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Soc. Test Ch. 1 - 2
the sociological point of view
46
Social Studies
12th Grade
02/09/2013

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Term
sociology
Definition
the social science that studies human society and social behavior
Term
social sciences
Definition
the disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific manner
Term
social interaction
Definition
how people relate to one another and influence each other's behavior
Term
social phenomena
Definition
observable facts or events that involve human society

sociologists examine this to focus on a group rather than an individual
Term
sociological perspective
Definition
involves looking at social life in a scientific systematic way

look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions

- helps you see that all people are social beings
- tells you that your behavior is incluenced by social factors and that you have learned your behavior from others
- broaden view of social world
- viewing world from others eyes
- find an acceptable balance between your personal desires and the demands of your social environment
- sociological imagination
Term
sociological imagination
Definition
the capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote topics to the most intimate features of the human self and to see the relations between the two

- can help you view your own life within a larger social and historical context
- can give you insights into how your social environment shapes you and how you, in turn, can shape your social environment

-- ability to see connection between larger world and personal life
Term
anthropology
Definition
the comparative study of past and present cultures

similar to sociology

more based on examining past and present simple cultures (traditionally) but now looking at advanced

sociology more based on group behavior in complex, more advanced societies
Term
psychology
Definition
social science that deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms
focuses primarily on individual behavior
Term
social psychology
Definition
the study of how social environment affects an individuals behavior and personality
Term
economics
Definition
the study of the choices people make in in an effort to satisfy their need sand wants

examine the processes by which goods an services are produced, distributed, and consumed

examine the effects of government policies on economic growth and stability
Term
political science
Definition
the examination of the organization and operation of governments
Term
history
Definition
study of past events
Term
Auguste Comte
Definition
France

- founder of sociology as a distinct subject, coined the word
- social order and social change
held together by social statics
changes through social dynamics
- use scientific research methods to uncover and reform society
Term
Herbert Spencer
Definition
England

- influenced by Darwin
- adopted a biological model of society -> interdependent parts working together to maintain the system
- social change and unrest natural occurrences during society's evolution toward stability and perfection
- best aspects of society will survive over time, no steps should be taken to correct social ills
- social darwinism - survival of the fittest societies
Term
Karl Marx
Definition
Prussia/Germany

- structure of a society is influenced by how its economy is organized
- divided into 2 classes: bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers)
- imbalance in power would lead to conflict between capitalists and workers, must create a classless society
- conflict theory - primary cause of social change is conflict

- conflict perspective
Term
Émile Durkheim
Definition
France

- developed first university sociology course
- first to systematically apply the methods of science to the study of society

- called Spencer's interdependent parts "functions"
shared values and beliefs, like religion, are functions that hold society together and maintain social order

- we should only study features of society that are directly observable
Term
Max Weber
Definition
Prussia

- interested in separate groups within society rather than society as a whole
- the effect of society on the individual
- study beyond what can be directly observed (thoughts and feelings of individuals)
- verstehen, attempt to understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions
- ideal type, a description comprised of the essential characteristics of a feature of society

- interactionist perspective
Term
theory
Definition
explanation of the relationships among particular phenomena
Term
theoretical perspectives
Definition
school of thought
a general set of assumptions about the nature of things

sociology: outlines specific ideas aout the nature of social life
Term
3 broad theoretical perspectives to form the basis of modern sociology
Definition
functionalist perspective
conflict perspective
interactionist perspective
Term
functionalist perspective
Definition
broadly based on the ideas of comte, spencer, and durkheim

- view society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system
- society is held together through consensus, most people agree on what is best for society and work together to run smoothly

- dysfunction - negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system (crime)
- manifest function - intended and recognized consequence of some element in society (ex. automobiles - transportation)
- latent function - unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element in society (ex. automobiles - wealth)
topics of interest: functions that family or education serve in society
Term
conflict perspective
Definition
- focus on the forces in society that promote competition, change, and power
- competition over scare resources
- how those with more power exercise control over those with less power

- conflict results in social change, inevitably
Term
interactionist perspective
Definition
- focus on how individuals interact with one another in society

- meanings that individuals attach ro their own actions and to the actions of others - verstehen - max weber

- symbol - anything that represents something else
- symbolic interaction - how people use symbols when interacting
Term
culture
Definition
all the shared products of human groups

basics: technology, symbols, language, values, and norms
Term
material culture
Definition
the physical objects that people create and use
ex. automobiles, books, buildings, clothing, computers, utensils
Term
nonmaterial culture
Definition
abstract human creations

beliefs, family patterns, ideas, language, political and economic systems, rules, skills, and work practices
Term
society
Definition
group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity

(society is the people, and the culture is what the people create)
Term
technology
Definition
objects and rules along with them
(tools and the knowledge of how to use them)
Term
use of symbols
Definition
the use of symbols is the very basis of human culture

create our culture and communicate it to group members and future generations
Term
symbol
Definition
anything that represents something else

(word, gesture, image, sound, physical object, event, or element of the natural world as long as people recognize that it carries a particular meaning)

in US - church service, a class ring, the world hello, the lincoln memorial, and a handshake
Term
language
Definition
organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system
Term
values
Definition
shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable
Term
norms
Definition
shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations
- expectations for behavior
(ex. norms concerning financial responsibility but some people dont pay their bills)

- varies from cover your mouth when you yawn to dont kill someone

- applied selectively

- folkways and mores
Term
folkways
Definition
norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but do not have great moral significance attached to them
(ex. get to class on time, dont put food in your mouth with a knife, shake hands when meeting someone)

- nonconformity does not endanger the well-being or stability of society
Term
mores
Definition
great moral significance attached

- violation endangers well-being and stability of society

(ex. dishonest, fraud, murder)
Term
laws
Definition
- written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government

often times enforce mores essential to stability, such as against murder, rape, theft.

sometimes less severe folkways, do not park in handicapped parking spaces
Term
3 levels of culture
Definition
1. trait
2. complex
3. pattern

all makes culture
Term
culture trait
Definition
an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need

ex. using knives, forks, and spoons when eating
specific greeting
Term
culture complex
Definition
a cluster of interrelated traits

ex. football is a complex (under the pattern of American athletic program, has traits such as a football, pads, kicking, passing, marketing)
Term
culture patterns
Definition
the combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole

ex. agriculture, education, family life, religion

patterns form important components of a society's culture
Term
cultural universals
Definition
features common to all cultures

george murdock found more than 65 cultural universals including body adornment, cooking, dancing, family, feasting, forms of greeting, religion, sports, tool making, music, myths, medicine
Term
Margaret Mead's study on cultural variation
Definition
arapesh - contented, gental, nonaggressive, trusting, warm people, super fun time
mundugumor - aggressive, competitive, jealous, violent, not a fun time
Term
ethnocentrism
Definition
tendency to view one's own culture and group as superior

helps build unity, but sometimes cultures can stagnate and its a negative thing
Term
cultural relativism
Definition
cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than by applying the standards of another culture
Term
subculture
Definition
group in society that shares values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population

recognize age, gener, ethnic, religious, political, geographic, social-class, and occupational subcultures

most do not present a threat to society
Term
counterculture
Definition
a group rejects the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces with a new set of cultural patterns
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