Sociological Imagination & Religion and Conformity

A comprehensive set of flashcards designed for reviewing key concepts in sociology, particularly focusing on the sociological imagination, theories, culture, religious definitions, and influential sociologists.

What is Sociology?

A systematic, critical and rigorous study of social life informed by rational argument, criticism and existing knowledge.

What is the Sociological Perspective?

An antidote to personal and subjective observations and a complete rejection of explanations rooted in naturalistic or individualistic assumptions about 'human nature'.

What is the Sociological Imagination?

The ability to go beyond personal experience and common sense to understand the difference between 'personal troubles' and 'public issues'.

What are 'personal troubles'?

Aspects of our lives that we have some control over.

What are 'public issues'?

Structural conditions that are beyond our control.

What does SHiP stand for?

Social Structure, History, Individual, Power.

What is Social Structure in the SHiP framework?

It shapes social life; exists beyond individuals and groups but operates on them continuously.

What is History in the SHiP framework?

Historical forms change over time through means of external control and modes of self-regulation.

What is Individual in the SHiP framework?

While individuals can exert power in particular contexts, a society's structural composition, its historical patterns and power inequalities are far more significant in shaping people's lives.

What is Power in the SHiP framework?

An ability to do or act with recognised authority; social dominance and control; linked to notions of social stratification.

What is Emile Durkheim's approach called?

Functionalism — how constitutive elements of society should function for overall societal wellbeing.

What is Karl Marx's theoretical approach?

Conflict theory — exploitation and oppression of one class by another.

What is Max Weber's theoretical approach?

Social action theory — what social processes should be in place to affect social change.

What is Culture?

'Designs for living' — the symbols, language, values, norms, beliefs, and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.

What are the 5 major components of culture?

Symbols, language, values, norms, and beliefs (plus material objects).

What does the Nature vs Nurture debate conclude?

Both are necessary, but Nurture has more of an influence than Nature.

What is Socialisation?

The means through which society transmits its culture from one generation to the next.

What are the four main agents of socialisation?

Family, schooling, peer group, and mass media.

What is Re-socialisation?

Events that lead to the radical reorientation of an individual's personality.

What is Institutionalisation?

The long-term incarceration of individuals, for the purposes of treatment, care, or social control.

What does it mean to be dependent beings in networks?

Humans are not self-sufficient — we rely on social structures, relationships, and institutions for survival, meaning, and identity.

Who was George Herbert Mead?

An American sociologist who developed Symbolic Interactionism and the Social Development of the Self.

What years did George Herbert Mead live?

Born 1863, died 1931.

What is Mead's core theory?

Social experience is the exchange of symbols (language) to create meaning.

What theoretical school does Mead belong to?

Symbolic Interactionism.

Who was Charles Horton Cooley?

An American sociologist who developed the Looking Glass Self theory of identity formation.

What years did Charles Horton Cooley live?

Born 1864, died 1929.

What is the Looking Glass Self?

The process wherein individuals base their sense of self on how they believe others view them.

What theoretical school does Cooley belong to?

Symbolic Interactionism.

Who was Erving Goffman?

A Canadian-American sociologist known for Dramaturgical Analysis and the concept of Impression Management.

What years did Erving Goffman live?

Born 1922, died 1982.

What is Goffman's Dramaturgical Analysis?

Social interaction framed as a theatrical performance where society is a stage.

What does Impression Management consist of according to Goffman?

Performance, non-verbal communication, idealisation, embarrassment, and tact.

What is the key difference between Mead and Goffman?

Mead focuses on internal development of self through symbol exchange; Goffman focuses on external performance.

What do Mead, Cooley, and Goffman share?

They all agree that identity is socially constructed through social interaction.

Who was Emile Durkheim?

A French sociologist, one of the founders of sociology, associated with Functionalism.

What years did Emile Durkheim live?

Born 1858, died 1917.

What was Durkheim's view of religion?

Religion promotes social cohesion, social control, and provides a source of meaning and purpose.

What was Durkheim's famous study on suicide?

Durkheim's Suicide (1897) showed suicide is shaped by social forces.

What are the four types of suicide identified by Durkheim?

Egoistic, Altruistic, Anomic, and Fatalistic.

What is Durkheim's concept of 'anomie'?

A state of normlessness where social norms are unclear, absent, or in conflict.

Who was Karl Marx?

A German philosopher associated with Conflict Theory.

What years did Karl Marx live?

Born 1818, died 1883.

What was Marx's view of religion?

Religion is a tool of social control that distracts the working class.

What did Marx mean by 'opium of the people'?

Religion numbs the suffering of the oppressed working class.

Who was Max Weber?

A German sociologist associated with Social Action Theory.

What years did Max Weber live?

Born 1864, died 1920.

What was Weber's view of religion?

Religion drives social change.

What is Weber's 'Protestant Ethic' argument?

Calvinist values helped drive the rise of modern capitalism.

What year was Weber's Protestant Ethic published?

1905.

What year was Marx's Communist Manifesto published?

1848.

What year was Durkheim's Suicide published?

1897.

Who is Daniele Hervieu-Léger?

A French sociologist of religion who sees religion as a 'chain of memory'.

What is Hervieu-Léger's 'chain of memory' concept?

Religion is kept alive through collective memory passed across generations.

Who is Peter Berger?

An American sociologist who approached religion through Symbolic Interactionism.

Who is Tom Inglis?

An Irish sociologist who studied religion and Catholicism in Ireland.

What did Inglis argue in 'Moral Monopoly'?

The Catholic Church held a moral monopoly in 20th-century Ireland.

What year did Inglis publish 'Moral Monopoly'?

1998.

What is Inglis's typology of Irish Catholics?

Strong, Cultural, Alienated, Creative, and À la carte Catholics.

What year did Inglis publish his typology of Catholics?

2008.

Who is Roy Wallis?

A British sociologist who developed a typology of New Religious Movements.

What year did Roy Wallis publish his NRM typology?

1984.

Who authored 'On Being Sociological'?

Steve Matthewman.

Who authored 'Believing: Religions'?

McIntosh T. (2022).

Who authored 'A Sociology of Ireland'?

Share, Tovey, and Corcoran.

What was the Milgram Obedience Experiment?

Conducted in 1963, participants administered electric shocks to a 'learner'.

What was Milgram's key finding?

Ordinary people will comply with authority even against their conscience.

What year was Milgram's obedience experiment conducted?

1963.

What sociological concept does Milgram's experiment illustrate?

Conformity and obedience to authority.

What was the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Conducted in 1971, students assigned as 'prisoners' or 'guards'.

What was Zimbardo's key finding?

Social roles and institutional structures determine behaviour.

What year was the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted?

1971.

What sociological concepts does Zimbardo's experiment illustrate?

Conformity, institutionalisation, and re-socialisation.

What were Asch's Conformity Experiments?

Conducted in 1951–1955, participants matched line lengths.

What was Asch's key finding?

Group pressure causes individuals to conform to group answers.

What year(s) were Asch's conformity experiments conducted?

1951–1955.

What sociological concept does Asch's experiment illustrate?

Conformity and peer group socialisation.

How do the Milgram, Zimbardo, and Asch experiments support the SHiP framework?

They show that Social Structure and Power drive human behaviour.

What are the key aspects of religion?

Sacred symbols, rituals, a feeling of reverence, and a community of believers.

What is the difference between spirituality, faith, and religiosity?

Spirituality = personal inner experience; Faith = belief without proof; Religiosity = degree of practice or belief in religion.

What is an ecclesia?

A church integrated with the state.

What is a denomination?

A sub-group within a broader religious tradition with its own identity.

What is a sect?

A smaller, often breakaway religious group with stricter beliefs.

What is a cult?

A small religious group centered on a charismatic leader.

What is a NRM?

A newer religious group outside mainstream traditions.

What is a World-Rejecting NRM?

A movement that rejects mainstream society entirely.

What is a World-Affirming NRM?

A movement that accepts mainstream society but offers additional spiritual tools.

What is a World-Accommodating NRM?

A movement that neither fully rejects nor affirms mainstream society.

What is Secularisation?

The process of religious decline driven by modernisation.

What is Neo-Secularisation?

The declining influence of religious authority.

What is De-Secularisation?

The resurgence of religion.

What are examples of De-Secularisation?

Rise of Christianity in the global South, worldwide Islamic resurgence.

What are the three levels of secularisation in Ireland?

Macro, Mezzo, Micro.

What is the macro level of secularisation in Ireland?

Institutional level — separation of Church and State.

What is the mezzo level of secularisation in Ireland?

Societal level — declining influence of the Catholic Church.

What is the micro level of secularisation in Ireland?

Individual level — changes in personal religious belief.

What did Inglis mean by the Catholic Church's 'moral monopoly' in Ireland?

The Church controlled health, education, and law in 20th-century Ireland.

What are Tom Inglis's five types of Catholics?

Strong, Cultural, Alienated, Creative, and À la carte Catholics.

What is an 'À la carte Catholic'?

A Catholic who selectively follows parts of Catholic teaching.

How did the Catholic Church affect gender in Ireland?

Reinforced gender inequality by coupling patriarchy with conservative ideas.