sociology - intro to sociology

sociology

the systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society

sociologist

seeks to describe and explain the relationship between the individual and society in different settings and throughout history

sociological imagination

developed by c. wright mills. describes a sociologist’s ability to see beyond the individual and imagine the social forces at work in our world. private vs. public issues

nacirema

american backwards and talking about us as a society

development of sociology

social life and human interaction have been of interest to philosophers, religious intellectuals, and political leaders throughout history. however, a distinct academic discipline did not develop until the early 1800s: enlightenment and industrial revolution

enlightenment

authority, common sense, rationalism, word of mouth, and religious tradition → science (emphasis on knowledge that is empirical or verifiable through hypothesis-testing)

industrial revolution

rapid social and political changes during the transition from pre-modern to modern society

feudalism

___, hierarchal society → revolution → democracy, capitalism, individualism

manufacturing in the home

large-scale production in factories

rural/local jobs

jobs in urban areas

small, close-knit communities

crowded cities with many different kinds of people

anomie

normalness; nothing is normal anymore

auguste comte

father of sociology; coined the term sociology

university of chicago

in 1892, where was the first sociology department built?

paradigm

theoretical framework through which scientists study the world

functionalism, conflict, symbolic interactionism

what are the three kinds of sociological paradigms?

functionalism

emphasize the significance of social cohesion, stability, and order. created by Auguste Comte and Emile Durkheim

conflict

these theorists emphasize the role that power and control play in how social order is established and maintained. created by Karl Marx

oppressors

also known as bourgeoisie; upper/middle class

oppressed

also known as proletariat; working/lower class

symbolic interactionism

study the ways in which individuals construct society. created by W.I. Thomas and George Herbert Mead

max weber

his works fits into all three major sociological paradigms

verstehen

this means empathy