Sociology chapter 1

What is a key difference between anthropology and sociology?

Anthropology largely concentrates on traditional, small, or indigenous cultures, whereas sociology is interested in societies at all levels of development. Even so, there can be some overlap between the two disciplines.

Some of the following thinkers are prominent figures in the positivist-functionalist tradition. Determine who these figures are, and then place them in chronological order, based on their contributions.

August Comte, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons Comte saw a need to make moral sense of social order as religious authority declined in the nineteenth century. Durkheim also saw social and moral consequences in the division of labor, and held that observable relationships could help describe the social world. Parsons drew on Durkheim's ideas and further analyzed the social whole by identifying roles played by different aspects of phenomena.

Which social theorist sought to bring the scientific method to the discipline of sociology?

Auguste Comte After being introduced to the scientific method, Comte realized that similar principles could apply to the study of social life.

Which social theorist introduced the idea of the sociological imagination?

C. Wright Mills He introduced the concept that refers to a quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our individual circumstances and larger social forces.

Which of the following are important elements in Weberian theory?

"verstehen" and the role of the Protestant religion in transforming European economies, For Weber, this German word, which means "understanding," captures the importance of approaching social behavior from the perspective of those engaged in it. Weber saw Protestantism as having upended medieval ideas about work and wealth.

A new religious cult in the United States has been discovered that does not use any modern technology, lives in primitive conditions with no electricity or running water, and treats women as less valuable than men. Children born into this cult are forced to work sixteen-hour days beginning at the age of ten. Which of the following scenarios related to the above example are likely to lead to culture shock?

A child born into the cult escapes at the age of sixteen and travels to the nearest large city and A sociologist goes undercover and becomes a member in an effort to learn more about the cult. The child is likely to undergo a sense of disorientation due to the radical change in her social environment. The sociologist is likely to undergo a sense of disorientation due to the radical change in her social environment.

Which of the following are among the key tenets of the Chicago School in American sociology?

Human behavior and personality are shaped by social and physical environments, Society is conceptualized as a "generalized other." and The self emerges from a process of interacting with other selves. The study of this process is called social ecology. Developmentally, the "generalized other" is the result of interaction with many specific others. C. H. Cooley writes about the mirroring of one's self in the responses of others.

Identify the original principles of conflict theory.

understanding how conflict is essential for social change and understanding the role of conflict at all scales of investigation—from the family to the nation Conflict theory holds that revolution and war are often necessary for social progress. Conflict theory is ambitiously wide in scope.

A news story suggests that high-profile producers in Hollywood hold enormous power over young actresses and can coerce these actresses into doing things they may not want to do. What theory best captures the viewpoint of this story?

conflict theory Conflict theory is a paradigm that sees social conflict as the basis of society and social change and that emphasizes a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo, and a dynamic model of historical change.

Identify the types of functions Robert Merton theorized were necessary for the social cohesion of different structures.

latent and manifest Latent functions are less obvious and sometimes unintended but are often as important as manifest functions. Manifest functions are the obvious, intended functions of a social structure.

Identify the elements that are associated with Émile Durkheim's functionalist theoretical perspective.

positive sociology and social bonds in society Although it was also associated with Comte before him, Durkheim further refined positivism into positivist sociology. In his first major study, The Division of Labor in Society (1893), Durkheim stated that social bonds were present in all types of societies but that different types of societies created different types of bonds.

Identify the major figures associated with postmodernism.

Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, Jacques Derrida The postmodern perspective developed primarily out of the French intellectual scene in the second half of the twentieth century and is still associated with three of its most important proponents. It is probably worth noting that postmodernists themselves do not really like that label, but nonetheless Jacques Derrida (1930-2004), Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007), and Michel Foucault (1926-1984) are the major figures most often included in the group.

Fill in the blanks. _____ is a paradigm that places trust in the power of science and technology to create progress, solve problems, and improve life. Conversely, _____ is a paradigm that suggests that social reality is diverse, pluralistic, and constantly in flux. Three of the most famous postmodern theorists include Jacques Derrida, Jean Baudrillard, and _____.

Modernism, postmodernism, Michel Foucault

Identify the examples of postmodernism in popular culture.

The Grey Album by DJ Danger Mouse, which uses tracks from the Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album, hip-hop music, and copies of famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas Mash-ups are a postmodern twist in music. This album uses tracks from the Beatles' classic White Album and combines them with Jay- Z's Black Album to create something wholly new yet borrowed. Hip-hop is a hybrid art form that borrows from other established genres, from rhythm and blues to rock and reggae. The concept of complete originality is absent in postmodernism. Rather, reuse, adaptation, and copies of copies are all highlights of this condition.copies of famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas

A certain high school student is wearing "cool" clothing and is considered "cool." What would a symbolic interactionist say about this situation?

The coolness of the student and the clothing are connected in a causal cycle, and Coolness is a construction rather than an objective fact. Coolness is a product of the social dynamic involving the student, the clothing, and other students.

Fill in the blanks. _____ emerged out of legal scholarship in the 1970s and 1980s. This theory argues that ____ is deeply embedded in American institutions, including our laws. A prominent sociologist who is strongly associated with this theory is _______.

critical race theory, racism, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva Adherents of critical race theory are dedicated not just to studying institutional racism but also to actively working to end racial oppression.

Match each discipline to the way in which it overlaps with sociology. Match political science, history, geography, psychology to examines a social institution, examines places, examines internal states of individuals, examines society's past

examines a social institution - political science examines places - geography examines internal states of individuals - psychology examines society's past - history Unlike economics or political science, sociology looks at a range of social institutions. Sociology considers the relationship of people to places, rather than simply exploring places on their own. Sociology often considers the internal states of individuals, but unlike psychology, sociology does so in connection to external forces. Sociology compares the past and the present, but unlike history, sociology is more likely to focus on contemporary society.

Identify Jane Addams's contributions to the fields of applied sociology.

founding the ACLU and the NAACP, putting theory into practice, and founding Hull house Addams helped found two important organizations that continue to fight for freedom and equality today: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and, along with W. E. B. Du Bois, the NAACP. Addams was committed to addressing social problems through hands-on work with the people and places that were the subject of her research. Addams's practical approach to sociology is perhaps best demonstrated by Hull House, the Chicago community center she established in 1889.

C. Wright Mills was critical of social science and worked to connect the academic side of sociology to more tangible social debates of the time. Mills was convinced that sociology had something to offer everyone, not just academics. For these reasons, what term would best exemplify C. Wright Mills?

public intellectual Mills was convinced that sociology had something to offer everyone, not just academics.

What is the definition of "sociology"?

the systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior Sociology applies systematic methods of investigation to study a broad range of topics, including culture, institutions, organizations, race, class, and gender, among others.