Sociology

Sociology

Systemic study of human behavior and social groups.

Social Facts

Predictors of individual choices/behavior/outcomes, but not automatically causal.

Causation vs. Correlation

Correlation does not imply causation; they may appear to be related but are not necessarily so.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices within a social context.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social influences.

Positivism

A philosophical theory stating that only scientific knowledge derived from empirical evidence is of real value.

Social Capital

Networks of relationships among people that provide access to resources and opportunities.

Cultural Capital

Non-financial social assets such as education, intellect, style of speech, and dress that promote social mobility.

Economic Capital

Financial resources and assets that influence an individual's economic power.

Meritocracy

A political system or social order in which individuals are rewarded and advanced based on merit.

Reification

The conception or treatment of an abstract idea as if it were a concrete thing.

Structural Convenience

The concept that access to resources or social advantages is often easier for certain groups due to societal structures.

Liberal Arts Education

An education aimed at imparting a broad education and critical thinking skills, rather than specific vocational training.

Self-Identity

The individual's conception and expression of their own identity in relation to others.

Privilege

Unearned advantages or benefits afforded to individuals based on their social identity.

Ethnocentrism

Evaluating other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.

Moral Relativism

The belief that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how various forms of inequality or disadvantage intersect.

Historical Context

The social, cultural, and economic environment that influences the events and experiences of a certain period.

Sociology

Systemic study of human behavior and social groups.

Social Facts

Predictors of individual choices/behavior/outcomes, but not automatically causal.

Causation vs. Correlation

Correlation does not imply causation; they may appear to be related but are not necessarily so.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices within a social context.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social influences.

Positivism

A philosophical theory stating that only scientific knowledge derived from empirical evidence is of real value.

Social Capital

Networks of relationships among people that provide access to resources and opportunities.

Cultural Capital

Non-financial social assets such as education, intellect, style of speech, and dress that promote social mobility.

Economic Capital

Financial resources and assets that influence an individual's economic power.

Meritocracy

A political system or social order in which individuals are rewarded and advanced based on merit.

Reification

The conception or treatment of an abstract idea as if it were a concrete thing.

Structural Convenience

The concept that access to resources or social advantages is often easier for certain groups due to societal structures.

Liberal Arts Education

An education aimed at imparting a broad education and critical thinking skills, rather than specific vocational training.

Self-Identity

The individual's conception and expression of their own identity in relation to others.

Privilege

Unearned advantages or benefits afforded to individuals based on their social identity.

Ethnocentrism

Evaluating other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.

Moral Relativism

The belief that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how various forms of inequality or disadvantage intersect.

Historical Context

The social, cultural, and economic environment that influences the events and experiences of a certain period.

Social Norms

Unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society.

Culture

The shared customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of social classes or castes within a society.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms and expectations.

Symbolic Interactionism

A micro-level sociological perspective focusing on how individuals interact through the use of symbols and shared meanings.

Structural Functionalism

A macro-level sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Conflict Theory

A macro-level sociological perspective that suggests society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources and power.

Sociology

Systemic study of human behavior and social groups.

Social Facts

Predictors of individual choices/behavior/outcomes, but not automatically causal.

Causation vs. Correlation

Correlation does not imply causation; they may appear to be related but are not necessarily so.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices within a social context.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and larger social influences.

Positivism

A philosophical theory stating that only scientific knowledge derived from empirical evidence is of real value.

Social Capital

Networks of relationships among people that provide access to resources and opportunities.

Cultural Capital

Non-financial social assets such as education, intellect, style of speech, and dress that promote social mobility.

Economic Capital

Financial resources and assets that influence an individual's economic power.

Meritocracy

A political system or social order in which individuals are rewarded and advanced based on merit.

Reification

The conception or treatment of an abstract idea as if it were a concrete thing.

Structural Convenience

The concept that access to resources or social advantages is often easier for certain groups due to societal structures.

Liberal Arts Education

An education aimed at imparting a broad education and critical thinking skills, rather than specific vocational training.

Self-Identity

The individual's conception and expression of their own identity in relation to others.

Privilege

Unearned advantages or benefits afforded to individuals based on their social identity.

Ethnocentrism

Evaluating other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture.

Moral Relativism

The belief that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how various forms of inequality or disadvantage intersect.

Historical Context

The social, cultural, and economic environment that influences the events and experiences of a certain period.

Social Norms

Unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society.

Culture

The shared customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of social classes or castes within a society.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms and expectations.

Symbolic Interactionism

A micro-level sociological perspective focusing on how individuals interact through the use of symbols and shared meanings.

Structural Functionalism

A macro-level sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Conflict Theory

A macro-level sociological perspective that suggests society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources and power.

Transformative Assets

Assets significant enough to drastically improve a family's socioeconomic status and opportunities across generations, often accumulated through inheritance.

Wealth

The total value of all assets (e.g., property, stocks, savings) minus liabilities (debts), representing economic resources accumulated over time.

Race

A social construct used to categorize groups of people based on perceived shared physical characteristics, influencing social relations and power dynamics.