Sociology Final

Sociology

The scientific and systematic study of groups and group interactions

Micro-level

Small groups and individual interaction

Macro-level

trends among and between large groups

Functionalism

The way each part of society functions together to contribute to the functioning of the whole

Conflict theory

Views society as an arena of inequality, competition, and conflict

Symbolic interactionalism

Focuses on how individuals create, interpret, and and meaning to the social word through everyday interactions.

Manifest Function

Intended and recognized outcomes of a social structure, institution, and action (intended)

Latent function

Unintended and unrecognized consequences of a social pattern, institution, or action

Independent variables

what you do (cause)

Dependent variable

What you get (outcome)

Participant observation

Researchers join people and participate in a groups routine activities for the purpose to observe them

Ethnography

Focuses on studying people and culture by observing and interacting with them in their natural environment

Cultural universals

Patterns and traits that are globally common to9o all societies

Enthocentlrism

judging another culture based on ones own cultural norms

Cultural imperialism

A powerful country or group spreads it’s culture or replaces local culture

Xenocentrism

Belief that’s another culture is superior than one’s

Sapir Whorf hypothesis

The language you speak affects how you think- how you describe the world

Innovation

Refers to an object or concepts initial appearance in society—its new

Cultural Lag

The time that passes between the introduction of a new item of material culture and social acceptance

Alienation

Feeling or being isolated, disconnected, or separated from something important—like people, community, or oneself

Thomas Theorem

How false beliefs or assumptions lead to consequences (perception can shape reality)

Ascribed

statuses you don’t select (born into)

Achieved status

Statues that you obtain by choice (earn and choose based on actions)

Role set

Different roles a person plays that are connected to one status

Role strain

Difficulty meeting many demands/responsib

Role conflict

Conflict between different roles (student vs worker)

Role performance

The way you act out your role in real situations (acting on stage)

Looking Glass Self

We base our image on what we think other people see/we see ourselves through a mirror of others reaction

Anomie

Breakdown of social norms that leads people to feel lost or without purpose

4 stages of socialization

Preparatory stage

Play stage

Game stage

Generalized other

organic solidarity

type of social unity found in societies with different jobs

Mechanical solidarity

Social unity found in simple societies (people are very similar to each other)

Impression Mangement

How we “perform” to create a desired image

Gender Socialization

Individuals learn how their behaviors and expectations associated with their gender

Resocialization

When a person learns new values, behaviors, and replace old ones

Folkways

Informal and everyday customs that shape routine social interactions

Mores

Rules of behaviors that people believe are morally sig

Anticipatory Socialization

People practice or adapt behavior in advanced

Mead’s ideal of “the self”

The self is how we understand who we are-and learn it from other people. Chapter 3