Sociology - Chapter 1

sociology

the systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions

society

a group of people who shape their lives in aggregated and patterned ways that distinguish their group from others

social sciences

the disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world

sociological perspective

a way of looking at the world through a sociological lens

beginner's mind

approaching the world without preconceptions in order to see things in a new way

culture shock

a sense of disorientation that occurs when entering a radically new social or cultural environment

sociological imagination

a quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our individual circumstances and larger social forces

microsociology

the level of analysis that studies face-to-face and small-group interactions in order to understand how they affect the larger patterns and structures of society

macrosociology

the level of analysis that studies large-scale social structures in order to determine how they affect the lives of groups and individuals

theories

abstract propositions that explain the social world and make predictions about the future

paradigm

a set of assumptions, theories, and perspectives that makes up a way of understanding social reality

social darwinism

the application of the theory of evolution and the notion of "survival of the fittest" to the study of society

structural functionalism

a paradigm based on the assumption that society is a unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its separate structures

solidarity

the degree of integration or unity within a particular society; the extent to which individuals feel connected to other members of their group

mechanical solidarity

the type of social bonds present in premodern, agrarian societies, in which shared traditions and belief created a sense of cohesion

organic solidarity

the type of social bonds present in modern societies, based on difference, interdependence, and individual rights

anomie

normlessness; term used to describe the alienation and loss of purpose that result from weaker social bonds and an increased pace change

sacred

the holy, divine, or supernatural

profane

the ordinary, mundane, or everyday

empirical

based on scientific experimentation or observation

structure

a social institution that is relatively stable over time and that meets the needs of a society by performing functions necessary to maintain social order and stability

dysfunction

a disturbance to or undesirable consequence of some aspect of the social system

manifest functions

the obvious, intended functions of a social structure of the social system

latent functions

the less obvious, perhaps unintended functions of a social structure

conflict theory

a paradigm that sees social conflict as the basis of society and social change and that emphasizes a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo, and a dynamic model of historical change

social inequality

the unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society

eurocentric

the tendency to favor European or Western histories, cultures, and values over those of non-Western societies

means of production

anything that can create wealth: money, property, factories, and other types of businesses, and the infrastructure necessary to run them.

proletariat

workers; those who have no means of production of their own and so are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live

bourgeoisie

owners; the class of modern capitalists who own the means of production and employ wage laborers

alienation

the sense of dissatisfaction the modern worker feels as a result of producing goods that are owned and controlled by someone else

false consciousness

a denial of the truth on the part of the oppressed when they fail to recognize that the interests of the ruling class are embedded in the dominant ideology

class consciousness

the recognition of social inequality on the part of the oppressed, leading to revolutionary action

critical theory

a contemporary form of conflict theory that criticizes many different systems and ideologies of domination and oppression

critical race theory

the study of the relationship among race, racism, and power

feminist theory

a theoretical approach that looks at gender inequities in society and the way that gender structures the social world

queer theory

social theory about gender and sexual identity; emphasizes the importance of difference and rejects ideas of innate identities or restrictive categories

praxis

the application of theory to practical action in an effort to improve aspects of society

rationalization

the application of economic logic to human activity; the use of formal rules and regulations in order to maximize efficiency without consideration of subjective or individual concerns

iron cage

Max Weber's pessimistic description of modern life, in which we are caught in bureaucratic structures that control our lives through rigid rules and ratinoalization

bureaucracy

a type of secondary group designed to perform tasks efficiently, characterized by specialization, technical competence, hierarchy, written rules, impersonality, and formal written communication

verstehen

empathic understanding; Weber's term to describe good social research, which tries to understand the meanings that individuals attach to various aspects of social reality

symbolic interactionism

a paradigm that sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that meanings are not inherent but are created through interaction

chicago school

a type of sociology practice at the University of Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s that centered on urban settings and field research methods

pragmatism

a perspective that assumes organisms (humans) make practical adaptations to their environments; humans do this through cognition, interpretation, and interaction

dramaturgy

an approach pioneered by Erving Goffman in which social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance

ethnomethodology

the study of "folk methods" and background knowledge that sustain a shared sense of reality in everyday interactions

conversation analysis

a sociological approach that looks at how we create meaning in naturally occurring conversation, often by taping conversations and examining their transcripts

postmodernism

a paradigm that suggests social reality is diverse, pluralistic, and constantly in flux

modernism

a paradigm that places trust in the power of science and technology to create progress, solve problems, and improve life

midrange theory

an approach that integrates empiricism and grand theory