Sociology Unit 1

Sociology

the scientific study of society, human interaction and behavior

Sociology involves asking what people are doing and why

It is a social science with methods and a scientific approach, but it also looks at all the other disciplines to find patterns within society, blending multiple disciplines as it analyzes human behavior.

Social Institutions

Patterns of beliefs and behaviors focused on meeting social needs; they provide structure and have a purpose

Family, education, religion, politics, economics, and the media.

C. Wright Mills

A sociologist that coined the term “sociological imagination” in his 1959 book.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to connect personal challenges to larger social issues

It allows for an understanding of our current lives and social structure in historical context, letting us analyze behavior to the most accurate extent.

It requires us to separate ourselves from our personal circumstances

Personal issues v. public issues: homelessness can be personal until a staggering percentage of people suffer from it, making it a problem caused by a lack of support from social institutions

Aguste Comte

A French philosopher who founded sociology.

1798-1857

Positivism- applying scientific method to social world 

Social dynamics and statics (what causes change and what creates order)

Emile Durkheim

French sociologist who theorized about social integration and how people are more likely to commit suicide if they have weak community ties

1858-1915

Asked how social forces affect behavior

Social facts

Anomie (sense of isolation from society)

Functionalism

Karl Marx

German philosopher/sociologist who created conflict theory, the idea that societies grow and change as a result of struggles between social classes

1818-1883

Communism

Lower classes taking control of means of production

Inequalities and struggles with conflict theory

Structural Functionalism

Theory that society is a complex system made up of parts that work together to meet the needs of society

Durkheim and Spencer

Institutions and structures promote stability and consensus

Social change is slow

Macro-level

Like all the body’s organs working together to make the body work

Manifest, latent, and dysfunctional functions

Manifest Function

The intended consequences of a social process meant to be beneficial (functionalism)

Schools are intended to provide education to produce citizens that have knowledge and skills

Latent Function

The unintended consequences/changes that are still positive

Schools unintentionally give students the ability to bond with classmates, provides meals for students with lower income families

Dysfunction

The undesirable outcomes for the functioning of society; causes disorder and conflict within society, can be manifest or latent

examples: In schools, students can earn bad grades, skip school, drop out, and never find a job

Conflict Theory

Theory that society is divided into social groups that are always competing for social, material, and political resources

People are divided into class, race, gender, religion, etc. 

Social institutions create and maintain inequalities

Macro-level

Ex: Gifted and talented programs create academic stratification- talented students tend to be from richer families with more time, and nontalented classes are more remedial; who’s gonna get the money for college and who will have loans

Symbolic Interactionism

Theory that people make sense of their world through relationships and interaction with others; symbols and language are a key part of how we make meaning

We as individuals shape our social world rather than structures dictating everything fo rus 

Meaning of symbols and values changes, so does society

Micro level

Language, symbols (desks in traditional rows)

Georg Simmel

sociologist who studied group size and its various effects

Group dynamics

Patterns of behavior & interpersonal relationships within a group

Group dynamics: Looks at how behavior of group members impacts the structure of group and other members

How does the group operate? How are individuals impacted by the whole?

Intimacy: up with small groups, down with larger groups

Stability: down with small groups, up with larger groups

Aggregate

People who happen to be in the same place at the same time with little to no social interaction; ex: people being in line together at starbucks

Category

Consists of people with a shared characteristic, but no relationship or ties, Millennials, bald people, people who read.

Dyad

group of 2, smallest group of people possible

most intimate but most unstable, if one person leaves, there’s no group

Triad

group of three; created new set of relationships (two v. one, secrets, majority opinion), can be less intimate but more stable

Group of 4+

 larger group, more possible relationships and more stable, but less intimate; diffusion of responsibility

Primary Group

small, long-term emotional connections, typically significant others, often help shape our sense of identity; usually parents, siblings, partners, faith communities, BFFs

Secondary Group

Large and impersonal, more goal/task oriented, possibly temporary; classes, political parties, companies, coworkers

In group

group one feels an identity with; “us”, sense of loyalty; fraternities or sports teams

Out group

Group we do not identity with or belong to; “them,” sense of dislike or antagonism, competing against another team, fights between gangs or acts of hatred towards an out group

Expressive Leadership Function

wants to promote well being of the group, cares about emotions, tries to resolve tension and avoid conflict; examples are religious leaders, counselors

Instrumental Leadership Function

goal-oriented, finish the task; CEOs

Authoritarian Leadership Style

 issues orders and assigns tasks, little to no input from group, effective in crisis; commander, scene coordinator

Democratic Leadership Style

encourages group participation in all decision making, decision making tends to be slow; Teachers, ancient Greek structures

Laissez Faire leadership style

hands-off, lets group members make their own decisions; chill boss

Bystander Effect

Situation where people are less likely to take action and help in an emergency if there are others around.;

The more people around, the less likely anyone will do anything and the longer it will take for anyone to act

Diffusion of responsibility

Example: if one person is in a room with smoke, they report it ASAP; if three people are in there, everyone acts like it’s fine

Kitty Genovese murder (34 witnesses, no help)