Exam 1 Sociology

WE-ness

The concept of relating to others and the sense of belonging within a group.

Sociology

A social science that studies human societies, their interactions, and the processes that preserve and change them.

Social structures

The organized patterns of relationships and social arrangements that shape society.

Sociological perspective

The ability to see general social patterns in the behavior of particular individuals.

Gentrification

The process of urban renewal that often leads to increased property values and displacement of lower-income residents.

Sociological imagination

The ability to connect personal experiences with larger social and historical forces.

Socialization

The lifelong process through which individuals develop human potential and learn cultural norms.

Cultural diversity

The variety of cultural expressions and practices that exist within a society.

Symbolic interactionism

A sociological perspective that focuses on the meanings individuals derive from social interactions.

Social control

The mechanisms, strategies, and institutions that regulate individual behavior in society.

Ideal culture

The values and norms that a society aspires to uphold.

Real culture

The actual behavior and practices of individuals within a society.

Subcultures

Groups within a larger culture that have distinct values, norms, and practices.

Countercultures

Groups whose cultural patterns strongly oppose those of the mainstream society.

Total institutions

Settings where individuals are isolated from society and controlled by staff, such as prisons or mental institutions.

Agents of socialization

Individuals or groups that influence personal attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Primary groups

Small, close-knit groups such as family and friends that have a significant impact on socialization.

Public sociology

A subfield that emphasizes engaging with non-academic audiences to expand the reach of sociological insights.

Mechanical solidarity

Social cohesion based on shared beliefs and similarities in a preindustrial society.

Organic solidarity

Social cohesion based on interdependence and specialization in a complex, industrial society.

Ethnomethodology

The study of the methods individuals use in daily life to construct their social reality.

Social facts

Collective sentiments, customs, and institutions that shape individual behavior.

Cultural transmission

The process by which cultural values and norms are passed from one generation to the next.

Norms

Rules and expectations that guide the behavior of members within a society.

Social marginality

The state of being excluded from mainstream social, economic, or political life.

Social problems

Issues that negatively impact a significant number of people within a society.

Social inequality

The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Role taking

The process of understanding another person's perspective by putting oneself in their shoes.

Looking-glass self

The concept that individuals form their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them.

Cultural relativism

The practice of understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment.