Introduction to Sociology: The Sociological Imagination

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards to help understand key concepts from the sociology lecture.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.

C. Wright Mills

Sociologist who coined the term 'Sociological Imagination' and emphasized the connection between personal troubles and public issues.

Private Troubles vs. Public Issues

Private troubles affect individuals, whereas public issues affect society at large.

Opioid Crisis in BC

A significant increase in fatal overdoses linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Deaths of Despair

Hypothesis linking rising suicide rates, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related deaths to social and economic failures.

Social Facts

Patterned ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exert social control over individuals.

Anomie

A state of normlessness in society, contributing to feelings of disconnection and potentially leading to suicide.

Egoistic Suicide

Suicide resulting from isolation and a commitment to personal beliefs over group values.

Altruistic Suicide

Suicide where an individual is willing to die for the sake of the community.

Anomic Suicide

Suicide that arises from disconnection from societal values due to a lack of regulation.

Sociology

The social science that studies the development, structure, and functioning of human society.

Emile Durkheim

One of the founders of sociology known for his work on social facts and suicide.

Margaret Thatcher's Quote

'There's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families.' - Margaret Thatcher.

Social Variables

Factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, and sexual orientation studied in sociology.

Social Institutions

Established patterns and structures of society, such as education, religion, and family.

Social Integration

The degree to which individuals are connected to the social fabric of society.

Social Regulation

The guiding moral framework of society that influences individual behavior.

Crisis of Capitalism

The idea that systemic economic issues contribute to social problems like addiction and suicide.

Historical Change

Significant transformations in society that influence individual and collective experiences.

Female Homicide Rates

Statistics reflecting the rates of homicide victims, often highlighting disparities among different populations.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)

A social issue highlighting the violence against Indigenous women in Canada.

Public Health Emergency

Official declaration regarding a significant health crisis that requires immediate action.

Sociological Perspective

A viewpoint that focuses on the patterns of society and their impact on individuals.

Agency vs. Structure

The debate over the extent to which individuals can exercise free will versus being constrained by societal structures.

Crisis Patterns

Observable trends in society that indicate underlying social issues contributing to crises.

Death by Overdose

Fatal incidents attributable to drug use, particularly during an epidemic like the opioid crisis.

Research Methods in Sociology

Empirical approaches employed by sociologists to study the social world systematically.

Structural Inequalities

Disparities in wealth, opportunities, and privileges that affect various populations differently.

C. Wright Mills' Political Task

To translate personal troubles into broader public issues, highlighting the connection between individual circumstances and societal dynamics.

Sociological Analysis

Examination of the patterns and relationships within a society to understand social phenomena.

Durkheim's Types of Suicide

Four categories of suicide proposed by Durkheim: egoistic, altruistic, anomic, and fatalistic.

Health as a Social Science

Understanding health issues through the lens of social relationships and contexts rather than purely biomedical terms.

Systemic Causes of Violence

Underlying societal issues that contribute to violence against specific groups, such as Indigenous women.