Sociology Final Exam Study Guide

A comprehensive guide for students reviewing key sociological terms and concepts as they prepare for their final exam.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to connect personal troubles to public issues, enhancing understanding of societal contexts.

Social Structure

Stable patterns of relationships and institutions guiding individual behaviors and societal organization.

Institution

Long-lasting organized patterns of behavior regarding core areas of social life, such as family, education, and economy.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms; context-dependent and not inherently negative.

Social Control

Mechanisms that enforce norms, either formally through laws and institutions or informally through social interactions.

Stratification

The hierarchical ranking of categories of people in a society based on factors like wealth, status, and power.

Race as a Social Construct

Categories based on perceived physical differences, which are created and modified by social factors over time.

Hegemony

The dominant group's power to secure consent and maintain control through cultural means rather than force.

Cultural Capital

Knowledge, skills, and education that provide advantages in society, often linked to social class.

Double Consciousness (W.E.B. Du Bois)

The internal conflict experienced by subordinated groups in an oppressive society, leading to a dual perception of self.

Mechanisms of Surveillance

Methods through which authority monitors and regulates citizen behavior, often discussed in terms of modern-day societal structures.

Conflict Theory

A social theory that focuses on the struggle for power and resources between different social classes.

Roles

Expected behaviors associated with a particular social position that influence how individuals interact.

Racism

Prejudice and discrimination against individuals based on their race; can be systemic (institutional) or individual.

Socialization

The lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and practices of their culture.

Impression Management

The process by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others form of them, often discussed in dramaturgy.

Institutional Racism

Policies and practices within institutions that, without overt racist intent, disproportionately disadvantage racial groups.

Globalization

The process of increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of economies, societies, and cultures around the world.

Absolute Poverty

A condition where individuals or families lack the financial resources to meet the most basic human needs.

Intergenerational Mobility

Changes in social status from one generation to the next, often examined in the context of access to opportunities.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the functions of various social institutions and their roles in maintaining order.

Feminist Theory

A theoretical approach that examines women’s social roles, experiences, and the systems of power that influence gender inequality.

Social Movements

Collective efforts by groups to promote or resist social change, often characterized by organized, sustained campaigns.

Marginalized Groups

Communities that face systemic disadvantage, often resulting in inequitable treatment and lack of access to resources.

Health Inequality

The systematic differences in health status and health care access experienced by different populations.

Precarious Work

Employment that is not secure, often characterized by low wages, instability, and lack of benefits.