Sociology Unit 1

Introduction to Sociology

Society

A group of people who share culture and territory.

General in Particular

A way sociologists look at society, understanding broad trends through specific cases.

Strange in Familiar

A perspective sociologists adopt to view everyday occurrences in a new light.

Change

A key focus for sociologists in analyzing societal dynamics and transformations.

Status

Positions in society that carry different levels of advantage or disadvantage.

Inconvenient Facts

Evidence that contradicts commonly accepted beliefs or feelings about the world.

Institutions

Structures in society that provide stability, order, and framework for social life.

Auguste Comte

Developed the Law of 3 Stages, emphasizing scientific observation and positivism.

Law of 3 Stages

A concept by Comte, encompassing Theological, Metaphysical, and Positive stages of societal development.

Emile Durkheim

Sociologist who distinguished between Pre-Modern and Modern societies.

Pre-Modern Society

Traditional communities characterized by homogeneity in jobs and opportunities.

Modern Society

Diverse communities composed of individuals with different jobs and functions.

Ferdinand Tonnies

Introduced the concepts of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft in social theory.

Gemeinschaft

A social relationship based on shared culture, language, and laws.

Gesellschaft

A social relationship characterized by individualism typical of modern or urban societies.

Max Weber

Sociologist who analyzed the contrast between non-rational and rational behaviors.

Social Darwinism

Spencer’s theory explaining societal development through evolutionary principles.

W.E.B. Dubois

Advocated for the equality of races and introduced the concept of double consciousness.

Double Consciousness

A term by Dubois describing the internal conflict experienced by marginalized groups.

Karl Marx

Stressed the significance of class conflict as the driving force in history.

Class Conflict

The struggle between the working class and capitalist class in society.

Jane Addams

Pioneer in applied sociology and social work, focusing on active engagement.

Manifest Functions

The intended and often recognized functions of an institution or process.

Latent Functions

The unintended or unrecognized consequences of an institution or process.

Dysfunctions

Negative consequences that can result from the workings of an institution.

Roles

The various positions individuals play in a society or group.

Subgroups

Different segments within an institution or society.

Values

Core beliefs and principles that guide behavior within a culture.

Norms

Societal expectations regarding what is considered normal behavior.

Structural Functionalism

A sociological perspective that views society as a complex system working towards stability.

Conflict Theory

A paradigm viewing society as a battleground for power and resources among groups.

Symbolic Interactionism

A framework suggesting individuals make decisions based on social interactions and symbols.