past cultures

english created to study who they conquered

who coined the term sociology?

august comte

thought society shouldn't be interfered with

thought it was natural for some to be rich and some to be poor.

Belief systems glue society together

believed public rituals created social solidarity

society is an integrated whole, all parts contribut to its solidarity

bourgeis class exploited the proleterariat

economic organziation of society was most important

feature

political

economical

cultural

deals with macrosociety

emphasizes the ways in which society maintains its stability

each part of society is dependent on each other

macrosociety

emphasizes power and coercion

society is fragmented into groups competing for social and econommic resources. 

deals with microsociety

believes that immediate social interaction is where society exists

relies on the meaning that people give objects, events, and behavior. 

the looking glass self &

the presentation of self

1. how we present ourselves to others

2.what we imagine other thinks of us

3. development of a certain feeling about ourselves

family

school

peer group

mass media

work group

first source of socialization for most

how parents define and treat a child is crucial to the child's development of self

cultural assumptions regarding gender and race are passed from parent to child

explicity teach norms and values of our culture

conventional gender roles are especialy reinforced. 

upon teens, family less important and peers more so

peer groups ease transition into adult responsibilities 

it's shared-collectively agreed upon

learned through socialization

varies across time & space (develops as humans adapt ot the physical and social environmnent around them) 

language - set of symbols & rules used to communicate

norms - cultural expectations of behavior

beliefs & values - shared ideas & standards of people in a society

the class that as the means of material production at its disposal also controls mental production

*ruling material force is also ruling intellectual force 

dominant culture (most dominant group in society)

subculture (not completely accepted)

counter culture (completely against dominant culture)

status

social roles 

social groups 

social institutions 

ascribed status - assigned to a person by society

achieved status - received through personal actions

master status - dominates and determines a person's social status 

people w/ similar norms, values, expectations, who interact on a regular basis

(Friendship, expression, & goal achievement are done in groups) 

replace personnel

guide new recruits

produce & distribute goods and services

provide a sense of purpose

they help maintain the privelages of the powerful

social structure is unfair & discriminatory and needs to be changed 

reality is shaped by our perceptions, evaluations, and defintions

ex. killing good - war

bad- life 

norms are meaningless unless there is a deviance from them

deviance produces solidarity among members of society

public trials/ punishment affirms societies norms 

dominant class creates institutional rules & belief systems that support its power

deviance is a product of economic inequality

upper classes can mask their deviance better

deviance is defined by society's reaction to certain behaviors

-deviant behavior is learned through interaction w/ others