Untitled Flashcards Set

Sociology

The study of how individuals both shape and are shaped by society.

August Comte

French philosopher who gave sociology its name.

C Wright Mills

Developed sociological imagination to describe how individual lives relate to social forces.

W.E.B. DuBois

One of the key founders of sociology who fought against racism.

Albion Small

Founder of the first accredited department of sociology in the United States.

Generalizations

Statements based on scientific research that describe rather than judge.

Stereotypes

Negative, predetermined ideas about a group that justify discriminatory treatment.

Conflict theory

Examines how social inequality and conflict arise between groups.

Symbolic interactionism

Explains society by analyzing how people's social standing affects their everyday interactions.

Structural functionalism

Explains how society is made up of structures that perform specific functions.

Macro

Looking at large-scale structures that shape society.

Micro

Looking at small-scale interactions that shape society.

Manifest functions

Obvious, intended purposes of social structures.

Latent functions

Secondary, unintended or unrecognized purposes of social structures.

Dysfunctions

Unintended consequences of social processes.

Bourgeoisie

Owners of the capital who purchase and exploit labor power.

Proletariat

Workers who do not own property.

False consciousness

When the proletariat do not understand their true situation.

Looking glass self

Cooley's concept that describes how individuals develop self-perceptions based on how others see them.

Dramaturgy

Goffman's theory that analyzes social interaction as a theatrical performance.

Research

A systematic process of data collection for the purpose of gaining knowledge.

Qualitative

Research that relies on words and images.

Quantitative

Research that relies on numbers.

Culture

Distinguishing characteristics of a society, including norms, values, beliefs, and symbols.

Norms

Expectations for behavior learned through observation and interaction.

Status

The relative position of an individual in society.

Roles

Expectations associated with a particular status.

Socialization

The process of learning norms and expectations.

Agents of socialization

Social factors that influence personal attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, such as family and school.

Total institution

A closed social system that controls all aspects of a person's life.

Gender socialization

The process by which individuals learn gender identity and roles.

Role strain

Stress caused by conflicting demands of a single status.

Role conflict

Incompatible demands placed on a person relating to different roles.

Deviance

Behaviors that differ from societal expectations.

Stigma

Social construct referring to negative attitudes and behaviors directed at individuals with certain characteristics.

Techniques of neutralization

Strategies used to rationalize deviant behavior, including denial of responsibility and appeal to higher loyalties.