Sociology Chapter 1-4 Study guide

Sociology

The study of society and human behavior, focusing on how people interact, organize, and shape the world around them.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the connection between personal experiences and larger social forces, introduced by C. Wright Mills.

Social Structure

The organized patterns of social relationships and institutions that shape society.

Social Institutions

Organized and enduring patterns of behavior in society (e.g., family, education, religion, economy, government).

Macrosociology

Focuses on large-scale social processes, such as institutions and society as a whole.

Microsociology

Focuses on small-scale, face-to-face interactions, such as everyday social interactions.

Functionalism

A theoretical perspective viewing society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.

Conflict Theory

Focuses on power struggles and inequalities in society, viewing social life as a competition for limited resources.

Symbolic Interactionism

A micro-level theory focusing on how individuals create and interpret symbols through interactions.

Emile Durkheim

A sociologist known for his work in functionalism and the study of social facts.

Karl Marx

A sociologist known for conflict theory and the focus on class struggles.

Max Weber

Emphasized understanding individual behavior through the concept of "Verstehen" (empathetic understanding).

Scientific Method

A systematic way of collecting and analyzing data to answer sociological questions.

Variables

Traits or characteristics that can change in value, such as age, gender, or income.

Hypothesis

A testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

Surveys

Methods of collecting data from a large number of people using questionnaires or interviews.

Experiments

Controlled settings used to test cause-and-effect relationships.

Observational Studies

Research in which the researcher observes subjects without interference.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables, where one does not necessarily cause the other.

Causation

A situation where one variable directly influences another.

Ethics in Research

Guidelines that sociologists must follow, including informed consent and protecting participant privacy.

Culture

Shared beliefs, values, and practices that shape human behavior.

Cultural Universals

Aspects of culture that are common to all societies, such as family structures and language.

Material Culture

Physical objects created by a society, including buildings and tools.

Nonmaterial Culture

The intangible aspects of culture, like beliefs, values, and norms.

Norms

Social rules that govern behavior, which can be folkways or mores.

Folkways

Informal norms that govern everyday behavior, such as table manners.

Mores

More serious norms tied to morality, including laws against theft.

Values

Beliefs and ideals shared by members of a society, such as freedom and equality.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that a person’s beliefs and activities should be understood in the context of their own culture.

Subculture

A smaller group within a society that shares distinct beliefs or behaviors.

Counterculture

A group that actively opposes dominant societal norms.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of their society.

Agents of Socialization

People or groups that influence an individual’s socialization, including family, peers, media, and schools.

Nature

Biological factors that influence behavior.

Nurture

Social and environmental factors that shape behavior.

Freud's Psychosexual Stages

The theory that focuses on how unconscious desires shape behavior.

Cooley’s Looking-Glass Self

The concept that we form our self-concept based on how we think others perceive us.

Mead's Theory of the Self

Divides the self into the "I" (spontaneous aspect) and the "Me" (socialized aspect).

Social Roles

Expectations and behaviors associated with particular positions in society.

Status

A recognizable social position, such as a parent or boss.

Ascribed Status

Status assigned at birth, like race or gender.

Achieved Status

Status earned through actions, such as career or education.

Resocialization

The process of discarding old behaviors and adopting new ones.

Total Institution

Places where individuals are isolated from the outside world and controlled, such as prisons or mental hospitals.