SOCI 1510: Exam 1 Review

A social science that examines the human or social world

Study of people doing things together

Group of people who shape their lives in patterned ways that distinguish their groups from others

Taking a sociological approach or thinking sociologically

Lense- how we view and understand the world

Approach to the world without knowing in advance: open and receptive to experience

Understand other cultures without personal perspective

C. Wright Mills: “To understand social life, we must understand the intersection between biography and history”.

A way to step aside ourselves to understand

Small group interactions

Concentrated on the interactions between individuals and the ways in which those interactions construct the larger patterns, processes, and institutions of society

Large-scale social structures and how they impact groups and individuals

Sociology covers a wide range of topics at different levels of analysis

Propositions that explain the social world and help make predictions about the future

Sometimes referred to as: Approach, schools of thoughts , paradigms, perspectives

Founder of sociology: the most significant and complex Sociology as a social discipline Laid the groundwork & helped build discipline

Coined phrase “survival of the fittest” : social Darwinism

Societies evolve by adapting to their changing environment

3 contributions: Mechanical & organic solidarity Sociological explanations for individual actions -anomie Religion -sacred -profane Structural functionalist

Society is a unified whole -family, education, politics, economy, etc. each structure meets the needs of society -dysfunction Manifest vs. latent functions

Conflict theory: means of production -central: understanding group dynamics -change Capitalism

Symbolic interactionism -connection between thought and action -between the individual and society -meaning derived from social processes

Society is produced and reproduced through interaction -language -face-to-face interaction

The entire way of life of a group of people It is hard to see own culture Shapes and defines who we are Culture is learned

One’s own culture as a standard to evaluate another group or individual Leads to the view that cultures other than one’s own is abnormal

Process of understanding other cultures on their own terms

Material culture -objects associated with a cultural group

Symbolic culture -ways of thinking (beliefs, values, assumptions) -Ways of behaving (norms, interactions, and communication) Communication through signs, gestures and language

System of communication usual vocal sounds, gestures and written symbols Most significant component of culture Shapes perceptions

Values: shared beliefs about what is worthwhile or desirable -guide the creation of norms Norms: formal and informal rules for acceptable and appropriate behavior within culture

Folkways: loosely enforced norm, helps ensure smooth social interaction

Mores: carries greater moral significance, closely related to core values of a group

Taboos: deeply engrained norm -violations evoke strong feelings of disgust, horror or revulsion

Sanctions: positive- rewards. Negative- punishments Social control: formal and informal mechanisms used to: -increase conformity to values and norms -increase social cohesion

Values diverse racial, ethnic, national and linguistic backgrounds Encourages the retention of cultural differences within a society, rather than assimilation

Values, norms, perspectives of the group within society that is most powerful in terms of wealth, prestige, status and influence

Group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle

Openly rejects and/or actively opposes society’s values and norms

Values, beliefs, and norms of social groups: -society teaches -individuals learn and internalize

Personal identity Created and modified through social interaction

Subconscious and unconscious mind

Looking-glass self -the self develops through our: -perceptions of others evaluations -appraisals of (interactions with) us We experience a feeling about ourselves based on our perception of other peoples judgment

Meaning is constructed through interaction and the self Dramaturgy -compares social interactions to the theater -individuals take on roles and act them out

“If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.” Ambiguous situations allow for many possible meanings -the way we define each situation, then, becomes it’s reality

Social life as a game -we work to control the impressions others have of use-front -personal front -region -backstage -front stage

Social groups, institutions, and individuals that provide structured situations where socialization occurs -family -schools -peers -mass media

Process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones as a part of a transition in life

Cuts individuals off from the rest of society so that their lives can be controlled and regulated -dramatic form of resocialization -prison, military, mental health unit

A position in a social hierarchy that Carrie’s a particular set of expectations

A status we are born with that is unlikely to change

One that we earned through individual effort or that is imposed by others

Status that seems to override all others and affects all other statuses that we possess

Behaviors expected from a particular status

Roles associated with one status with the role’s associated with a different status

Roses associated with a single status clash

Process of leaving a role that we will no longer occupy

Departs from the norm Generates a negative reaction Necessary in society

What is deviant in one culture may not be deviant in another culture

Deviance serves a positive social function in society -norms and values -moral boundaries -social cohesion -social change

There are goals in our society that people want to achieve -but they can not always reach these goals Created stress/strain because people are aware of these goals but do not have the means to achieve them -fertility, money, love, fame, etc.

Conformity, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, rebels

Means of production -bourgeoise/owners/capitalists Proletariat/works

Symbolic interactionism Learn deviance from deviant peers

Deviance is caused by external judgments- labels -change a persons self concept and the way that others respond

Self-fulfilling prophecy -a prediction that causes itself to come true

Physical or social attribute Devalues identity Excludes the devalued/stigmatized 3 types: physical, moral, tribal

Physical or mental impairments

Signs of flawed character Ex: cheating

Membership in a discredited or oppressed group Ex: gang members

Stigmatized individuals may try to pass as if they are part of the mainstream

Stigmatized individuals -reject judgement and prejudice -Develop new standards -value their group identity

Violation of a norm that has been confined into law Punishable by: -fine -community service -imprisonment

Punishment in other countries: -shunning -banishment -corporal punishment

An approach to punishment that relies on the threat of harsh penalties to discourage people from committing crimes

Emphasizes retaliation or revenge for the crime as the appropriate goal

Seeks to protect society from criminals by imprisoning or executing them

Attempts to reform criminals as part of their penalty

Intended purpose Ex: a car is intended to get you around

Unintended purpose Ex: a cars unintended purpose is causing pollution