Using Your Social Immagination

Exam #1 SOCO 260

What is the Sociological imagination

the ability to see the connections between our personal experiences and larger historical forces. Relate personal problems to societal issues.

Social institution

a complex, large-scale system of interrelated roles that regulate behavior and social expectations

What is Positivism?

social physics, Auguste comte, Three stages - 1 theological (gods plan), 2 metaphysical (biological instincts) 3 Scientific (physics - equations and underlying logic)

Who was Harriet Martineau

Earliest feminist social scientist. Translated compte

Who was Karl Marx

Communism. economic issues drive social change. Historical materialsism

Who was max weber

buliding on marx, Not only does economics shape change, but also ideas shape change. He came up with VERSTEHEN (seek to understand the meaning ppl atach to their actions. foundation for:) and INTERPRETIVE SOCIOLOGY (the study of social meaning)

Who was Emile Durkheim

Came up with FUNCTIONALISM. Focused on how the divsion of labor holds society together and revealed the sociology and morality of society. Came up with ANOMIE (sense of normlessness) and POSITIVIST SOCIOLOGY (can predict and descrbe society thru observing relationships)

Who was Georg Simmel

He established formal sociology - pure numbers.

What is the Chicago school

Look at chicago cuz growing fast and see lotsa diversity. COOLEY - looking glass self (see ourselves how we think others see us) MEAD - “self” and “generalized other” (sense of self develops over childhood by taking others pov)

Who was W.E.B. Du Bois

he came up with DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS - people have two ways of presenting themselves (regular behavior and changed behavior based on how they think others view them)

Who was charlotte perkins gilman

she looked at the sociology of gender and family. oppression of women thru societal norms like economic dependence on husband.

What is Functionalism

(Durkheim and talcott parsons) Identify roles that dif social groups play. each part keeps the whole together. assumes unity and cooperation (MACRO)

What is Conflict Theory

(Mills. based on Marx) conflict between competing interests in society cause change. (MACRO)

What is Feminist Theory

Society subordinates women. questions meanings assigned to genders. (MACRO)

What is symbolic interactionism

(Herbert Blumer) (MICRO) face to face interactions. act on perceptions and social agreements and maintain the status quo. Erving Goffman’s theory of social interaction says that we rely on how ppl present themselves for how we classify them

What is Postmodernism

argues that our shared meanings have ended and now everything is up for interpretation. No objective reality, just social constructions.

What is midrange theory

(Rober K. Merton) (NEITHER MACRO NOR MICRO) Predicts how certain social things function, must be testable in real world. says ppl compare themselves to referance groups.

How does sociology differ from history, anthropology, psychology, Biology, economics, and poly sci

History explains unique cases, anthropology focuses on ppl not like us, psychology focuses on individual, Biology focuses on genetics and internal factors, economics says people want best deal, poly sci focuses on power.

What is a theory

Systematic generalized model of how see world.

What are the different types of research

Quant - numbers (ex. experimental methods), Qual - analysis thru observation (ex. Case study), Deductive - Theory then test (sci method), Inductive - observe then make theory

What is reverse causality

think a cause b but actually b cause a

When testing a hypothesis what are the 4 tests

Operationalization - how a concept is defined and measured, Validity - measures what u wanna measure, Reliability - Consistancy of results across multiple tests, Generalizability - applicable to group beyond sample.

ON VERY ROUGH GROUND

What are the 5 methods of data collection

1. 1, Participant observation (aims to uncover meaning ppl atach to action by observing thier behavior. big time investment) S- ppl let thier gaurd down, not relyant on self-reports W - time consuming

2. 2, Interviews (asking someowhat structured, often open ended questions. mores structured -→) S - detail rich W - self reporting

3. Survey research (ordered series of questions. can be widely distributed. CROSS SECTIONAL - dif ppl, LONGITUDINAL - same ppl over time) S - easy to analyze, broad W -may not be representative, self reporting, bias in questions

4. Historical methods (look atdata from reports journals ect from period of interest.) S - unobtrusive W - reasearcher bias, limited existing materal

5. Comparative research (comparing 2+ entities to see diference. CONTENT ANALYSIS - subcatagory, systematic analysis of content in writen and recorded material ex. textbooks) S - unobtrusive W - reasearcher bias, limited existing materal

PEOPLE ORDER ICECREAM SUNDAYS HOLDING COOKIES

What is the white coat effect

ppl may act different when being observed. the presence of the researcher may effect the study.

What do you need to establish causality?

Time order, correlation, nonsperiousness (is it genuine - rule out alternative explainations)

What is Culture

social catagories and concepts (beliefs, behaviors, practices)

What is ethnocentricism

sense of supuriority over other cultures

Cultural relativism

accounting for cultural differences without being judgmental

cultural scripts

Modes of behavior and understanding that aren’t universal or natural. for example, they shape our view of gender

non-material vs material culture

non - values beleifs and social norms. Materail -physical ex. statue of liberty

Cultural lag

time it takes culture to catch up to technological inovations

Culture shock

confusion and anxiety cuz dont know what words signs and symbols mean

What is code switching

instantly swapping between cultures (sets of meanings/values)

What are values

moral beleifs. abstract cultural beleifs.

What are norms

how we put values into play. (ex. we value hygene so handwashing is a norm)

what is an Ideology

a belief system that informs how ppl understand and interact with the world. formed by nonmaterial culture.

Hegemony

dominant group uses power to get ppl to volunarily follow. we dont even realize they have power over us. It is not domination, just the status quo

What is a subculture

distinct values of a group (ex. high school cliques - nerds, jocks)

What is counterculture

A significant subculture that is in complete oposition to mainstream culture. want to revolutionize society which leads to CULTURE WAR.

What is reflection theory

culture is a reflection/projection of social structures. Society makes culture.

What is media

media is any formats that carry or tell information. Content of media - TEXTS

What is consumerism

belief that getting possessions leads to happiness and fulfillment.

define socialization

Process of learning to be a functioning member of society (and internalizing culture (values/norms/beliefs) of society)

Define the self

Charles Horton Cooley, looking glass self

I vs Me vs Other vs Generalized other

I - subjective sense of having consciousness, agency, and power.

Me - self as one imagines others see them (learned through social interactions)

Other - not oneself

Generalized other - internalized sense/expectation of other regardless of if they are a stranger/not.

list three agents of socialization

family (primary example, social class effects how influence)

School (gives reference groups and shows order)

Peers (conformity is expected)

What are total institutions

they totaly control every part of life. all activity is in same place. goal of resocializing u into a new identity (ex marines)

Role Theory (Status, Roles, Role strain, role conflict, status set, master status)

(Robert Merton)

status - recognizable social position

Roles - duties of a particular status

Role strain - incompatibility among roles for a single status.

Role conflict - tension between different roles in different statuses.

Status set - all statuses a person holds at once

Master status - Status within set that overwhelms others (ex. having a disability).

Ascribed vs. Achieved Statuses

Ascribed - born w (age, race)

Achieved - what you become, voluntary (football player)

What are gender roles and what are some socialization differences between them

Gender Roles - sets of behavior norms with masculine or feminine identity. Socialization thru peers differs between them, boys “fag discourse” and insults to protect masculinity, girls get sexually harrassed.

What is Dramaturgical Theory

Erving Goffman, social life is a theatrical performance and we all want to make a good impression and we use sets, costumes, scripts etc.. there is front stage (w an audience) and backstage (w friends/more comfortable smaller audience). we improve when mistakes happen to help each other save face.

What is symbolic interactionism and what are the three parts of it

The process of how roles and concepts are constructed. three parts →

• Ppl act toward stuff on the basis of the meanings they associate w it

• These meanings are the products of social interactions in society

• These meanings are filtered thru how the individual processes outward signs

Define Ethnomethodology

it studies human interaction by focusing on how we make sense of the world, convey this to others, and produce a shared social order.

What is a dyad

(Georg Simmel) group of two. most intimate, mutually dependent, no secrets

What is a triad (and what are the roles within it)

(Georg Simmel) Group of three. has secrets and power dynamics. Roles →

• Mediator - resolves conflict

• Tertius Gaudens - “3rd that rejoices,” profits from other 2 disagreeing (preexisting conflict)

• Divede et Impera - “Divide and conquer,” Intentionaly drives wedge between other two (person makes conflict)

Small Group vs Party vs Large Group

Small - bigger than 3, face to face, unifocal, no formal roles or leaders.

Party - face to face still, but multifocal

Large - Formal structure, status differences

Primary vs Secondary Groups

(Charles Horton Cooley) PRIMARY - Limited number of ppl, key agents of socialization, not interchangeable, enduring. SECONDARY - impersonal, might not know everyone, instrumental (used to organize or represent something, has a purpose), membership is contingent (can get kicked out).

What is a social network, ties, and a narrative

A social network is a set of relations held together by ties. Ties are the content of or the stories that go along with each relationship. A narrative is the sum of stories in a social network (set of ties).

What is Embeddedness

The degree that inderect paths reinforce a social relationship. (ex. friend is also friends w ur mom and ur boyfirend)

What is the strength of weak ties

(Mark Granovetter) weak ties often have value because they bring into light new information, resources, and opportunities (by prolly tying you to a whole new social network).

What is a structural hole

a gap between two different social networks (network clusters). bridged by social entrepreneurs.

What are elastic ties

people you see a lot but don’t rly know. (ex. coworker?)

Social capital

having a lot of weak ties, in lots of circles. can increase it by joining voluntary clubs for example.

what is an organization?

A social network with a common purpose and a boundry from the rest of the world. Can be FORMAL (governing structures and rules, ex. army) or INFORMAL (less/no rules, ex. local knitting club).

What is organizational Culture and Structure

CULTURE - shared beleifs, behaviors, and expectations of the group

STRUCTURE - distribution of authority and power within the group

What is Institutional Isomorphism and what are three reasons that it happens?

Organizations tend to end up looking like each other. Why →

• Coercive - forced from outside (ex. gov rules for all restraunts)

• Normative - professional norms and standards

• Memetic - copy from other organizations.

What is Social Deviance

Any transgression of socially established norms. not universal. INFORMAL - minor violation, may not be punished (ex. picking ur nose). FORMAL - crime, violation of society’s laws

What is Social Control

mechanisms of society to enforce conformity and regulate behavior. INFORMAL SOCIAL SANCTIONS - unwritten rules. glares, sarcasm, praise, etc. FORMAL S S - Official institutionalized responses. laws, fines. written into policy.

What is Mechanical/segmental solidarity

(durkheim) Premodern society, cohesion of ppl is based on sameness so ppl can relate. PUNITIVE JUSTICE - (more often in mechanical) offender suffers. ex hanging.

What is organic solidarity

(durkheim) Modern society, cohesion of ppl is based on difference and interdependence so ppl can depend. REHABILITATIVE JUSTICE - (more often in organic) transform offender back into productive member of society.

Durkheim’s normative theory of suicide. What is Social integration/regulation? What are the four types of suicide?

SOCIAL INTEGRATION - degree of how connected with a social group. (ex see ppl from same group in multiple places)

SOCIAL REGULATION - how many rules guide life; predictability

1, Egoistic suicide - not integreted, life feals meaningless (ex. no friends)

2, Altruistic scuicide - too integrated, life apart from group is meaningless (ex. soldier who sacrifices life for fellow soldiers)

3, Anomic - not regulated, no predictability so anomie (aimlessness) (ex. Suddenly lose job)

4, Fatalistic - Too regulated, nothing too look forward to, every day same (ex. slaves)

what is strain theory and what are the 5 types of ppl

STRAIN THEORY - (Robert Merton), society tells us what our goals should be and the means by which we can get there. Strain cuz society doesnt give everyone equal ability to reach the means or goals.

1, Conformists - accepts goal and means

2, Ritualist - Accepts means but not goal

3,Innovator - Accepts goal, but not means

4, Retreatists - Reject both, dont participate in society

5, Rebels - Reject both, want to change society

What does conflict theory say about deviance?

Social order results from domination of rich classes because the rich define deviance.

What is Labeling theory (primary vs secondary deviance, define stigma)

How symbolic interactionists define deviance. People subconciously notice how others label them and their reactions to those labels form their basis of self-identity. social groups create deviance by setting rules and labeling outsiders.

PRIMARY DEVIANCE - first act of rule breaking

SECONDARY - later devient acts done cuz of new label.

STIGMA - negative social label that changes how ppl act toward a person

What is the broken window theory of deviance

Explains how social cues impact whether ppl act deviantly specifically whether local informal social norms allow deviant acts.

Street crime vs white collar

street crime is crime in public. white collar crime is committed by professionals against corporations or professional entities.

What is deterrence theory

Crime results from a rational calculation of costs and benifits of criminal activity. GENERAL DETERANCE - overall crime (jail) SPECIFIC DETERANCE - recidivism/going back to crime even after being punished (Probation and parole)

What are unintended consequences of harsh deterrence and punitive policies?

SPECIFIC - technical violations - mess up accidentally or not actually in the wrong but get sent back to jail. GENERAL - doesn’t shape ppl back into productive members of society and strips away