SOCI 1510: Exam 1 Review

Sociology

A social science that examines the human or social world

Study of people doing things together

Society

Group of people who shape their lives in patterned ways that distinguish their groups from others

Sociological perspective

Taking a sociological approach or thinking sociologically

Lense- how we view and understand the world

Beginner’s Mind

Approach to the world without knowing in advance: open and receptive to experience

Culture Shock

Understand other cultures without personal perspective

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills: “To understand social life, we must understand the intersection between biography and history”.

A way to step aside ourselves to understand

Micro sociology

Small group interactions

Concentrated on the interactions between individuals and the ways in which those interactions construct the larger patterns, processes, and institutions of society

Macrosociology

Large-scale social structures and how they impact groups and individuals

The micro-macro continuum

Sociology covers a wide range of topics at different levels of analysis

Sociological Theories

Propositions that explain the social world and help make predictions about the future

Sometimes referred to as:
Approach, schools of thoughts , paradigms, perspectives

Auguste Comte

Founder of sociology: the most significant and complex
Sociology as a social discipline
Laid the groundwork & helped build discipline

Herbert Spencer

Coined phrase “survival of the fittest” : social Darwinism

Societies evolve by adapting to their changing environment

Emile Durkheim

3 contributions:
Mechanical & organic solidarity
Sociological explanations for individual actions
-anomie
Religion
-sacred
-profane
Structural functionalist

Structural Functionalism

Society is a unified whole
-family, education, politics, economy, etc.
each structure meets the needs of society
-dysfunction
Manifest vs. latent functions

Karl Marx

Conflict theory: means of production
-central: understanding group dynamics
-change
Capitalism

George Herbert Mead

Symbolic interactionism
-connection between thought and action
-between the individual and society
-meaning derived from social processes

Society is produced and reproduced through interaction
-language
-face-to-face interaction

Culture

The entire way of life of a group of people
It is hard to see own culture
Shapes and defines who we are
Culture is learned

Ethnocentrism

One’s own culture as a standard to evaluate another group or individual
Leads to the view that cultures other than one’s own is abnormal

Cultural Relativism

Process of understanding other cultures on their own terms

Components of culture

Material culture
-objects associated with a cultural group

Symbolic culture
-ways of thinking (beliefs, values, assumptions)
-Ways of behaving (norms, interactions, and communication)
Communication through signs, gestures and language

Language

System of communication usual vocal sounds, gestures and written symbols
Most significant component of culture
Shapes perceptions

Values and Norms

Values: shared beliefs about what is worthwhile or desirable
-guide the creation of norms
Norms: formal and informal rules for acceptable and appropriate behavior within culture

Types of Norms

Folkways: loosely enforced norm, helps ensure smooth social interaction

Mores: carries greater moral significance, closely related to core values of a group

Taboos: deeply engrained norm
-violations evoke strong feelings of disgust, horror or revulsion

Norm Enforcement

Sanctions: positive- rewards. Negative- punishments
Social control: formal and informal mechanisms used to:
-increase conformity to values and norms
-increase social cohesion

Multiculturalism

Values diverse racial, ethnic, national and linguistic backgrounds
Encourages the retention of cultural differences within a society, rather than assimilation

Dominant culture

Values, norms, perspectives of the group within society that is most powerful in terms of wealth, prestige, status and influence

Subcultures

Group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle

Counterculture

Openly rejects and/or actively opposes society’s values and norms

Socialization

Values, beliefs, and norms of social groups:
-society teaches
-individuals learn and internalize

Self

Personal identity
Created and modified through social interaction

Sigmund Freud

Subconscious and unconscious mind

Charles Cooley

Looking-glass self
-the self develops through our:
-perceptions of others evaluations
-appraisals of (interactions with) us
We experience a feeling about ourselves based on our perception of other peoples judgment

Erving Goffman

Meaning is constructed through interaction and the self
Dramaturgy
-compares social interactions to the theater
-individuals take on roles and act them out

The Thomas Theorem

“If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.”
Ambiguous situations allow for many possible meanings
-the way we define each situation, then, becomes it’s reality

Impression Management

Social life as a game
-we work to control the impressions others have of use
-front
-personal front
-region
-backstage
-front stage

Agents of Socialization

Social groups, institutions, and individuals that provide structured situations where socialization occurs
-family
-schools
-peers
-mass media

Resocialization

Process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones as a part of a transition in life

Total Institution

Cuts individuals off from the rest of society so that their lives can be controlled and regulated
-dramatic form of resocialization
-prison, military, mental health unit

Status

A position in a social hierarchy that Carrie’s a particular set of expectations

Ascribed Status

A status we are born with that is unlikely to change

Achieved status

One that we earned through individual effort or that is imposed by others

Master Status

Status that seems to override all others and affects all other statuses that we possess

Roles

Behaviors expected from a particular status

Role Conflict

Roles associated with one status with the role’s associated with a different status

Role Strain

Roses associated with a single status clash

Role Exit

Process of leaving a role that we will no longer occupy

Deviance

Departs from the norm
Generates a negative reaction
Necessary in society

Cultural Relativism vs Ethnocentrism

What is deviant in one culture may not be deviant in another culture

Functionalism

Deviance serves a positive social function in society
-norms and values
-moral boundaries
-social cohesion
-social change

Structural Strain Theory

There are goals in our society that people want to achieve
-but they can not always reach these goals
Created stress/strain because people are aware of these goals but do not have the means to achieve them
-fertility, money, love, fame, etc.

Merton’s Typology

Conformity, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, rebels

Conflict Theory

Means of production
-bourgeoise/owners/capitalists
Proletariat/works

Differential Association

Symbolic interactionism
Learn deviance from deviant peers

Labeling Theory

Deviance is caused by external judgments- labels
-change a persons self concept and the way that others respond

Self-fulfilling prophecy
-a prediction that causes itself to come true

Deviant Identities- Stigma

Physical or social attribute
Devalues identity
Excludes the devalued/stigmatized
3 types: physical, moral, tribal

Physical Stigma

Physical or mental impairments

Moral stigma

Signs of flawed character
Ex: cheating

Tribal Stigma

Membership in a discredited or oppressed group
Ex: gang members

Deviant Identities- Passing

Stigmatized individuals may try to pass as if they are part of the mainstream

In-group Orientation

Stigmatized individuals
-reject judgement and prejudice
-Develop new standards
-value their group identity

Crime

Violation of a norm that has been confined into law
Punishable by:
-fine
-community service
-imprisonment

Cross-Cultural Crime

Punishment in other countries:
-shunning
-banishment
-corporal punishment

Deterrence

An approach to punishment that relies on the threat of harsh penalties to discourage people from committing crimes

Retribution

Emphasizes retaliation or revenge for the crime as the appropriate goal

Incapacitation

Seeks to protect society from criminals by imprisoning or executing them

Rehabilitation

Attempts to reform criminals as part of their penalty

Manifest function

Intended purpose
Ex: a car is intended to get you around

Latent function

Unintended purpose
Ex: a cars unintended purpose is causing pollution