Chapter 1 PPT NOTES

Sociology

The scientific study of social behavior and human groups.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to view one's society as an outsider would, understanding the relationship between individual experiences and larger social forces.

Social Location

The corners in life that people occupy, including demographics such as job, social class, race, and religion.

Manifest Functions

The intended and recognized consequences of a social process.

Latent Functions

The unintended, hidden consequences of a social process.

Dysfunctions

Elements or processes that disrupt social systems or reduce their stability.

Conflict Perspective

A sociological approach that views social behavior as a product of conflict between competing groups.

Feminist Theory

An approach that examines gender inequality as a central aspect of social life.

Interactionist Perspective

Focuses on the everyday forms of social interaction to explain society as a whole.

Cultural Capital

Non-economic resources that enable social mobility and influence social status.

Bourdieu's Social Capital

The collective benefit of social networks, which includes potential resources based on group membership.

Parameters of Social Interaction

Includes gestures, facial expressions, and postures influencing everyday interactions.

Verstehen

A German term used by Max Weber that means 'to understand' the subjective meanings people attach to their actions.

Macrosociology

The study of large-scale social processes and structures.

Microsociology

The study of small-scale interactions between individuals.

Queer Theory

The analysis of society from the perspective of various sexual identities.

Erving Goffman

A sociologist known for his work on interaction and impression management.

Survival of the Fittest

A phrase coined by Herbert Spencer to describe social evolution and societal change.

W.E.B. Du Bois

The first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard and a key figure in sociology focused on race.

Robert Merton's Deviance Theory

A framework that explains the roles of deviance in society, introducing concepts such as macrosociology and microsociology.

Talcott Parsons

A sociologist known for his views on functionalism and social theory.

Karl Marx

A philosopher and sociologist who emphasized class struggle and the conflicts inherent in capitalism.