Chapter 1: Understanding and Solving Social Problems

Vocabulary flashcards covering core sociological concepts, key figures, historical context, and research methods from Chapter 1.

Social Problems

Social conditions perceived to be problematic by groups of people, constructed based on social perceptions that vary across societies and time.

Social Constructionism

The sociological theoretical perspective claiming that individuals assign meaning to the world around them based on their own interpretations of it.

Culture

The rules, values, beliefs, and material goods created by members of a society.

Social Structure

The framework of society constructed through social institutions such as the government, education system, economy, families, and religion.

Corset

Stiff undergarments that could be tightened to constrict women's waists, historically illustrating how societal perceptions and social constructions change over time.

Enlightenment (1685–1815)

A historical era that prioritized reason, rationality, and freedom over tradition, religion, and monarchies, fundamentally altering governments and cultures.

Industrial Revolution

A historical period spanning from the late 1700s to the late 1800s that transformed economies and contributed to the development of sociology.

Auguste Comte

An early sociologist who believed that sociologists could use research to inform efforts to improve society.

Jane Addams (1860–1935)

A pioneering social researcher and reformer who rebuffed gender expectations and co-founded Hull House to provide social services and gather data on social inequality.

Hull House

One of the first settlement houses in the United States, established by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, serving as a hub for sociological research, education, and services for low-income immigrants.

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963)

A prominent sociologist who highlighted racial injustices, conducted early data-driven sociological studies, and demonstrated that racism is a harmful social problem.

The Philadelphia Negro (1899)

A landmark study by W. E. B. Du Bois, representing one of the earliest examples of data-driven sociological research in the U.S., linking high poverty and crime rates to institutional discrimination.

The Crisis

A publication subtitled 'A Record of the Darker Races', edited by W. E. B. Du Bois and published monthly by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that required all states to recognize and certify same-sex marriages.

Generational Support for Same-Sex Marriage (2001–2019)

Data showing shifting public attitudes across generations, with Millennials consistently expressing the highest percentage in favor of same-sex marriage, followed by Generation X, Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation.

Core Commitments of Sociology

The two main obligations attached to gaining a sociological perspective: developing and using a sociological eye, and engaging in social activism.

Sociological Eye

The obligation and ability to see beneath the surface of society and recognize underlying social patterns.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to connect personal experiences with public issues and the broader social and historical context.

Social Scientific Research Process

A structured multi-step methodology followed by social scientists to ensure research is unbiased, unharmful, grounded in literature, and replicable.