences to broader social structures.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own, often leading to bias.

The ‘Other’

A marginalized group defined in contrast to dominant society (e.g., women in patriarchy).

Cultural Genocide

The systematic destruction of a group's cultural identity (e.g., Indigenous boarding schools).

Scientific Method

A structured research approach based on observation and analysis.

Systemic Oppression

Institutionalized discrimination embedded in laws and social norms.

Cultural Appropriation

The dominant culture adopting elements from a marginalized group without respect or understanding.

Social Inequality

Unequal access to resources based on factors like race, gender, and wealth.

Commodification

Turning cultural elements into products for sale, often stripping them of meaning.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical ranking of individuals based on wealth, power, and prestige.

Social Structures

Organized patterns of relationships and institutions that shape society.

Feminine Beauty Ideal

Culturally constructed standards of female attractiveness, often unrealistic.

Culture

Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group, passed through generations.

Society

A community of individuals sharing a culture and institutions.

Reference Group

A social group used as a standard for self-evaluation and behavior.