Sociology Midterm Exam Guide:

Definition of sociology: Sociology is the study of society, social institutions, and social relationships, examining how human behavior is shaped by these factors.

Key social theorist:

• August Comte ( father of sociology)

• Emile Durkheim ( believed in structural functionalism)

• Max Weber ( believed in symbolic interactionalism)

• Karl Marx (believed in conflict theory)

• WEB DuBois (believed in double consciousness/ the veil/ conflict theory)

  • The veil: symbolizes social separation & alienation experienced by AA b/c of racism

  • Double Consciousness: Describes the internal conflict & psychological effects experienced by AA (ie.code-switching)

Unacreditted theorist:

• Ida B Wells (believed in social thought, talked about how slave masters owned the negro body & soul)

Paradigms (the perspectives that dominate social discussions):

• Structural functionalism: How each part of society functions together as a whole

• Conflict theory: The way inequalities contribute to social, political & power differences / the way they perpetuate power.

• Symbolic interactionism: The way one-on-one interactions and communications behave.

Definitions:

• Society: A group of people who live in a defined geographic area.

• Law: Set rules that are enforced to keep order.

• Social facts: The rules, values, and norms that shape how

  people behave in society, existing outside individuals but

  influencing their actions.

• Norms: The visible & invisible rule of conduct through which societies are structured.

• Values: Culture standard for discerning what is good/just in society. (ie. individualism, democracy)

Quantitative/ Qualitative data:

• Quantitative: numbers and stats gathered thru surveys or experiments

• Qualitative: Words, descriptions gathered thru interviews.

Culture: Refers to shared beliefs, values (ideals), language, norms and practices of a social group, a shared way of living.

• Culture is learned & passed down thru communication.

Non-Material Culture: The ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society. (ie. standards of beauty or social roles)

Material Culture: The objects or belongings of a group of people. Physical things that people create and attach meaning to (i.e. Clothing, food)

Ethnocentrism: The practice of evaluating another culture according to the standards of one’s own culture. (i.e., ethnocentrists believe their culture is the norm while another is “savage” or “confusing”)

Xenocentrism: The belief that another culture is superior to one's own (i.e., idealizes one culture.)

Cultural Relativism: The practice of assessing a culture by its own standards ( concept based on anthropologist Franz Boas) (ex. Arranged marriages being the norm in india but taboo in the US)

Culture Shock: An experience of personal disorientation when confronted with unfamiliar ways of living

Socialization: is the process through which people are taught to be proficient members of society. It describes the ways that people come to understand societal norms and expectations, accept society’s beliefs, and be aware of societal values.

Conformity: The extent to which an individual complies with group norms or expectations.

Role conflict: A situation when one or more of an individual’s roles clash.

Role strain: Stress that occurs when too much is required of a single role.

Self-fulfilling prophecy: an idea that becomes true when acted upon. (defined by sociologist Robert K. Merton)

Achieved status: the status a person chooses, such as a level of education or income. (ie. Choosing to be a nurse, choosing a specific school)

Ascribed status: the status outside of an individual’s control, such as sex or race.

More (Moray): Norms that embody the moral views & principles of a group often have religious underpinnings punishable by law, not always, tho. (ie. no plagiarizing)

Taboo: Behaviors, customs, ideas that is prohibited or restricted in society. Often invokes feelings of disgust and anger. (i.e., incest, pedophilia)