Sociology
; the study of society and the behavior of individuals which make up that society; the systematic study of social behavior and human groups/society; the scientific study of society and human behavior
sociological imagination
an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society
important element in the sociological imagination
the ability to view our own society as an outsider might, rather than from the perspective of our limited experiences and cultural biases
life experiences
what our thinking and motivation are shaped by
social structure
patterns of social interaction and social relationships; has great influence on who we are as individuals. It influences our behavior, our attitudes, and our life chances; is complex and often contradictory
Interactionism or interactionist perspective
a sociological framework for viewing human beings as living in a world of meaningful objects. These "objects" may include material things, actions, other people, relationships, and even symbols.
conflict perspective
assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups
functionalist perspective
emphasizes the way that parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability; if an aspect of social life does not contribute to a society's stability or survival, it will not be passed on from one generation to the next. Think of society as a livi