Sociology
The systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior
SITUATION
Sociological Imagination
Understanding of the relationship between our particular situation in life and what is happening at a social level
Everyday Actor
goes through the motions
Social Analyst
questions the motions
Culture Shock
Disorientation upon entering a new environment
Organic Solidarity
The type of social bonds present in modern societies
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Mechanical Solidarity
The type of social bonds present in pre-modern, agrarian societies
SHARED EXPERIENCE
Anomie
Sense of disconnection brought about by the changing conditions of modern life.
Structural Functionalism
Society is a stable, ordered system of interrelated parts, or structures
Symbolic Interactionalism
Meanings of objects can change or be modified through interaction
Conflict Theory
Conflict and tension are basic facts of social life and are based on power struggle
Manifest Function
Obvious, intended functions of a social structure for the social system
Latent Function
Less obvious, perhaps unintended functions of a social structure
Double Consciousness
Perspective based on the projections and ideals imposed by the dominant culture
Rationalization
Applying economic logic to human activity
Culture
The entire way of life of a group of people
Symbolic Culture
Ways of thinking and ways of behaving
SIGNS, GESTURES, LANGUAGE
Material Culture
The objects associated with a cultural group
Ethnocentrism
Using one's own culture as a means or standard by which to evaluate another group or individual
Values
Shared beliefs about what a group considers worthwhile or desirable
Social Norms
The formal and informal rules regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture.
FOLKWAYS, NORMS, TABOOS
Sanction
Positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms
Subculture
A group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle.
Counterculture
A group within society that openly rejects society's values and norms.
Ideal Culture
Norms, values, and patterns of behavior that members of a society believe should be observed in principle
Real Culture
Norms, values, and patterns of behavior that actually exist within society
Cultural Diffusion
The spreading of beliefs and practices from one group to another
Cultural Leveling
Process in which cultures that were once distinct become increasingly similar
Cultural Imperialism
Imposing one culture's belief, practices, and artifacts on another culture through mass media and consumer products
Looking Glass Self
Imagine how we look to others, Imagine other people's judgment of us, Respond to the judgments that we believe others make about us
Socialization
Process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group, to become members of society
Impression Management
The effort to control the impressions one makes on others
Agents of Socialization
Family (language, norms and values), school (provides a bridge to other social groups), peers (people who about the same age and have similar social characteristics), and media (perception of reality and how we communicate)
Resocialization
The process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones
Role Conflict
When an individual occupys two or more roles with contradictory expectations
Role Strain
When contradictory expectations occur within the same role
Primary Group
People most important to sense of self
INTERACTION, COOPERATION, BELONGING
Secondary Group
Larger group, with less intimate relationships
TEMPORARY, GOAL
Social Network
Webs of direct and indirect ties connecting many people to an individual
Social Influence
The influence on an individual's attitudes and behaviors (peer pressure)
Compliance
Conformity to gain rewards and avoid punishment
Identification
Conformity in which there is a desire to establish and maintain a relationship with a person or group
Internalization
Conformity in which an individual adopts the beliefs and actions of a group
Group
A collection of people who share some attribute, identify with one another, and interact
SHARE, IDENTIFY, INTERACT