Final Exam: Introduction To Sociology Fall 2025 Study Guide

A collection of flashcards highlighting key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on sociology, designed to help students prepare for their final exam.

Monopoly on legitimate use of physical force

Max Weber's definition of the state, which suggests that the state is the only entity that can legitimately exert physical force within a given territory.

Infrastructural power

Michael Mann's concept referring to the state's ability to penetrate daily life without coercion.

Social Contract Theory

A theory that suggests the state forms through a deal of protection-for-submission between individuals and the authority.

Democracy

A form of government where citizens participate directly or through representatives.

Totalitarianism

An extreme form of centralized control characterized by total state dominance over social life.

Collective action

Intentional efforts by a group to create or resist social change.

Relative Deprivation

A concept suggesting that social movements often emerge during periods of improving conditions rather than during the worst times.

Cultural Globalization

The expansion of cultural flows, including music, images, and languages, on a global scale.

Homogenization vs. Heterogenization Debate

A discourse around whether the globalization process leads to uniformity (homogenization) or diversity (heterogenization) in cultures.

Secularization Thesis

The idea that religion would decline as societies modernize and rationalize.

Labeling Theory

A sociological theory stating that being labeled as 'deviant' can create a stigma that reinforces a deviant identity.

Medicalization of Deviance

The process by which deviant behaviors are increasingly framed as medical conditions, often obscuring broader social issues.

Coloniality

The ongoing domination and cultural, economic, and epistemic hierarchies established during colonialism, even after political independence.

Public Sociology

A form of sociology that engages with civil society and public audiences rather than only focusing on academic discussions.