Sociology

What is sociology

the study of social life, social change, and the social consequences of human behavior

sociological imagination

A framework for understanding our social world that far surpasses any common-sense notion we might derive from our limited social experiences. (making the connection between personal challenges and larger social issues)

personal troubles

private problems experienced within the character of the individual

Social issues

lie beyond one persons control

Roles

patterns of behavior that we recognize in each other that represent a person’s social status

status

responsibilities and benefits a person experiences due to their rank/role in society

role strain and conflict

strain-too much demanded, conflict- conflicting roles

what are the three main sociological perspectives

Symbolic interaction, Conflict theory, and functionalist theory

Symbolic interaction

focuses on symbols, meaning, and understanding, and recognizes that human behavior is influenced by what we believe

Conflict theory

views society as different groups and interests competing for power and resources. (who profits from problems)

Functionalist theory

society is interconnected parts that work together and maintain a state of balance

Manifest vs. latent functions

Manifest-what something is intended to do, latent- underlying functions

Surveys

Collects individuals responses that are good for collecting feelings, thoughts, and actions

field research

gathering primary data from a natural environment- observes behavior

participant observation

Researchers join people and participate in a group to observe them

ethnography

the immersion of a researcher in the natural setting of an entire social community- focuses on social standing

institutional ethnography

focuses on everyday concrete social relationships

case study

in depth analysis of a single event, situation, or individual

experiments

lab based or field based that answer if, then statements

Secondary data analysis

completed work from other researchers

Value neutrality

practice of remaining impartial during the course of a study and in publishing results

Culture

Shared values, beliefs, norms, rules, symbols, art, artifacts, and people’s collective identities and memories

Cultural Universals

Patterns or traits that are globally common to all societies.

Ethnocentrism

to evaluate and judge another culture based on one’s own cultural norms

Cultural Imperialsm

the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture

Culture Shock

disorientation or frustration when being introduced to another culture

cultural relativism

The practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of one’s own culture

Xenocentrism

the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own

ideal culture

the standard society would like to embrace and live up to

Norms

Visible and invisible roles of conduct through which societies are structured

Mores

Norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group

folkways

Norms without any moral underpinning (traditions)

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

people experience their world through their language and therefore understand the world through the cultural meanings embedded in their language

Deviance

A violation of established contextual, cultural, or social norms

Social control

the regulation and enforcement of norms to maintain social order

Sanctions

the means of enforcing rules

Functionalism-deviance

strain theory and social disorganization theory

Strain theory

access to socially acceptable goals plays a part in determining whether a person conforms or deviates

Social Disorganization Theory

crime is most likely to occur in communities with weak social ties and an absence of social control

Conflict theory- deviance

Unequal system and power elite

Power elite

Small group of wealthy and influential people at the top of society who hold the power and resources (they determine crime)

Symbolic interactionism- deviance

Labeling theory, differential association theory, and control theory

Labeling theory

ascribing of a deviant behavior to another person by members of society

Primary deviance

a violation of norms that does not result in any long term effects on individuals self image or interactions

secondary deviance

when a persons self concept and behavior begin to change after his or hers actions are labeled as deviant by members of society

differential association theory

individuals learn deviant behavior from those close to them

control theory

social control is directly affected by the strength of social bonds and deviance results from a feeling of disconnection from society

crime

a behavior that violates official law and is punishable through formal sanctions

types of crimes

violent, nonviolent, street, corporate, victimless, and hate

Police

civil force in charge of enforcing laws of federal, state, or community level

courts

a system that has authority to make law based decisions

corrections

supervises individuals who have been arrested, convicted, and sentenced for a criminal offense