Sociology 120 Midterm Exan Chapter One

Front 1

Sociology as a Social Science

Back 1

Sociology is the study of human behavior and society. It seeks to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar. Like the other social sciences, it has its roots in the Enlightenment and its themes of naturalism, rationality, progress, humanism, and skepticism.

Front 2

Differences between Sociology and Common Sense

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Common sense is used by everyday people to navigate themselves through the unfamiliar, but it rests heavily on commonly held beliefs rather than a systematic analysis of facts, and thus not always reliable or accurate. Meanwhile, sociology does not accept something as fact simply because everyone knows it. Instead, it relies on scientific studies in order to describe and understand the environmemnt.

Front 3

Sociological Theory

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The process of identifying social forces that systematically cause certain phenomenon. A set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior. An effective sociological theory might be both explanatory and predictive.

Front 4

Functionalist Perspective

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Thinking of society as a living organism in which each part of the organism contributes to its survival. This view also emphasizes the way in which the parts of society are structured to maintain its stability. Associated with Parsons, Merton, etc.

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Conflict Perspective

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Where functionalists see stability and consensus, conflict sociologists see a social work in continual struggle. Assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing grounds. Became increasingly popular in the 1960's. Includes the Marxist and W.E.B. De Bois schools of thought.

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Interactionist Perspective

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Generalize about everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole. Framework in which human beings are viewed as living in a world of meaningful objects. The symbolic interactions and the meanings and implications that they hold for people is the driving force behind a society. Believed to be the product of Meade, the father or interactionalism.

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Dramaturgial Approach

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Sociologic perspective associated with Goffman, as a particular type of interactionalist method in which people are seen as theatrical performers. The dramaturgist compares everyday life to the setting of the theatre and stage.

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Feminist View

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Sees inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization. Because it clearly focuses on one aspect of inequality, it is often allied with the conflict perspective. Pioneered by Wells-Barnett, and has broadened our understanding of social behavior by extending the analysis beyond the male point of view

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Applied Sociology

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The use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent on yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations. Often the goal is to assist in providing information to policymakers for resolving resolving a social problem. Asked to apply expertise to studying violence, crime, etc.

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Clinical Sociology

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Dedicated to facilitating change by altering social relationships or resturcturing social institutions. Clinical sociologists take direct responsibility for implementation and view those with whom they work as their clients.

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Developing a Sociological Imagination

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1)Theory in practice
2)Research in action
3)Thinking globally
4)Significance of social inequality
5)Speaking across race, gender and religious boundaries
6)Social policy throughout the world.

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Sociological Imagination

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An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, both today and in the past.

Front 13

Social Inequalities

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A condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power.

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Connections between sociology and global policy throughout the world

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It enhances out understanding of currecnt social issues throughout the world. The more people understand and recognize the importance of sociology, it allows sociologists a legitimacy to claims or concerns regarding issues that must be addressed before their magnitude overwhelms human societies.