Sociology 1222: Social Theory and Inequality Review

A comprehensive set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the sociology lecture notes, including theories of inequality, Marxian economics, race, gender, and the nature of social theory.

Sociology

The science that has human societies as its subject, focusing on the history and structure of large configurations formed by human beings.

Sociological Theory

A process that acts as a guide to inquiry and an attempt to bring structural order to empirical results.

Abend Definition 1 (Theory 1)

A logically connected system of general propositions establishing a relationship between two or more variables.

Abend Definition 2 (Theory 2)

An explanation of a social phenomenon that identifies factors acting as a test to explain interactions.

Abend Definition 3 (Theory 3)

An interpretive or hermeneutical task aimed at understanding the meaning of empirical phenomena.

Abend Definition 4 (Theory 4)

The study of foundational works and classical sociological authors.

Abend Definition 5 (Theory 5)

An overall perspective or worldview from which one sees and interprets the world.

Abend Definition 6 (Theory 6)

Accounts that possess a fundamental normative component or general approaches to social critique.

Abend Definition 7 (Theory 7)

Metatheoretical discussions about the scientific status of sociology and relations between explanation and prediction.

Accumulation

A function of theory that assists in the organization and gathering of research findings.

Precision

A function of theory that articulates ideas in more carefully specified ways than everyday language allows.

Guidance

A function of theory that directs researchers to develop and test measurement hypotheses.

Falsifiable

A requirement for a theory to be considered science, meaning it must be capable of being proven wrong.

Connectedness

A function where theories demonstrate how ideas relate to each other in a systematic way.

Interpretation

A function of theory that helps make sense of how various phenomena operate.

Prediction

A function of theory that points toward what can or may happen in the future.

Explanation

The most important function of a theory, providing answers to why and how questions.

Symbols

According to Jaccard and Jacoby, these allow individuals to access shared meaning systems.

Consensual Validation

Validation derived from public or group agreement, often used among scientists.

Expert Validation

Validation where truth is determined by designated, highly trained authorities.

Internal Validation

Validation determined via strict adherence to formal internal rules of logic.

Systematic Empirical Validation

The primary reliance on testing against the physical or social world; the bedrock of science.

Macro Level Theory

Concerned with global or national factors influencing behavior entirely beyond individual influence, such as geography or language.

Meso Level Theory

Focuses on important structures and institutions embedded in the macro, such as organizations, race, and gender.

Micro Level Theory

Focuses on individual, local interactions and meanings.

Structural Functionalism

A theory of social stability viewing society as harmonious, cooperative, and balanced.

Conflict Theory

A theory of social inequality viewing society as divided, competitive, and unequal.

Comparative & Historical Sociology

A method for studying social change, viewing society as dynamic, evolving, and context-dependent.

Parsimony

The quality of a theory communicating clearly with the least amount of information possible.

Correspondence Theory of Truth

The belief that true statements correspond to an actual state of affairs or events.

Coherence Theory of Truth

A statement is true if it fits into a large web of other beliefs without creating a contradiction.

Pragmatism

The belief that things are true as long as they are useful or serve a specific function.

Social Constructivism

The perspective that each person has their own truths that shape their reality.

Linguistic Relativity

The theory that language and words shape how people think and see, rather than thoughts giving rise to words.

Capitalist/Bourgeoisie

The economic group in Marx's theory that owns the factories and means of production.

Worker/Proletarist

The economic group in Marx's theory that works for wages.

Mechanical Solidarity

A form of social connection emphasized by Emile Durkheim where people share common values and beliefs.

Organic Solidarity

A form of connection in highly interdependent societies where individuals are not closely connected but rely on one another.

The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism (1904)

Max Weber's major work arguing that capitalism exists because of specific religious investment behaviors.

Ida B. Weels-Barnett

A scholar who confronted Social Darwinism, arguing instead that domination is a system of oppression.

Double Consciousness

A term by WEB De Bouis describing the act of seeing oneself through another's reflection of you.

IBN Khaldon

A generalist scholar interested in political economy and the solidarity that brings people together.

Veil of Ignorance

A concept used to test fairness where individuals design a society without knowing their own class or advantages.

Money-Commodity-Money ($\text{M-C-M}$)

The systematic cycle of accumulation in capitalism where money is invested in a commodity to be sold for more money.

Surplus Value ($s$)

The value created by laborers that exceeds the cost of their wages.

Rate of Surplus Value ($s/v$)

A formula for the heart of capitalism where surplus value is divided by variable capital (wages).

Rate of Profit ($P$)

Calculated as $P = \frac{s}{c+v}$, representing the ratio of surplus to constant and variable capital.

Constant Capital ($c$)

Investment in machinery and technology to increase efficiency.

Elennor Marx

A thinker who argued that gender roles and domestic confinement make women an oppressed class.

Jane Addams

A theorist who focused on ethical conduct, service, and the education required to overcome poverty systems.

Dialectical Historical Materialism

A framework using contradictions and material conditions to understand the transitions between phases of society.

Primitive Communism

The earliest stage of human history in Marx's development, characterized by small tribes living together.

Feudalism

A historical stage where a king, emperor, or chief acts as the ruler over all people.

Socialism

A stage where the state produces for everyone and things are no longer made for profit.

Labor Theory of Value

The principle that labor is the sole source of value in production.

Alienation from the Product

A condition where the object created by the worker confronts them as an alien, hostile power.

Alienation from the Process

A condition where labor is coerced and external to the worker's nature, making them feel miserable.

Alienation from Others

A state where humans view one another through the rigid lens of being a worker.

Alienation from Species-Being

The destruction of human nature, where free, conscious activity is reduced to a tool for survival.

False Consciousness

A lack of understanding of one's position in society, leading to a failure to perceive injustice.

Subaltern Classes

A term from Antonio Gramsci referring to groups that are socially and politically marginalized.

Hegemony

A concept by Gramsci explaining how the ruling class maintains power through cultural leadership rather than just force.

Ethnicity

Variations in shared culture, including language, attire, and cultural behaviors.

Racial Formation Theory

Michael Omi and Howard Winant's theory viewing race as an ongoing, politically contested social construction.

Racial Project

The sociohistorical process of identifying races and allocating resources accordingly.

Frantz Fanon

A scholar who argued that colonized individuals lack their own ontology because their identity is prescribed by the oppressor.

Racial Apathy

A trend suggested by data where there is an increase in indifference toward racial issues among the dominant group.

Prejudice

A preconceived opinion or feeling about a group based largely on their group membership.

Discrimination

Unjustified negative behaviors toward members of outgroups.

Stereotype Threat

Performance decrements caused by the awareness of cultural stereotypes regarding one's group.

Outgroup Homogeneity

The tendency to view members of outgroups as more similar to each other than members of the ingroup.

Intersectionality

The way multiple identities (race, gender, class) combine to create unique forms of privilege and oppression.

Minority Stress Syndrome

Stress processes including the expectation of rejection and internalized shame due to prejudice.

Social Selection Hypothesis

The idea that something inherent in being a minority makes individuals susceptible to health problems.

Social Causation Hypothesis

The belief that health disparities are a result of difficult social situations and systemic stressors.

Diffuse Characteristics

Attributes that carry expectations for general competence in addition to specific tasks.

Gender Identity

The internal sense of self and the internalization of gender.

Gender Expression

The outward presentation of gender.

Sex Category

Placement in a male or female category sustained through socially required identificatory displays.

Doing Gender

The routine, methodical accomplishment of managing situated conduct in light of normative conceptions.

Feminization of Poverty

The trend of women being disproportionately represented among the world's poor.

Heteronormativity

The assumption that heterosexuality is the normal or default sexual orientation.

Socratic Error

The mistaken belief that 'theory' or other concepts have one true, objective essence that language can track down.

Intersubjectivity

The quality of being verifiable by different observers, allowing science to achieve structural objectivity.

Originality

A dimension of a theoretical contribution that provides fresh insight or a conceptual leap.

Utility

A measure of whether a theory advances intellectual understanding or offers real-world actionable value.

Scope

The breadth and generality of a theory's applicability.

Process Mapping

A strategy for theoretical contribution that identifies the intervening mechanisms between $X$ and $Y$.

McDonaldization

George Ritzer's term for the expansion of the fast-food business model into other social institutions.

Predictability

A pillar of McDonaldization ensuring the consumer experience is identical across all locations.

Calculability

A pillar of McDonaldization prioritizing quantifiable measures, such as tracking employee hours, over quality.

Control

A pillar of McDonaldization using technology and uniforms to monitor and dictate behavior.

Correspondence Principle

Bowles and Gintis's theory that schools mirror the workplace to prepare students for exploitation.

Hidden Curriculum

The unofficial norms and routines students learn in school, such as subservience and punctuality.

Criminogenic Capitalism

The Marxist view that capitalism inherently causes crime by promoting greed and creating inequality.

Selective Law Enforcement

The practice of disproportionately prosecuting working-class individuals while overlooking crimes of the elite.

Commodity Capital

Finished goods sold for more money in the cycle of reproduction.

Productive Capital

Capital involved in the production phase where surplus value is actively created.

Simple Reproduction

The continuous process of reproducing existing levels of capital and labor.

Epistemic

Relating to the study of knowledge and how we know what we know.