sociology 101: American Problems

Sociology

The scientific study of structure, change and interaction.

Interaction

behaviors within and

between groups, interpretations,

communication, meanings

Structure

groups, categories,

culture, organizations, societies,

laws, roles, identities, hierarchies

Change

movements, history,

family transitions, birth and death

Sociologists

Question, observe, analyze, report and described, explain and predict patterns

Society

A group of people who live together and share a culture

Culture encompasses

norms, values and symbols

Social Structure

the constellation of social

institutions, economic systems, political

arrangements, and cultural values in which

individuals find themselves situated

Social Imagination encompasses

Biography, History and Society

Repressive Justice

Reaffirm collective conscience

Restitute Justice

Reintegrate into interdependent society

Objectivism of sociology

Problem exists in the world → Condition is troubling → Analyze harmful condition → Identify cause → Propose solution

Objective study

Using measurable facts, data, and scientific methods to study negative societal conditions without letting personal feelings or opinions interfere

Constructivism study

A sociological approach that focuses on how society defines, reacts to and actively creates the definitions of a problem rather than just looking at the problem’s objective conditions.

Thomas theorem

Belief that people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences

Grounds

The foundational facts, description and evidence used to argue that a social condition is troubling or constitutes a social problem.

Recipe of grounds

Typifying example, name it, statistic

Warrants

The link or assumption that connects collected data to a final claim or conclusion

Innumeracy

an inability to deal

comfortably with the fundamental notions of

number and chance

Diagnostic Creep

The gradual expansion of medical or psychological disease definitions so that more people and milder everyday conditions are labeled as sick or disordered

Describe the relationship between high school educated whites and suicide?

They have a direct correlation, lower correlation in life expectancy and high rates of suicide. Slower decline in rural areas vs urban areas.

Are most drug deaths intentional?

No

Supply problem

The belief the suppliers or supply chain is at fault

Strain theory

A concept where society causes people to break the law and act deviantly due to mismatched goals between cultural goals and approved legal means to accomplish the goals.

Social disorganization theory

A theory that links deviance due to weakened social institutions and changes within the community.

Social Control Theory

A theory which states that weak bonds with conventional institutions predict deviance

4 elements of social bonds are

Attachment to prosocial people

Commitment to valuing society’s goals and activities

Involvement in prosocial activities

Belief in community values and norms

Diminished capacity to live is what sociological theory?

Strain theory

Fewer avenues to pursue interests is what sociological theory?

Reduced social bonds

Less encouragement to participate in society is what sociological theory?

Social disoganization

Too little integration leads to what type of suicide argued by Durkheim?

Egoistic (feeling excluded from a group)

Too much integration leads to what type of suicide argued by Durkheim?

Altruistic (heroic/for the group)

Too little regulation leads to what type of suicide argued by Durkheim?

Anomic (Normlessness/valuelessness)

Too much regulation leads to what type of suicide argued by Durkheim?

Fatalistic (Escape oppression)

What is social inequality?

Disproportionate distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges based on group status and upheld by power

Inequity

is an inequality that is unfair

What is class?

Hierarchy of shared economic statuses, values and lifestyles that is relatively open yet stable