Sociology

Define sociology

The scientific study of human society and social interactions. Relies on empirical data to analyze society.

Define common sense

Common knowledge that people in a community accumulate over time and rely on to make day by day decisions. Not reliable to make accurate information about society.

What are common sense assumptions?

Often leads to in accurate conclusions, not reliable, often contradictory, often vague.

How does research differ from other understandings of society?

Research proves true data, common sense makes it difficult to comprehend critical thinking.

Define anthropology

Archaeology, cultural history, social linguistics

Define economics

Study of how goods, services and wealth are produced and distributed

Define history

Chronological record of past events

Define political science

Studies power and government

Define psychology

Human mental progresses and individual human behavior

What is sociological imagination?

A way of thinking about society in which you consider the impact of both micro and macro factors, the influence of both individual choices or actions and also the influence of the larger social structure or social forces larger than the individual

How could the sociological imagination explain 2 social phenomena?

- unemployment- the individual has little to no work skills, no transportation, jobs are lost, market declining
- divorce- individuals job consumes time, depression controls emotions, economy or money troubles could cause issues.

Berger contributed:

Sociology challenges students to question all assumptions

Comte contributed:

Sociology should use empirical methods to discover law of society and would improve human condition

Durkheim contributed:

Suicide is influenced by the groups and categories the individual belongs in.

Mil grim contributed:

Discovered people would hurt a stranger if instructed by authority

Mills contributed:

Sociological imagination

Spencer contributed:

Went against bias and supported objectivity in social sciences.

How is knowledge of sociology useful and effective?

It helps to better understand society, loves of people and groups, behavior of social beings. Without it, it is difficult to distinguish truth from what looks true

At the macro sociological level, attempts are made to understand:

The bahvior of individuals

Disciplines that use knowledge to solve actual problems would be considered:

Social sciences

How do society and social interactions affect a persons development of themselves?

The multiple status positions Individuals have contributes to their social identity. The statuses connect them to other people or groups.

What are the 3 paradigms of sociology?

1. Structural function theory
2. Conflict theory
3. Symbolic interaction theory

Define status

A position in a social system

Define role

The expectation associated with a status

What is ascribed status?

Occupied involuntary status

What is achieved status?

Acquired status

What is master status?

Of far greater importance than any other in shaping you

Define prescribed role

What society expects us to do

What is role conflict?

When expectations of a status contradict expectations of another

What is role strain?

When roles attached to a single status contradict each other

What are stages of role taking?

1.imitation
2. Play
3. Game
4. Generalized other

Define imitation

Imitating behavior without taking the role

Define play

Begonning to form role expectations

Define game

Flexibly applies general rules and role expectations

Define generalized other

Inner voice reminding us what role we are to play

Define looking glass self

1. How we appear to others
2. How we think our behavior appears to others
3. How we feel about their judgments
We often respond by comparing ourselves to others

Mead contributed

He believed the self was developed through role taking

Cooley contributed

Believed the self developed in a process that requires reference to other people

Goffman contributed

Believed every interaction begins with presentation of self

Who's theory was the looking glass self?

Cooley

Goffman compared social interaction to

Drama on stage

An individual uses this to tell the audience, or others that the self is not what it appears to be

Disclaimers

Define Goffmans dramaturgical approach

Compared social interaction to drama on stage

What is culture

The way of life of a people/ everything people in a society create,do and believe

What is material culture

Anything people make

What is non material culture

Language,values,norms,customs

Define socialization

The process that culture is learned and passed on

What are the agents of socialization

Family, schools, peer groups, and mass media

Define family

They give kids location, class, race, ethnic group

Define schools

Teach students to test achievements, discipline, cooperation, and obendience

Define peer groups

Important influence due to people attending school longer

Define mass media

They teach to consume goods

Define sex

Status that refers to biological characteristics

Define gender

Culturally constructed, describes expectations society has based on sex

How does race impact socialization and social interaction?

The social definition of race impacts socialization and social interaction, due to false assumptions and generalizations.

What is the impact of aging on individual identity?

How we are defined, what is expected of us and what we expect from others changes as we age.

Define id

Takes child like pleasure in things

Define ego

Rational part of the mind

Define superego

Last part of self to develop, moral part

Define category

A collection of people who share a common characteristic or status

Define aggregate

collection of units that are somewhat Associated with one another and that are combined into a whole

Define group

Involves interaction, a sense of belonging shared interests and a structure

Define primary group

Small, informal groups of people who interact in a personal, direct way

Define secondary group

Members interact in an impersonal manner, have few emotional ties

Define primary social group

Most important in shaping the human personality

Define secondary social group

Goal oriented and help society function effectively

Explain the impact of size upon groups and group members

Dramatic effect on member interactions

What are 2 types of leadership identified by Bales

Instrumental and expressive

Define instrumental leadership

Orgamize the group around its goals

Define expressive leadership

Resolve conflicts and create group harmony

Who wrote no man is an island?

John Donne