Introduction to Sociology Vocabulary

This set of flashcards covers key terms and influential figures in Sociology, including definitions and contributions to the field.

Bourgeosie

The capitalist class that owns most of society's wealth and means of production.

Conflict Theory

A theoretical framework that views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of understanding cultures on their own terms without judgment.

Dysfunction

An element of society that disrupts the social system or its stability.

Ethics

Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior, particularly in research.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural characteristics such as language, culture, and heritage.

Ethnocentricism

The practice of viewing one’s own culture as superior to others.

Feminism

A social and political movement seeking to achieve equality for women.

Field Research

The collection of data outside of a laboratory setting.

Functionalism

A theoretical perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.

Gender

The social and cultural roles and expectations associated with being male or female.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through research.

Informed Consent

The process of obtaining agreement from research participants after they have been fully informed about the study.

Intersectionality

A framework that examines how various social identities (e.g., race, gender, class) intersect to create unique experiences of oppression.

Latent Function

An unintended and often unrecognized consequence of an action or social structure.

Manifest Function

The intended and recognized consequence of an action or social structure.

Moral Realism

The belief that moral facts exist independently of human opinion.

Moral Relativism

The idea that moral standards are not absolute and can vary between cultures.

Patriarchy

A social system where men hold primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property.

Postmodernism

A perspective that questions the objective nature of knowledge and truth.

Proletariat

The working class, who do not own the means of production.

Public Troubles/Issues

Problems affecting a large number of people in a society.

Race

A socially constructed category used to group people based on physical characteristics.

Scientific Process

A systematic method of research that involves observation, experimentation, and validation.

Sex

The biological differences between males and females.

Social Fact

A value, cultural norm, or social structure that transcends the individual.

Social Science

The study of human society and social relationships.

Society

A group of individuals living together in a more or less ordered community.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the connection between personal experiences and larger social forces.

Sociology

The study of society, social institutions, and social relationships.

Symbolic Interactionism

A theoretical perspective that focuses on the meanings and experiences of individuals in society.

Theory

A system of ideas intended to explain something, particularly in sociology.

Value Free Observation

An observation approach that avoids bias and seeks objectivity in research.

Voluntary Participation

The ethical principle that individuals should choose to take part in research without coercion.

Judith Butler

A philosopher and gender theorist known for her work on gender performativity.

Auguste Comte

Considered the father of sociology; proposed positivism as a way to study society.

W.E.B. DuBois

A key founder of sociology in the U.S. and an advocate for civil rights.

Emile Durkheim

Pioneered sociological methodology and introduced the concept of social facts.

Michel Foucault

A philosopher known for his work on power dynamics and social institutions.

Laud Humphreys

Known for his study on social interactions and the ethics of research.

Harriet Martineau

An early sociologist known for her contributions to feminist sociology and methods.

Karl Marx

A philosopher and economist whose ideas about class conflict influenced social theory.

Talcott Parsons

A sociologist known for his work on the social systems theory.

Max Weber

A sociologist who emphasized understanding social action through the interpretive approach.

Kimberlé Williams-Crenshaw

Known for her work on intersectionality and critical race theory.