sociology
the study of human behavior in society
sociological imagination
the ability to see the societal patterns that influence individuals and groups.
troubles
privately felt problems that come from events or feelings in one individual's life
Issues
problems that affect large numbers of people and have their origins in the institutional arrangements and history of a society.
social structure
The patterns of social relationships and social institutions that make up society
empirical
Refers to something that is based on careful and systematic observation.
debunking
Looking behind the facades of everyday life
diversity
The variety of group experiences that result from the social structure of society
enlightenment
The period in eighteenth and nineteenth century Europe characterized by faith in the ability of human reason to solve society's problems
positivism
A system of thought that regards scientific observation to be the highest form of knowledge
social facts
Social patterns that are external to individuals
verstehen
The process of understanding social behavior from to point of view of those engaged in it.
organic metaphor
Refers to the similarity early sociologists saw between society and other organic systems
social darwinism
The idea that society evolves to allow the survival of the fittest
functionalism
A theoretical perspective that interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society
social Institutions
An established and organized system of social behavior with a recognized purpose
social change
The alteration of social interaction, social institutions, stratification systems, and elements of culture over time
social interaction
Behavior between two or more people that is given meaning
conflict Theory
A theoretical perspective that emphasizes the role of power and coercion in producing social order.
symbolic interaction theory
A theoretical perspective claiming that people act toward things because of the meaning things have for them.
culture
The complex system of meaning and behavior that defines the way of life for a give group or society
material culture
The objects created in a given society
nonmaterial Culture
The norms, laws, customs, ides and beliefs of a group of people
symbols
Things or behavior to which people give meaning
language
A set of symbols and rules, that when put together in a meaningful way, provides a complex communication system
sapir- whorf hypothesis
A theory that language determines other aspects of culture because language provides the categories through which social reality is defined and perceived
norms
The specific cultural expectations for how to act in a given situation
mores
Strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior
social sanctions
Mechanisms of social control that enforce norms
taboos
Those behaviors that bring the most serious sanctions
laws
The written set of guidelines that define what is right and wrong in society
folkways
The general standards of behavior adhered to by a group
ethnomethodology
A technique for studying human interaction by deliberately disrupting social norms and observing how individuals attempt to restore normalcy
beliefs
Shared ideas held collectively by people within a given culture
values
The abstract standards in a society or group that define ideal principles
dominant culture
The culture of the most powerful group in society
subcultures
The culture of groups whose values and norms of behavior are somewhat different from those of the dominant culture
countercultures
Subculture created as a reaction against the values of the dominant culture
ethnocentrism
The belief that one's in-group is superior to all out-groups
cultural relativism
The idea that something can be understood and judged only in relationship to the cultural context in which it appears
global culture
The diffusion of a single culture throughout the world
mass media
Channels of communication that are available to very wide segments of the population
social media
The term used to refer to the vast networks of social interaction that new media have created
cultural hegemony
The pervasive and excessive influence of one culture throughout society
popular culture
The beliefs, practices, and objects that are part of everyday traditions
reflection hypothesis
The idea that the mass media reflect the values of the general population
cultural capital
(also known as social capital) Cultural resources that are socially designated as being worthy(such as knowledge of elite culture) and that give advantages to groups possessing such capital
symbolic interaction theory
A perspective that analyzes behavior in terms of the meaning people give it.
culture lag
The delay in cultural adjustments to changing social conditions
culture shock
The feeling of disorientation that can come when one encounters a new or rapidly changed cultural situation
feminist theory
analyses of women and men in society intended to improve women's lives
cultural diffusion
the transmission of cultural elements from one society or cultural group to another