Sociology Lecture: Exam Preparation Notes

A series of vocabulary flashcards designed to help students review key concepts and terminology from their sociology lecture notes.

Ideal type

A conceptual framework or model that represents the essential characteristics of a social phenomenon, used to compare and analyze real-world cases.

Social fact

A force outside the individual that shapes behavior, developed by Emile Durkheim, which includes laws, norms, and societal standards.

New Woman

A concept that challenged the idea of women's domestic confinement and economic dependence on men, emphasizing education, paid employment, and public participation.

Irrationality of rationality

A critique concerning how rational systems can lead to negatively irrational outcomes, often causing disenchantment and a loss of individual freedom in modern societies.

Mechanical solidarity

A form of social cohesion that arises when individuals in a society share similar values and beliefs, typically found in simpler, traditional societies.

Organic solidarity

A form of social cohesion based on the interdependence of individuals in more complex, modern societies, where people perform specialized roles.

Dramaturgical model

A theory by Erving Goffman which suggests that social interactions are like performances in a play, where individuals have frontstage and backstage selves.

Impression management

The process through which individuals attempt to control the perceptions others have of them, often through the manipulation of appearance and behavior.

Feminist theory

A sociological perspective that focuses on gender inequality and advocates for women's rights and social reforms based on women's lived experiences.

Economic dependence

A condition where individuals, particularly women, rely on others (typically men) for financial support, often limiting their autonomy and social status.