SOC_100_Exam_1_Study_Guide_S25

SOC 100 LEC Exam 1 Study Guide

General Information

• Course: SOC 100 LEC

• Semester: Spring 2025

• Exam Coverage:

  • Introduction to Sociology

  • Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination and key figures

  • Chapter 2: Culture, including various cultural constructs and their impacts

  • Chapter 3: Intersectionality and its relevance in social identities

  • Class conversations and lectures that enhance understanding

  • Film clips that illustrate key sociological concepts

  • Focus on definitions, theoretical frameworks, and real-world examples

Key Terms and Concepts

Introduction/Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination

• Sociological Imagination: The ability to understand the relationship between personal experiences and broader social forces, allowing for a deeper comprehension of social issues.

• Sociological Sympathy: The practice of empathetically understanding individuals by considering their social and cultural backgrounds, fostering insights into their behaviors and responses.

• Harriet Martineau: An early sociologist recognized for her work in social justice and for making Comte's ideas accessible by translating his work into English, emphasizing the importance of observing social practices.

• W.E.B. Du Bois: A seminal figure in sociology, his research highlighted the impact of race on society and introduced the concept of 'double consciousness,' which articulates the internal conflict experienced by subordinated groups.

• Emile Durkheim: A founding figure in sociology who established the importance of empirical research and developed concepts related to social facts and collective behavior, demonstrating how societies maintain coherence and stability.

• Social Facts: Established societal norms, values, and structures that exist independently of individual choices, capable of exerting a coercive influence on behavior.

• In-Depth Interviews: A qualitative research method designed to elicit detailed accounts of individuals' experiences, enabling a richer understanding of their perspectives.

• Experimental Research in a Laboratory: A methodological approach utilizing controlled environments to manipulate variables and observe the effects, essential for hypothesis testing in sociology.

• Self-narrative: Personal accounts that provide insight into an individual's identity, revealing how experiences shape perceptions of the self.

• The Looking-Glass Self (Cooley): A theory suggesting that self-identity is shaped by the perceptions of others, emphasizing the social nature of self-concept formation.

• Self-concept: The composite view of oneself that encompasses abilities, characteristics, and individual roles within society.

• Self-awareness: The process of recognizing oneself as distinct from others, fostering more informed interactions and personal reflections.

• I/Me (Mead): George Herbert Mead’s framework that explains the dynamic nature of self through the interplay of individual impulses (I) and societal expectations (Me), essential for understanding social behavior.

• Social Learning: Acquiring new behaviors and skills through observation and imitation, foundational in understanding cultural transmission.

• Principles of Ethical Research: Standards guiding researchers to conduct their studies ethically, prioritizing participants’ welfare and ensuring informed consent.

• David MacLean: Notable figure in qualitative research ethics; his contributions emphasize the necessity for ethical considerations in sociological studies.

• Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research:

  • Quantitative: Methodology centered on statistical analysis and numerical data, allowing for broad generalizations across populations.

  • Qualitative: Focuses on exploring meanings, motivations, and subjective experiences through non-numerical data collection.

• The Theory of the Mind: The understanding that individuals possess diverse thoughts and beliefs, which is crucial for navigating interpersonal relationships and social expectations.

Chapter 2: Culture

• Social Construction: The process by which societal norms and values shape perceptions of reality, influencing behavior and institutional structures.

• Social Networks: Complex webs of interpersonal relationships impacting behavior, attitudes, and societal participation, crucial in understanding social capital.

• Culture-as-Value: A framework prioritizing cultural beliefs and ideals over physical expressions, facilitating an understanding of the abstract nature of cultural norms.

• Socialization: The lifelong process by which individuals assimilate societal norms and values, influencing behavior and establishing social order.

• Culture-as-Rationale: Recognizes culture as a system that provides justification for social actions, influencing decision-making and social interactions.

• Social Network Analysis: A methodological approach analyzing social relationships and structures through quantitative and qualitative measures for a comprehensive understanding of connectivity in society.

• Ethnocentrism: The tendency to judge other cultures through one’s own cultural lens, often leading to misunderstanding and prejudice.

• Cultural Relativism: Advocates for viewing cultural practices within their own context without imposing external judgments, essential for fostering cross-cultural understanding.

• Embodied Culture: Manifestations of culture expressed in practices, behaviors, and skills that reflect deeply ingrained cultural meanings.

• Types of Social Constructs: Various frameworks, such as roles and stereotypes, that shape collective understanding and social interactions.

• Cultured Capacities: Skills and competencies acquired through cultural engagement, facilitating adaptability and social integration.

• Cultural Competence: The ability to effectively interact and engage with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, vital for social cohesion and effective communication.

Chapter 3: Intersectionality

• Intersectionality: An analytical framework for understanding how overlapping social identities—such as race, gender, and class—shape unique experiences and systemic inequalities.

• Influence of Intersecting Identities: How intersecting personal characteristics can compound advantages or disadvantages in various social contexts, highlighting the complexity of social stratification.

• Use of Blood to Define Groups: Historical perspectives on how lineage and ancestry have been used to categorize individuals, often leading to exclusionary practices and systemic discrimination.

• Kimberle Crenshaw: A scholar who emphasized the importance of considering multiple social identities in evaluating inequalities, coining the term intersectionality to illustrate the interconnectedness of social categorizations.

• Controlling Images: Stereotypes that perpetuate societal norms and prejudices, constraining the identities and agency of marginalized groups.

• Patricia Hill Collins: A prominent sociologist known for her work on black feminist thought, her theories underscore the importance of intersectionality in understanding social dynamics.

• Doing Identity: The active construction and negotiation of personal and social identities, emphasizing the fluid nature of identity formation.

• Social Identities: The collective identities individuals derive from their associations with various social groups, shaping personal and group dynamics.

• Status: Refers to an individual's position within a social structure, influencing access to resources and social privileges.

• Elites: Groups or individuals possessing significant wealth, authority, or influence, which plays a crucial role in maintaining social hierarchies.

• Status Prejudice: Discriminatory attitudes based on perceived social status, often manifesting in social interactions and institutional practices.

• Content Analysis: A research technique for systematically evaluating communication content, allowing for insights into social norms and values expressed through various media.

• Computational Sociology: The application of computational methods to analyze social phenomena, enabling researchers to manage large data sets and uncover patterns.

• Status Beliefs: Societal assumptions about how individuals in different social positions should behave, shaping interactions and perpetuating stereotypes.

SOC 100 LEC Exam 1 Study Guide Revision

Key Terms and Concepts

• Retreatism: A form of deviance where individuals reject both cultural goals and the means to achieve them, exemplified by squatting in an abandoned house while working as a DoorDash driver.

• Faber on Social Institutions: Faber expressed concerns regarding ritualism, routine, and rationalism within social institutions, suggesting these can hinder genuine engagement and social change.

• Ida Wells Barnett: Mentioned in class discussions, she is recognized for her advocacy against racial violence and her efforts in social justice.

• Tic Tac Toe Experiment: Referenced as part of experimental research to explore social interactions and the implications of game theory in a sociological context.

• Criminalization vs. Medicalization of Deviance: Examines how deviant behaviors are categorized, with examples including societal reactions to Flight 571, where survivors resorted to cannibalism, illustrating the intersection of morality and survival within a Catholic framework (Eucharist).

• Neutralization Theory (Gresham Sykes and David Matza): Explains how individuals justify deviant behavior. Five types of neutralization include:

  • Denial of Responsibility

  • Denial of Injury

  • Condemnation of the Condemners

  • Denial of Victim

  • Appeal to Higher Loyalties

• Durkheim's View on Suicide: Durkheim posited that suicide rates are influenced by levels of social integration and connectedness, suggesting that isolation leads to higher rates of suicide.

• Alienation vs. Antinomy:

  • Alienation: Refers to a state where individuals feel disconnected from their work or the societal systems, often leading to dissatisfaction (e.g., work-based alienation).

  • Antinomy: Refers to a broader sense of social isolation, wherein individuals feel estranged from societal norms and values.

Exam Coverage:

• Focus on definitions, theoretical frameworks, and real-world examples related to these key concepts and terms from the lectures and readings.