Sociology Exam 1

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms, theoretical frameworks, and major historical sociologists from Chapters 1 and 2.

Sociological Imagination

A concept coined by C. Wright Mills that connects the influence of history and biography on interactive processes to inform a sociological perspective.

Macrosociology

The branch of sociology that focuses on large scale social structures and patterns.

Microsociology

The branch of sociology that focuses on everyday interaction and small groups.

Sociology

The study of human behavior, social groups, and society.

Social Work

An applied science that applies the principles of the social sciences, especially sociology, to actual social problems.

Auguste Comte

The Father of sociology who coined the term sociology, proposed the law of human progress, viewed society as an organism, and advocated for positivism.

Law of Human Progress

Auguste Comte's idea that society evolves from simpler to complex forms over time through theological, metaphysical, and positivist phases.

Theological Phase

The 1st phase in Auguste Comte's Law of Human Progress, characterized by a belief in the supernatural, family as the social unit, and priests or military as authority leaders.

Metaphysical Phase

The 2nd phase in Auguste Comte's Law of Human Progress, characterized by abstract thinking and ideas, the state as the social unit, and leaders who understand laws well.

Positivist Phase

The 3rd phase in Auguste Comte's Law of Human Progress, characterized by the embrace of scientific laws, thinking of oneself as part of humanity, and leaders who embrace science and moral guides.

Positivism

The concept that society can and should be studied scientifically.

Herbert Spencer

Sociologist who coined the phrase survival of the fittest, proposed Evolutionary Theory, and supported a theory of noninterference that favored the wealthy class.

Theory of Noninterference

Herbert Spencer's belief that events should be allowed to happen naturally without assistance, asserting that the poor are just poor and no one should help them.

Karl Marx

Sociologist who advocated for social conflict and economic determinism, arguing that economic inequality drives conflict between owners and workers.

Social Conflict

The idea that struggle or strife is the core of society and serves as the driver for social change.

Economic Determinism

The idea that every social change or event can be explained by examining economic factors.

Bourgeoisie

In Karl Marx's theory, the class of owners who exist in constant struggle and conflict with workers.

Proletariat

In Karl Marx's theory, the class of workers who exist in constant struggle and conflict with owners.

Class-Consciousness

An awareness among workers regarding their specific place or class within society.

Emile Durkheim

Sociologist who developed concepts including social facts, collective conscience, mechanical and complex solidarity, and sociological types of suicide.

Social Facts

Unseen or intangible social forces that are external to individuals but influence their behavior, functioning as the unwritten rules of society.

Collective Conscience

A common psyche that develops when people come together, shifting the focus from individual identity to the group.

Mechanical Solidarity

Social cohesion held together by commonality, where everyone in society shares the same beliefs.

Complex Solidarity

Social cohesion maintained through interdependence among different people who possess things that others want.

Egoistic Suicide

A category of suicide resulting from an individual not being sufficiently integrated into society or a group.

Altruistic Suicide

A category of suicide occurring when a person is so connected to a group that they are willing to sacrifice themselves for its wellbeing.

Anomic Suicide

A category of suicide occurring when a person does not know what the rules are or what is expected of them.

Fatalistic Suicide

A category of suicide occurring when an individual lives in an oppressive regime experiencing extreme stress and fear.

Max Weber

Sociologist who introduced value-free sociology, studied external social actions with subjective meanings, and established Verstehen as a goal of social research.

Value-Free Sociology

Max Weber's principle that sociologists should prevent their personal biases from influencing their research.

Verstehen

Max Weber's term for the goal of social research, defined as achieving a sympathetic understanding of the minds of others.

Harriet Martineau

Early sociologist who studied whose voices are excluded in society, analyzed Great Britain and the United States, translated Auguste Comte's work, and developed research methodology.