Sociology Chp 1

What is sociology?

The systematic study of the individual and society and the consequence of difference

Who is known as the Father of Sociology?

Auguste Comte

Why is Auguste Comte important to sociology?

He believed society could be studied scientifically using observation and reason

What did Auguste Comte believe about society?

That society follows patterns and laws similar to the natural sciences

Who developed the idea of sociological imagination?

C. Wright Mills

What is the sociological imagination?

The ability to see how personal experiences are connected to larger social forces

Why is sociological imagination important?

It helps individuals understand that personal problems may be social issues

What does C. Wright Mills say about personal troubles?

They are often linked to public issues within society

What is the 4-part definition of sociology?

The study of human society

What does the hamburger example demonstrate?

That everyday objects are connected to complex social systems

Why is a hamburger "not as simple as McDonald’s"?

Because everything is interdependent

Who is Harriet Martineau?

An early sociologist known as the "forgotten sociologist"

Why is Harriet Martineau important?

She translated Comte’s work and studied social inequality

What topics did Harriet Martineau study?

Gender inequality

Why is Harriet Martineau often overlooked?

Because sociology historically minimized women’s contributions

Who is Emile Durkheim?

A founding sociologist who studied social order and cohesion

What did Emile Durkheim focus on?

How social forces influence individual behavior

What concept did Durkheim introduce?

Social facts

What are social facts?

Patterns of behavior and beliefs that exist outside individuals but influence them

Why did Durkheim study suicide?

To show how social factors affect individual actions

What are the five big questions of sociology?

How is social order maintained, how do power and inequality shape outcomes, how does interaction shape our world, how does group membership influence opportunity, how should sociologists respond

Why does sociology ask big questions?

To understand how social structures shape human behavior

How does sociology view individual behavior?

As influenced by society

What is the goal of sociology?

To understand and explain social patterns and inequalities

What is the Thomas Thereom?

How we see the world shapes what we do