Sociology 1101 Unit test 1

Conflict Theory

The interpretation of each part of society as groups that compete for resources and power, such as economic, political, social, etc. This means that strife and friction is inevitable, and it's uncommon for unification to occur.

Debunking

In sociology debunking specifically refers to looking deeper into things that are oftentimes taken for granted or are common sense, such as the origins of why we smile.

Diversity

The varying group experiences that are caused by the larger societal structure, this includes but is not limited to race, wealth, gender, age, and location. This gives an understanding of multiple perspectives, otherwise you completely miss the larger picture, which is the focus of sociology.

Empirical

Something that is fact based, by being researched and recorded, as opposed to being conjecture, hypothesis, or opinion.

Enlightenment

A time period in the 1700-1900s that was characterized by intellectual thought and the belief that human reasoning could solve society's problems via the understanding of natural laws and principles. This is largely considered the beginning of sociology.

Feminist Theory

A focus on society that views it only via women's experiences and viewpoints. maintains a more unique perspectives, such as one of the main ideas that any view on society that doesn't include gender is therefore incomplete or straight up wrong.

Functionalism

The interpretation of each piece of society by how well it maintains stability of the whole, every part serves a "function" for the whole and are often interdependent to work. (different pieces typically refers to institutions)

Issues

Problems in society that are caused by ongoing institutions and patterns in history. (e.g. 50% of marriages end in divorce)

Positivism

A form of thought that places scientific observation at the highest value or form of knowledge, as opposed to political leaders, religious doctrines, etc.

Social Change

The process of the changing of society over time, society is stable, but not fixed, so it is constantly changing.

Social Facts

Social patterns that exist outside people, as opposed to inside like psychological motivations or personal feelings, social facts are things like customs, social values, religions, etc.

Social Institution

Established and organized systems in society that affect people from birth. While they are not individual in their experience, they influence individual behaviors and are a major part in society. Some examples are religions, government, economic, school, etc.

Social Interaction

Any interaction between two or more people which is given meaning, this is a catalyst for changes to overall society because people react and change based off of independent conversations or actions which is often overlooked.

Social Structure

The organized pattern of society built by both social institutions and social relationships.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to view patterns of society for how they influence both larger groups and the individual, or to see how the "context of society" shapes lives.

Sociology

The study of human behavior in society, i.e, the context of actions in society, how larger society functions impact people.

Symbolic Interaction

The focus of society by the view of individual social interactions as the place where society truly is. This view is a micro perspective of society unlike functionalism and conflict theory which would fall into the macro.

Troubles

Problems which emerge in a person's life, which are personal or private, and not an example of an ongoing social phenomenon. (e.g. you and your partner divorce)

Verstehen

A German word meaning "understanding," which in this context means understanding the point of view and meaning behind a person's actions. To truly understand social behavior, you have to look at it from the inside out as well.

Beliefs

Ideas which are strongly shared about society.

Countercultures

Cultures formed as rejections of or reactions towards dominant culture.

Cultural Capital

Cultural resources such as knowledge or "elite" culture that are considered valuable to possess, and thus give advantages to the groups which possess them.

Cultural Diffusion

The spreading of one culture to another.

Cultural Hegemony

The excessive influence of one culture throughout society, this may be done intentionally to get people to do behaviors that benefit elites.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that something can only be understood or judged if it is viewed from the lens of the cultural context it is a part of.

Culture

The complicated mesh of meaning, behavior, beliefs, values, norms, etc that define the way of life for a group and are passed on from one generation to the next.

Culture Lag

The phenomenon when society reacts slowly to changing conditions of society.

Culture Shock

A feeling of alienation/disorientation when one interacts with a culture that is widely different or quickly changing.

Digital Divide

The inequality in people's ability to access electronics and electronic information, this is increasingly a problem with the way that being online is increasingly important.

Dominant Culture

The culture that the most powerful group in society has and thus is most prevalent.

Ethnocentrism

When people only see things from the point of view of their own group, which leads to snap judgements of other cultures as well as division.

Ethnomethodology

A sociological theory that you can figure out social norms and social order by disrupting them.

Folkways

loosely defined/followed general standards of behaviors, such as how you go about greeting someone.

Global culture

The diffusion or globalization of a culture throughout the world.

Laws

The written and legal guidelines of what is right/wrong or allowed/not.

Mass Media

Channels of information that are made available to the masses, such as books, movies, music, etc.

Material Culture

Objects which are created and used in a culture, which have significacne based off the meanings applied to them.

Mores

Strict social norms which hold to moral and ethical behavior which applies to things like killing, stealing, etc.

Nonmaterial Culture

Things that are not objects which have meaning applied to them, such as beliefs, laws, norms, etc.

Norms

Rules for social behavoir that guide each situation and vary from formal and informal.

Popular Culture

Culture by and for the masses, the most widely held culture, impacted by mass marketed media like movies, books, and music.

Reflection Hypothesis

The idea that the mass media reflects popular culture because of the goal to reach the most people.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The idea that language is a guiding aspect of culture because it defines the way that things are categorized. For example, if the term is derogatory, it can cause you to view things more derogatory.

Social Media

Vast social networks formed by electronic access, such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Social Sanctions

The things that enforce social norms by being applied to someone as the effect of breaking them.

Subculture

groups whose values and culture differ to a significant degree from the dominant culture

Symbols

Things or behavior that people give meaning to.

Taboo

Behaviors that bring about more serious sanctions.

Values

Abstract concepts defined by society which are used to determine the worth of different things or ideas.