Sociology - A Global Introduction, 5Th Edition, Chapter 2

Front 1

What is science?

Back 1

A logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation.

Front 2

What is theory?

Back 2

A statement of how and why specific facts are related. Builind theory involves linking insights to gain understanding.

Front 3

What is scientific sociology?

Back 3

The study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior

Front 4

What are the classical, traditional persepctives of sociology? (macro level)

Back 4

1) Functionalism
2) Conflict perspective

Front 5

What is functionalism?

Back 5

A framework for builind theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together and interconnect - often to promote solidarity and stability.

Front 6

What are the core questions of the functional perspective?

Back 6

How is society integrated?
What are the major parts of society?
How are these parts interrelated?
What are the consequences of each one for the operation of society?

Front 7

What is social structure?

Back 7

Relatively stable patterns of social behavior.

Front 8

What are social functions?

Back 8

Consequences for the operation of society.

Front 9

What are social dysfunctions?

Back 9

Any social pattern's undesirable consequences for the operation of society. (Vision of society as a whole being comprehensible, orderly and stable)

Front 10

What are manifest functions?

Back 10

The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern.

Front 11

What are latent functions?

Back 11

The consequences that are largely unrecognized and unintended.

Front 12

What is the conflict perspective?

Back 12

A framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of differences and inequalities that generate conflict and change.
o highlights division based on different interest and potential inequality
o social structure typically benefits some people while depriving others

Front 13

What are the core questions of the conflict perspective?

Back 13

How is society divided?
What are the major patterns of social inequality?
How do some categories of people attempt to protect their privileges?
How do other categories of people challenge the status quo?

Front 14

What is the classical, traditional persepctives of sociology? (micro level)

Back 14

The social action perspective

Front 15

What is the social action perspective?

Back 15

The social action perspective hase its focus on the meanings of social interaction in specific situations, a careful observation of how people interact.
Weber: "meanings and actions shape society"

Front 16

Explain the concept of symbolic interactionism:

Back 16

Symbolic interactionism sees society as a product of the everyday interactions of people (how individuals experience society).

Front 17

What are the core questions of symbolic interaction perspective?

Back 17

How is society experienced?
How do human beings interact to create, sustain and change social patterns?
How do individuals attempt to shape the reality perceived by others?
How does individual behavior change from one situation to the other?

Front 18

Explain Goffman's 'Dramaturgical analysis':

Back 18

It emphasis how we resemble (ähneln) actors on a stage as we play out various roles before others.

Front 19

Explain Blau, Homan's 'social exchange analysis':

Back 19

It emphasis on the negotiation (aushandeln) in which individuals are guided by what they stand to gain and lose from others.

Front 20

What is meant by term 'essentialism'?

Back 20

The belief in essences (Kernpunkt) that are similar (e.g. there is an essence or pure core to what it is to be a woman).

Front 21

Sociology has been forced to incorporate a global perspective, what does this mean?

Back 21

It means that sociology studies the larger world and each society’s place in it.

Front 22

What are the three reasons for global thinking?

Back 22

1) Societies over the world are increasingly interconnected
2) A global perspective enables us to see that many human problems we face in Europe are far more serious elsewhere (perspective)
3) thinking globally is also an excellent way to learn more about ourselves

Front 23

What is globalization?

Back 23

The increasing connectedness of societies. Globalization creates greater awareness of diversity and hybridisation?

Front 24

What are the key features of globalization?

Back 24

• it shifts the borders of economic transactions
• it expands communications into global networks (rethinking of space & time)
• it fosters a new, widespread ‘global culture’
• it develops new forms of international governance
• it creates a growing awareness of shared common world problems
• it fosters a growing sense of risk (often technological in nature)
• it leads to the emergence of a transnational global actors’ who network (global citizens)

Front 25

What is meant by hybridisation?

Back 25

The blending (vermischung) of cultures.

Front 26

What does multi-paradigmatic mean?

Back 26

It suggest that sociology is not one position but many.