SOCI 1310 EXAM 1 TXST

sociological imagination

the ability to see the impact of social forces on individuals, especially on their private lives. Social forces in society shape values, attitudes, and behaviors.

Sociology

the science that attempts to explain the behavior of humans by reference to the consequences of society, social groups, and the social forces in society for human behavior

fact

true statement

theory

interrelated set of hypotheses

hypothesis

statement about the predicted relationship between two or more variables

what are instincts?

1. present at birth

2. innate and unlearned

3. common to all members of a species

4. expressed in complex behaviors

experiment to separate nature from nurture

1. separate a neonate from human contact

2. provide sufficient food and water

3. watch to see what behaviors will emerge

social group

a collective of individuals who interact and form relationships, society is made up of social groups

society

a group of interacting individuals and their shared culture: singular "it" not "they"

functional prerequisites

common conditions and problems common to all societies

pattern maintenance

the problem of creating, transmitting, and maintaining the patterns-- norms, values, symbols, and beliefs

socialization

how patterns are transmitted

norms

rules for behavior "you shouldn't steal"

values

beliefs about the worth of something "stealing is wrong"

FIRST MAJOR HYPOTHESIS

commitment to norms and values is the primary source of order in all societies

institutions important for socialization

family, religion, education

tension management

the problem of reducing or controlling disorder

social control

how deviant behavior is curbed

how is social control implemented

rewards, punishment, education, counseling, or by ignoring behavior

integration

prereq of creating a sense of solidarity and morale among people in a society

adaptation

prereq of adjusting (fitting) a society to its physical enviroment

goal attainment

prereq of attaining societal or collective goals through cooperative effort

hedonism

underlying principle of all human behavior, seek pleasure avoid pain

physical dependence

neonates physically depend on older humans, leads to emotional dependence too

plasticity

means capable of being shaped or molded

culture

consists of beliefs, artifacts, and symbols created by humans

SECOND MAJOR HYPOTHESIS

ALL SOCIAL PHENOMENA HAVE OPPOSITE FUNCTIONS(CONSEQUENCES) AT THE SAME TIME

institution

system of beliefs, practices, and status-roles that helps to satisfy one or more of the functional prerequisites

the family

two or more people related by blood, marriage, or adoption

how does the family regulate sexuality

1. norms against incest are taught

2. norms prescribing appropriate marital partners are taught (exogamy/endogomy)

alienation

when people are separated from their tools and the material they need to produce

exploitation

the difference between the value of your labor and the cost of reproducing it-- NIKE

political repression

when the ruling-class pass laws that serve their interests and control the distribution of information

ideology of class

if the ruling class controls the institutions that distribute information(schools, churches, newspapers, etc) then they can promote the view that their dominance is in the best interest of everyone

second shift

women that spend all day at work come home to start their "second shift" of cleaning the house with limited help from men-- developed by Hochschild

strategies of resistance

1. waiting it out

2. playing dumb

3. needs reduction

3. substitute offerings

what do men gain by avoiding house work

reclaiming masculinity