ideology
a set of beliefs, attitudes, and opinions that may or may not be based on scientific evidence.
critical thinking
the attempt to step outside our ideologies and make a reflective, logic-based judgement
individualism
explains the world only in terms of what goes on inside individuals. sees social problems as resulting from flaws in individual character.
Durkheim
the study of the group is more powerful in understanding human behavior than either biology or psychology.
path of least resistance
what you're supposed to do if you want to feel that you belong.
Culture
the way we "construct" reality within a social system, using ideas and symbols (especially language) to assign meaning. it is the way we habitually behave in relationship to the meaning we have constructed.
beliefs
the first purpose of any culture is to provide a way to know what to consider true or false...what exists, and what doesn't.
Values
Beliefs that designate what is good/bad, better/worse. guide choices. guide how we treat others.
Norms
values that are reinforced with social consequences. society creates "paths of least resistance. norms can be seen as functional. can be a criterion for "membership"/identity. can be a basis for privilege.
Functionalism/Conflict (Norms)
they help society work/succeed.
they create and preserve inequalities.
Attitudes
Reactions. often with emotional content -- based on beliefs, values, norms.
material culture
the physical expression of our beliefs, values, norms, and attitudes.
status
the position one holds in a given social system. can be permanent or temporary.
role
the collection of beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms that apply to a position holder. Roles create paths of least resistance for the position holder
role structure
the relationships that link statuses - or entire systems to one another - are the main part of what we think of as social structure
demography
the statistical study of human populations, especially patterns of birth, death, migration
human ecology
the study of: a) the relationships that exist among individuals, social systems, and the physical environment, and b) the consequences of those relationships. physical arrangements of social systems.
generalized other
known only by their status/role
significant other
known by their individual behavior
behavior
everything we do
action
intended gestures based on social meanings
C. Wright Mills
sociology studies: the intersection of biography and history
ethnocentrism
licing inside a box we can't see out of, assuming other cultures either don't exist, are just like ours, or not worth the bother of getting to know
Max Weber
ideal types"
group whose members share characteristics and can be studied as a single unit.
Pierre Bourdieu
believed sociology discovers social principles.