Sociology Chapters 1 THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Sociology

The systematic study of human societies

Sociological Imagination

The ability to “think yourself away” from daily routines and see the connection between personal experience and society.

Social Structure

Patterns in how people behave and relate to one another.

Social Construction

When something is made real by society (e.g.

Socialization

The process by which children learn social norms

Agency

The ability of individuals to make their own choices despite social structure.

Auguste Comte

Founder of sociology.

Émile Durkheim

Studied social facts; key concepts include anomie

Karl Marx

Focused on capitalism and class conflict.

Max Weber

Studied how values and ideas shape social action.

Harriet Martineau

Early feminist sociologist.

W.E.B. Du Bois

Studied race and “double consciousness.”

Organic Solidarity

Social unity from interdependence in modern society.

Social Constraint

How groups and societies influence behavior.

Division of Labor

Specialization of work tasks in a system.

Anomie

Loss of norms or meaning in society.

Capitalism

Private ownership and profit-based economy.

Bureaucracy

Hierarchical organization with rules and full-time officials.

Microsociology

Small-scale interactions.

Macrosociology

Large-scale institutions and systems.

Symbolic Interactionism (Mead)

Focus on symbols and language in interaction.

Functionalism

How parts of society function for stability.

Manifest Functions

Intended effects.

Latent Functions

Unintended effects.

Marxism

Focuses on power

Feminism

Focus on gender and women’s experiences.

Rational Choice Theory

Human behavior is purposeful.

Postmodernism

Belief that modern progress and history no longer define society.

Uses of Sociology

Improves social awareness