Aggregate
large groups of people who actually have no relationship to one another
applied sociology
the use of sociology to solve problems
Basic Sociology
sociological research for the purpose of making discoveries about life in human groups
bourgeoisie
marxs term for capitalists, those who own the means of production
class conflict
marxs term for the struggle between capitalists and workers
conflict theory
society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources
functional analysis
theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts
hypothesis
a statement of how variables are expected to be related to one another
objectivity
value neutrality in research
operational definitions
the way in which a researcher measures a variable
proletariat
marxs term for the exploited class, the mass of workers who do not own the means of production
respondents
people who respond to a survey
research method
one of six procedures that sociologists use to collect data
science
the application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge
social location
the group memberships that people have because of their location in history and society
counterculture
a group whose beliefs and values place its members in opposition to the broader culture
cultural diffusion
the spread of cultural traits from one group to another
cultural relativism
not judging a culture but trying to understand it in its own terms
ethnocentrism
the use of ones own culture as a yardstick for judging the ways of other individuals or societies
folkways
norms not strictly enforced
material culture
the material objects that distinguish a group of people
mores
norms that are strictly enforced because they are essential to core values or the well being of a group
negative sanction
an expression of disapproval for breaking a norm
nonmaterial culture
a groups way of thinking
sanctions
either expressions of approval given to people for upholding norms or expressions
subculture
the values and related behaviors of a group that distinguish its members from a larger culture
symbolic culture
nonmaterial culture
value contradictions
values that contradict one another
agents of socialization
people or groups that affect our self concept
anticipatory socialization
the process of learning in advance a role or status one anticipates having
feral children
children raised by animals
gender socialization
the ways in which society sets children on different paths based on being male or female
looking glass self
refers to a process by which our self develops through internalizing others reactions to us
socialization
process by which people learn the characteristics of their group
transitional adulthood
refers to a period following high school when young adults take on the responsibilities of adulthood
achieved statuses
positions that are earned, accomplished, or involve at least some effort
organic solidarity
people depending on others to fulfill their jobs
mechanical solidarity
unity found from people performing the same task
pastoral society
society based on pasturing of animals
role strain
conflicts that people feel within a role
postindustrial society
society based on info, services and technology
Gesellschaft
a type of society that is dominated by impersonal relationships
Gemeinschaft
a type of society in which life is intimate
reference group
a group we refer to evaluate ourselves
iron law of oligarchy
formal organizations that are dominated by a small group of self perpetuating elite
triad
group of 3
dyad
group of 2
shaman
the healing specialist of a tribe who attempts to control the spirits thought to cause disease or injury