SociologyThe scientific study of social behavior and human groups
Sociological imaginationThe awareness that allows people to comprehend the link between their immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world
ScienceThe body of knowledge obtained using methods based upon systematic observation
Why is sociology considered a science? Because sociologists engage in organized and systematic study of phenomena to enhance understanding
What are the social sciencesSociologyAnthropologyEconomicsHistoryThey study various aspects of human society
Natural scienceChemistryBiologyPhysicsMostly likely to study a rock formation and composition in the Grand Canyon
Are common sense conclusions reliable to sociologists? Nobut natural scientist it is
TheoryAn attempt to explain problems, actions, or behavior in a comprehensive manner
Émile Duekheim’s study of suicideHe related rates suicide rate to the extent to which people were integrated into the group life of society
The discipline of sociology was given its name byThe French theorists Augusta comte’
Harriet MartineauSociologist that translated the works of Aguste Comte into EnglishEmphasized impact the economy, laws, trade, and population could have on contemporary social problems
AnomieRefers to loss of direction that is felt in a society when social control of individual behavior becomes ineffective
VerstehenThe word max Weber used to stress the need for sociologists to take into account people’s emotions, thought, beliefs, understanding, and attitudes
Ideal typeIs a construct or model that serves as a measuring rod against which actual cases can be evaluated
Communist manifestoKarl Marx argued that the working class must overthrow the existing class system of capitalist societies
Double consciousnessDeveloped by DuBoisDescribe the experience of being black in White America- division of an individual’s identity into 2 or more social realities
Charles Horton Cooley focused onintimate face-face groups in his study of society
Social inequalityA condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or powerMost effective sociological theories tend to have both explanatory and predictive power
Scientific methodUsed to describe a systematic, organized series of steps that ensures maximum objectivity and consistency in researching a problem
2nd step of the scientific method isReviewing the literature
1st step of the scientific methodDefine your problem
3rd step of the scientific methodCreate your hypothesis
VariableMeasured trait or characteristic that is subject to change under different conditionsEx. Income, religion, race, gender, and marital status
Independent variableThe variable that is hypothesized to cause or influence another variable
Ex. Researchers found pet owners live longer, healthier lives pet owners would be the independent variable
Control variableA factor held constant to test the relative impact of the independent variable
Casual logicThe relationship btwn a condition or a variable and a particular consequence, with one event leading to the other
Random sampleEach member of the entire population being studied have the same chance of being selected
Participant observationWhen a sociologists actually joins a group for a period to get an accurate sense of how it operates
Hawthorne effectThe term sociologists use to describe the phenomenon whereby subjects deviate from their typical behavior because they realize they are under observation
Research designInfluences both the cost of a research project and the amount of time needed to collect the results of research
Reliable researchA research method that provides consistent results
CultureThe totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material object, and behavior
What if the largest form of a human groupSociety is a fairly large number of people who live in the same territory
Common cultureSociety of people who live in the same area and a relatively independent of people outside it
Cultural universalsGeneral customs and practices that are found in every culture
EthnocentrismTendency to assume ones own culture is superior to all others
Cultural relativismConcept that employs the kind of value neutrality in scientific study no bias(max Webber sees as important)
Sapir and Whorf hypothesisHypothesis concerning the role of languages in shaping cultures
SociobiologyThe systematic study of how biology affects human social behavior
LanguageAbstract system of word meaning and symbols from all aspects of culture
LawForm of governmental social control
Informal normsNorms governing everyday social behavior, the violation of which raises little concern
SanctionsPenalties and rewards for conduct relating to a social norm
SubcultureSegment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of customs, rules, and traditions that differ from the patterns of the larger group
BilingualismThe use of 2 or more languages in particular setting while treating each language as equally legitimateEx workplacesEducation facilities
Culture shockThe feeling of surprise that is experienced when people witness cultural practices different from their own
Dominant ideologySet of cultural beloveds that help maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests
Culture lagPeriod of maladjustment during which the nonmaterial culture is still adapting to new material conditions
SocializationProcess whereby people learn the attitude, values, and actions appropriate to individuals as members of a particular culture
Nature v. NurtureRelative importance of cultural and biological factors in the socialization process
SelfThe distinct identity that sets us apart from others
Looking glass self/theoryDevelopment of one’s self identity based on misperceptions may lead to negative self identity
SymbolsGestures and words that form the basis of human communication
Generalized othersTerm used by George Hebert Mead to refer to a child’s awareness of the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole
Significant othersCharles Horton Cooley’s term for a child aware of attitudes viewpoints and expectation of society as a whole
Impression. ManagementA person learns to alter ones self in order to create distinct appearance to satisfy particular audiences
Rights of passageRituals marking the symbolic transition from one social position to another
Life course theorists suggestSocialization continues through all stages of the life cycle
What impacts an individuals socialization? Education, religion, and the government
Social interactionThe ways in which people respond to one another
StatusRefers to the full range of socially defined positions within a large group of society
Social roleRefers to the set of expectations for people who occupy a given social position or status
Social networkSeries of social relationships that link a person directly to others and therefore indirectly to more people
Conflict perspectiveHolds that social institutions maintain the privileges of the powerful individuals and groups within a society
Industrial societyA society that depends on mechanization to produce its goods and services
Hunting and gathering societyA preindustrial society in which people rely on what ever foods and fibers are readily available in order to live
Formal organizationsSpecial-purpose groups designed and structured in the interests of maximum efficiency
BureaucracyComponent of formal organizations that uses rules and hierarchical ranking to achieve efficiency
Trained incapacityThe tendency of workers in a bureaucracy to become so specialized that they develop blind spots and fail to notice obvious problems
Reference groupsGroups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behavior
Postmodern societyA society whose economic system is engaged in the processing and control of information
Formal organizationsVary in size, degree of efficiency, and specificity of goals
AlienationKarl Marx and Friedrich Engels charged that the capitalist system reduces workers to mere appendages of the machine
In groupAny group or category to which people feel they belong
Examples of Social networkingFriends and family
Mass mediaRefers to print and electronic means of communication that carry messages to widespread audiences
Cultural convergenceTerm used for the flow of content across multiple media and the accompanying migration of media audiences
Functionalist perspective of mediaThe role of media is to provide socialization, enforce social norms through public events, and create social stability and cohesion through collective experience
Promotion of consumptionThe function of media advertising is to support the economy provide info about products and underwrite media costs
GatekeepingThe process by which a relatively small number of people control what eventually reaches the audience
According to Pierre Bourdieu, Social capital isThe collective benefit of social networks, which are built on reciprocal trust
Option leaderPerson who influences the options and decisions of others through day to day personal contact
Screen timeHas changed as new mass media like the internet have been developed
Media interpretation is influenced bySocial characteristics such as occupation, race education, and income
Conferral of statusMethod used: People, organization and public issues appearing regular of the covers of magazines
Social structureRefers to the ways in which society is organized into predictable relationships
