sociology flashcards

What are the two main ways sociologists “see” the world? Give a brief explanation of each

1. Seeing the general in the particular: identifying general social patterns in the behavior of specific individuals (ex. How being a university student shapes your daily routine)

2. Seeing the strange in the familiar: realizing that “normal” behaviors are not natural or inevitable but are socially constructed (ex. Why we shake hands instead of bowing)

Define C. Wright Mills’ sociological imagination and the two components it connects

It is the ability to see the relationship between individual lives (biography) and larger social forces (history). It connects private troubles (problems within an individuals control/immediate environment) to public issues (problems rooted in the organization of society).

Apply the sociological imagination example of an international student feeling lonely

• private trouble: student feels personally sad or lacks social skills

• Public issue: the loneliness is a result of structural factors such as university integration policies, cultural barriers, or the way the education system is organized which affects many students simultaneously.

Explain the agency vs structure debate. Which one does sociology typically emphasize?

• agency: the capacity of individuals to act independently and make free choices

• Structure: the patterned arrangements (norms, hierarchies, institutions) that limit or influence those choices

• Sociological focus: sociology focuses on how structure shapes behavior while acknowledging that individual agency can eventually change those structures over time

What is the difference between a social institution and a social organization?

• social institution: a sedimented system of norms and values that exists over time (ex. Marriage, education, religion)

• Social organization: a specific, identifiable unit with a goal (ex. Catholic Church, Università Catholica, hospedale san rafaelle)

What did covid 19 pandemic reveal about social life according to the sociological perspective?

It made the taken for granted visible. We only notice the unwritten rules of society when they are broken or removed. Covid 9 highlighted the things we usually ignore like the freedom of movement, physical distance norms, and the vital importance of social contact.

According to Marx how does the structure relate to the super structure?

The economic structure (mode of production) is the base that conditions the general process of social, political, and intellectual life (the superstructure). The superstructure creates conditions that make existing social relations seem natural.

What is Durkheim’s “fundamental rule” for studying social facts?

“Consider social facts as things”. They must be studied as independent realities that exist outside the individual, much like a scientist studies physical objects

Why was Weber concerned about the “rationalization” of society?

He feared it would create an “iron cage” where humans are imprisoned by impersonal rules and standardized procedures, sacrificing personal values and emotions for efficiency.

What is the “blase attitude” and why does it emerge in the metropolis?

It is a disinterested mindset where individuals “tune out” the buzz of the city. It emerges as a self defense mechanism against the sensory “bombardment” and hyper stimulation of urban life.

Contract why Marx and Weber found capitalism problematic

• Marx: capitalism is problematic because it implies the commodification of everything for profit

• Weber: problematic because it implies the rationalization of everything through calculation and standardization

Why did Peter Berger describe culture as a “second nature” for humans?

Because humans are biologically “unfinished” and lack instincts. We must construct a human world (culture) to provide the firm structures we lack at birth, effectively replacing our biological environment with a social one

Define “habitus” and explain its role in society

It refers to an individual’s embodied traits, habits, and dispositions (how we dress, talk, and behave). It mediates between an individual’s subjective experience and the social structures of relations.

What is the “generalized other”?

It is the internalized expectations of one’s entire community or society regarding what is “right” or “wrong”. It helps us navigate social contexts, like knowing how to act in a job interview even with strangers.

What is “impression management”?

The effort individuals make to control the image others have of them by choosing what to reveal or conceal during a social performance.

What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance in labeling theory?

Primary deviance is a rule violation that does not result in a lasting label. Secondary deviance is behavior that results from being publicly labeled, the individual internalized the label and acts accordingly

What is the difference between ascribed and achieved status? Give example for each.

• ascribed: a status you are born with or cannot easily change (ex. Age, sex, ethnicity)

• Achieved: a status earned through individual effort or choice (ex. Being a university graduate)

How does a “structural” view of poverty differ from an “individualistic” view?

• individualistic: blames the person (lack of effort/will)

• Structural: looks at society‘s organization (lack of minimum wage, expensive healthcare, or poor education systems) and suggests policies like progressive taxation or public housing to fix it

Define “ideology” in the context of social stratification

It is a system of beliefs (like the self made man) that explains and justifies inequality, making it appear inevitable and acceptable to both the winner and the loser of the system.

How does the concept of the panopticon explain why people follow social norms even when no one is looking?

The expectation of being watched leads to the internalization of control. We start to regulate our own talk, dress and feelings based on standards we have been taught to accept as normal.

How did Durkheim define the difference between the “sacred” and the “profane”?

• sacred: consists of thing set apart as extraordinary and inspiring awe/reverence

• Profane: consists of the ordinary elements of everyday life. Religion is the unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things

Why did Marx believe religion hindered social change?

He believed it served as an “ideological mask” thus justified inequality. By promising rewards in the afterlife, it encouraged the working class to accept their suffering on earth rather than fighting for better conditions.

Explain the relationship between “core” and “periphery” nations.

Core nations are economically dominant and use their power to exploit periphery nations for raw materials and labor. This creates a global hierarchy where wealth is concentrated in the core.

What is a “global risk” according to ulrich beck?

It is a man made danger that is produced by modern industrialization and affects the entire planet, crossing social and national boundaries

List the four dimensions of “mcdonaldization”

1. Efficiency (the most mode of production)

2. Calculability (focus on quantity)

3. Predictability (the same product everywhere)

4. Control (use of technology/rules to limit human behavior)

How does the process of Socialization contribute to Social Inequality?

Through Cultural Capital. Families socialize children into a specific Habitus (tastes, speech, manners). The education system then rewards the cultural capital of the upper classes, which "reproduces" existing social hierarchies and turns a social difference into a vertical inequality.

Compare Marx’s view of Capitalism with the World Systems Theory of globalization.

Both are conflict-based. Marx focused on the class struggle within a society (Capitalists vs. Proletariat). World Systems Theory expands this to a global scale, where Core nations act like the "Capitalists" and Periphery nations act like the "Proletariat," being exploited for resources and labor.

How does Foucault’s Panopticon relate to Goffman’s Impression Management?

Both involve the "performance" of the self. In the Panopticon, the expectation of being watched causes individuals to monitor their own behavior (self-surveillance). This is a permanent version of Goffman's Front Stage, where we constantly manage our "impression" to match social norms, even when we aren't sure who is looking.

How does Simmel’s Blasé Attitude relate to the McDonaldization of society?

Both are responses to the "overload" and "rationalization" of modern life. Simmel’s urban dweller becomes indifferent to protect themselves from sensory bombardment; McDonaldization makes social interactions predictable and calculable, reducing the "strange" and "familiar" into a standardized, efficient experience that requires less emotional engagement.