SOCI 201 Midterm 1 - UofC

CHAPTER 1: SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

Chapter 1

The Sociological Imagination

The perception and understanding of individual problems often being linked to larger social processes (i.e. a smaller problem could be a result of something bigger)

What are personal problems?

Private matters that affect the individual, often seen as caused by personal choice or circumstances (i.e. argumentative communication, time management, low metabolism, etc.)

What are social issues?

Problems that affect a large group of people and stem from societal structures (i.e. liberal laws, educational costs, food costs, etc.)

What did Durkheim reject the idea of?

Suicide being a result of a psychological disorder (believed the cause was larger than just that)

Durkheim surmised that if the general psychological model was correct, what should suicide have been?

A random behaviour

Using various European government data and hospital records, what did Durkheim learn?

There was no relationship between mental disorders and suicide

What did Durkheim find about some groups more than others?

More people from certain groups were committing more suicide

What were some casual variables associated with groups that had higher suicide rates? (3)

• Sex (males)

• Religion (protestants)

• Martial status (single individuals)

What were the common themes/threads among these ‘suicidal’ groups called?

Social Solidarity

What is social solidarity?

The degree to which members share beliefs and values and the intensity and frequency of their interaction

What were the expected vs actual results of suicide in respect to social solidarity during Durkheim’s time? (2)

• Expected: low social solidarity = high suicide, high social solidarity = low suicide (negatively linear)

• Actual: low social solidarity = high suicide, medium social solidarity = low suicide, high social solidarity = high suicide (parabolic)

What were some overall significant points of Durkheim’s work? (3)

• Sociology is unique

• The causes of suicide are partly social

• The study of social forces does not preclude (prevent) biological or psychological forces

Who was the first well-known sociologist?

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

What were the four types of suicide according to Durkheim? (4)

• Altruistic

• Egoistic

• Fatalistic

• Anomic

Altruistic Suicide

Dying for a group or cause (i.e. soldier sacrificing themselves in war)

Egoistic Suicide

Occurs when a person feels isolated or disconnected from society, leading to a lack of belonging (e.g., loneliness or alienation)

Fatalistic Suicide

Occurs when a person feels trapped by strict rules or control (i.e. a prisoner in a harsh environment)

Anomic Suicide

Happens during times of rapid societal change or instability, where norms are unclear or disrupted (e.g., economic crises)

CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY

Chapter 2

What is Sociology? (2)

• Sociology is the systematic study of human behavior, social relationships, and institutions

• Emerged during the Industrial Revolution

What are the four Sociological Promises? (4)

• Promises to think critically

• Promises to explain why we act the way we do

• Promises to reveal the possibilities of human action

• Promises to show us the correct route to induce
  positive social change

What is critical thinking?

Using careful observation to arrive at conclusions about our social world rather than base our understanding upon authority, casual observation, illogical reasoning, etc.

Three Levels of Sociological Inquiry (3)

• Micro-Level Sociology

• Macro-Level Sociology

• Global-Level Sociology

Micro-Level Sociology

Examines individual behavior (i.e. communication between friends)

Macro-Level Sociology

Examines national behavior - the study of social institutions (i.e. education system affects social mobility)

Global-Level Sociology

Examines international phenomena - multinational institutions (i.e. globalization on job markets worldwide)

Five Important Sociological Perspectives (5)

• Functionalism (Order Theory)

• Conflict Theory (Marx & Weber)

• Symbolic Interactionism

• Feminist Theories

• Postmodernism

Sociological theory came about in response to __________ (3)

• The Scientific Revolution / The Enlightenment

• The rise of the Nation-State (democratic revolution)

• The ill effects of the Industrial Revolution (scientific application to jobs)

Functionalism (2)

• Examines social ‘norms’ and rules meant to be followed

• Lack of social bonding results in “anomie”

Anomie (2)

• a feeling of normlessness or without purpose

• may lead to social problems (i.e. suicide)

Conflict Theory: Marx (2)

• Society is shaped by class struggle between the bourgeoisie (rich) and the proletariat (workers).

• Capitalism exploits workers, leading to inequality and revolution

Marx compared the process of commodity production to ______ because the worker is never paid the full “value” of what s/he
creates

stealing

Conflict Theory: Weber (2)

• Power is not just economic—it includes politics and religion

• People’s beliefs (e.g., Protestant work ethic) shape society and capitalism

Symbolic Interactionism

Examines human behavior from the micro-sociological level

Three Basic Principles of Symbolic Interactionalism (3)

• Humans act toward things based on the meanings they have for us

• This meaning is developed in interaction with others

• Constantly changing

Feminist Theories (4)

• Patriarchy, a system of male domination should be examined

• Patriarchy is the result of social forces rather than a biological imperative

• Patriarchy should be explored at the micro-level and the macro-level of inquiry

• Patriarchy should be eliminated

Postmodernism (2)

• Theories are merely constructions or narratives (unsuccessful)

• Focuses on consumerism, the explosion of information systems, and oppression

CHAPTER 3: HOW TO DO SOCIOLOGY

Chapter 3

Five Means to Know our World (5)

• Personal experience

• Tradition

• Expertise (authority)

• Religion

• Science

What is a Theory?

A set of claims about what exists in our social world and the interconnections among phenomena

What is an Ideology?

Set of beliefs and the inter-connections that one holds despite evidence to the contrary

What is Research?

Generating or testing theories to find objective information

Inductive Research

Observations —> Generalizations —> Theory

Deductive Research

Theories —> Hypotheses —> Observations

Requisites of Causality (4)

• Correlation

• Temporal Sequence

• Non-spurious Relationships

• Use of Theory

Correlation (3)

• Correlation means two variables are connected, but one does not necessarily cause the other

• To establish causality, variables must be linked

• Example: Lemons and limes are often found together, but one does not cause the other to exist

Temporal Sequence

• Causality requires that the cause must occur before the effect

• Example: The chicken and the egg dilemma (which came first?)

Non-spurious Relationships

• A relationship must be genuine and not due to a third variable

• Incorrect assumptions can lead to false conclusions about causation

• Example: Firefighters are present at fires, but they don’t cause them

What is the most difficult requisite of causality to have?

Non-spurious relationship (no third party intervention)

Use of Theory (3)

• Research should be grounded in sociological theory to ensure meaningful conclusions

• Theories help generate questions that require testing

• Simply identifying statistical correlations without theoretical backing can lead to illogical conclusions

How do we learn about our world? (3)

• The classic experiment

• Survey research

• Field research (observation studies)

Variable

A construct (an event or attribute) to which we can assign a value (usually numerical)

Independent Variable

An independent variable (i.e. age) causes a change in the dependent variable (i.e. happiness)

Hypothesis & Variables: Independent vs Dependent (2)

• Some researchers suggest that using an “entrance” drug (e.g., marijuana) may lead to riskier drug use (e.g., cocaine)

• The independent variable influences or impacts the dependent variable

Hypothesis & Variables: Correlation vs Causation

• A strong association has been observed between drinking milk and cocaine use

• Correlation does not imply causation (does one cause the other? which variable is independent, and which is dependent?)

Hypothesis & Variables: The Importance of Causal Thinking

• Some associations are purely coincidental and do not meet the criteria for causality

• Theory is essential for interpreting statistical relationships correctly

The Classic Experiment

• Considered the “hallmark of scientific research” because it isolates the experimental effect

• Random assignment is used to place participants in either:

An experimental group (experiences the effect)

A control group (does not experience the effect)

• Example: Beavis and Butthead/Barney and child deviance study

• Potential Issue: Problems with external validity (generalizing results to the real world)

Hawthorne Effect

When a subject’s behaviour changes when they are aware they are being observed

Survey Research (5)

• Widely used in sociology to collect data on people’s experiences, thoughts, and beliefs

• Results can be generalized to a larger population

• Strength: Often provides accurate insights

• Limitation: Faces challenges with validity and reliability

• Cost Consideration: Often involves secondary data analysis to reduce expenses

Field Research (5)

• Simply includes the researcher going into the field (often as a member of that group) and recording the behaviour of others

• Allows us to study things often not possible by other means

• Questions of reliability and validity

• Ethical concerns paramount (i.e. tearoom trade)

• Personal interviews

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Research Method (4)

• Depends on the research question

• Classical experiments: reliable but may lack validity

• Survey research: generally effective but should be carefully evaluated

• Field research: behaviour in natural settings, but generalizing results can be difficult

CHAPTER 4: SOCIALIZATION

Chapter 4

What are the primary agents of socialization? (4)

• Family

• Schools

• Peer groups

• Mass media

What are the three general theories/approaches to socialization? (3)

• Biology

• Psychology

• Sociology

Key Theorists from Biology (2)

• Wilson

• The Harlows

Key Theorists from Psychology (4)

• Freud

• Piaget

• Kohlberg

• Goffman

Key Theorists from Sociology (3)

• Cooley

• Mead

• Goffman

Biology: Wilson (2)

• Pioneered the sub-discipline of sociobiology

• War, peace, envy, competition, and cooperation are believed to be rooted in our genes

What is Sociobiology?

The systematic study of how biology affects social behavior

Biology: The Harlows (2)

• Studied effects of social isolation on rhesus monkeys

• Isolation caused fear and hostility when introduced to others later in life

What are the three components of the mind according to Freud? (3)

• Id (pleasure principle)

• Superego (internalized norms)

• Ego (reality principle)

Id

Demands immediate gratification; instinctual, energy-driven (i.e. “I want that candy bar no matter what”)

Superego

That part of the mind that has internalized society’s norms (i.e. “Stealing is wrong in society”)

Ego

Seeks to balance the ID and Superego (i.e. I guess I will have to save money to purchase the candy bar”)

What analogy did Freud use to describe the unconscious?

The Iceberg Analogy

The Iceberg Analogy Explained

• The Id is submerged (unconscious mind)

• Ego and super-ego are both somewhat submerged (unconscious and conscious)

Why is Freud important in the study of socialization? (2)

• He highlighted the role of sexuality and developmental processes in shaping personalities, revealing unconscious conflicts between desires and societal expectations

• Suggested we can understand the unconscious mind through: Dream interpretation, slips of the tongue, and introspection

Name Freud's stages of development

Oral, anal, phallic, latent, genital (OAPLG)

Oral

dependent, smoker, drinker

Anal

excessively orderly, stubborn, overly generous

Phallic

homosexuality

Biology is ____________

Why is this often seen as controversial?

destiny

Individuals take different paths based on social interaction

What would failure to progress in Freud’s stages of development result in?

Personality disorders

Piaget’s Stages of Development (4)

Children go through stages:

• Sensorimotor (sensory contact)

• Preoperational (begin to use symbols)

• Concrete operational (take the role of others)

• Formal operational (abstract thought)

(SPCF)

What are Kohlberg's stages of moral development? (3)

• Pre-conventional (punishment & obedience)

• Conventional (peer influence)

• Post-conventional (moral conduct/human rights)

(PCP)

Gilligan

Moral development is gendered; males focus on law/order, and females on social relationships (critical of Kohlberg)

What is the looking-glass self? (Cooley)

The concept that we see ourselves through the perceptions of significant others

What are the three components of the social self according to Mead? (3)

• Me

• I

• Generalized Other

Me

The objective component. We perceive ourselves from the standpoint of others

I

The subjective component. This is the active component that initiates action

Generalized Other

This is how we internalize societal norms

What are Mead's stages of self-development? (4)

• Egocentric Stage

• Imitative Stage

• Play Stage

• Game Stage

(EIPG)

Egocentric Stage

Inability to take on the role of others

Imitative Stage

Simply imitate others (doctors, police, etc.)

Play Stage

Actually adopt social roles (imaginative)

Game Stage

Child gains an understanding of social expectations and rules

Dramaturgy & Goffman's Dramaturgical Approach

The idea that life is like a performance where individuals play roles and follow scripts, presenting themselves in specific ways in different social situations, while their true selves are revealed backstage

How do sociologists and psychologists differ in their focus on human behavior?

Sociologists focus on social causes and the evolving social self, while psychologists emphasize relatively permanent personality traits

TEXTBOOK: CHAPTERS 1-4

1-4