Sociology 1
Class conflict
(Marx) a strong conflict between the bourgeoisie (those who own property) and the proletariat (those who are exploited)//struggle between the classes would end only when proletariat revolted; revolution will help people take control of society
Survival of the Fittest
(Spencer) fittest members (more intelligent) produce a more advanced society, unless people help the less fit survive//societies evolve over time as the fit members get adapted to their society
Sensorimotor stage
0-2//children only able to understand what's tangible to them//sucking, touching, listening, looking
Kohlberg's stages of moral development
1) amoral (0-7)- no right or wrong 2) pre-conventional(7-10)- follow rules to avoid punishment and gain rewards 3) conventional-determine by learned cultural norms and values 4) postconventional- reflection on abstract principles or right or wrong and judgement on others' based on those principles; most people do not reach this stage
Mead's development of self
1) imitation-mimicing others gestures and words 2) play (age 3)- pretend to take the roles of specific people (house or school) 3) games (elementary)- organized play//able to take multiple roles
Formal operational stage
12+//REASONING//capable of abstract thinking//can talk about concepts, come to conclusions based on general principles, and use rules to solve abstract problems//if shown photo of slave, we could say "that's wrong"
Total institution
a place in which people are cut off from the rest of society (jail, military)
Superego
conscience//values, norms//represents culture within us
Karl Marx
stated that the engine of human history is class conflict//result would be classless society//Marxism is not communism//thought of as sociologist because of his insights on social class//people should try to change society
Protestant ethic
the belief that working hard would please God
Cultural Relativsim
trying to appreciate another culture before judging it//recognizing it's different rather than better or worse
Latent Function
unintended consequences that help a system adjust
Gestures
using one's body to communicate//ex: middle finger
Value contradiction
values that contradict one another//to follow one means you will come into conflict with another
Socialization into emotions
we feel what society tells us to feel//follow expectations of family and friends//social mirror//ex: woman giving birth to girl in Zimbabwe
Self
your image of who you are
Preoperational stage
2-7//develop ability to use symbols//no understanding of speed or causation//learn to count but don't know what numbers mean
Concrete operational stage
7-12//understand numbers, size, speed, or causation//able to take role of the other//unless we have concrete examples, we are unable to talk about concepts such as truth, honesty, or justice//can explain why Jane's answer was a lie, but we cannot describe the truth
People from all walks of life, races, religions, and ethnic groups participate in the U.S. legislative process. In view of this, which term best describes American society?
America is a pluralistic society.
Arm Chair Philosophy
Auguste Compte//drawing conclusions from informal observations of social life (no research)
Scientific method
Auguste Compte//using objective, systematic observations to test theories
Professor Zale bases her self-concept as a professor on the interactions she has with students and the reactions she receives from them during class. In view of this, which process is Professor Zale utilizing?
Cooley's looking-glass self
The case study of Jack and Oskar provides support for what explanation of behavior?
Environment has a significant influence on behavior, regardless of gene complement.
Why did a number of sociologists think Laud Humphreys' research on tearooms was unethical
He did not identify himself as a researcher
Why did Mario Brajuha refuse to turn over his research notes to the authorities, even when subpoenaed?
He wanted to protect his respondents.
Two parts of self
I- the self as the subject "what am I going to do?" ME- the self as object "what is happening to me?"
Personality consists of three elements:
Id, ego, superego
How does the mass media influence gender roles in contemporary American society?
It reinforces gender roles considered appropriate for one's
Which sociological perspectives are best to use in developing an accurate understanding of society?
No single perspective is best, so all three must be utilized.
What is the difference between sociology and psychology?
Psychology=individual//Sociology=individuals in society
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud//technique for treating emotional problems through long-term exploration of the subconscious mind
Why do many sociologists object to psychoanalysis as a valid explanation for human behavior?
Sociologists object to the view that inborn and subconscious motivations are the primary reasons for human behavior.
What are the three main theories sociologists use?
Symbolic Interactionism; Functional Analysis; Conflict Theory
Sociology
The scientific study of society and human behavior
Subculture
When a group has a distinctive way of looking at life, but at the same time its values and norms reflect the dominant culture of its society//ex: groups that immigrate to the U.S.
Theory
a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work//an explanation of how 2 or more facts (experiences) are related to one another
Non-material Culture
a group's way of thinking and doing//ex: waiting in line
Cultural leveling
a process in which cultures become similar to one another//ex: Japan and US
Value clusters
a series of interrelated values that together form a larger whole//values are not independent units
Counterculture
a subculture whose values place it's members in opposition to the values of the broader culture//and assault on core values is always met with resistance//ex: KKK, cults, FLDS, bikers
Language
a system of symbols that can be strung together in an infinite number of ways for the purpose of communicating
Values in US society
achievement and success// individualism//activity and work// efficiency and practicality// science and technology// progress//material comfort// humanitarianism//freedom//democracy//equality// racism and group superiority//education// religiosity// romantic love
What is the significance of language in culture?
allows human experience to be cumulative//provides a social or shared past//provides a social or shared future//allows shared perspectives//allows complex, shared, goal-directed behavior
Manifest Function
an action intended to help some part of a system
Degradation ceremony
an attempt to remake the self by stripping away the individual's current identity and stamping a new one in it's place
Ego
balancing force//balancing need for food with the need to stand in line
Gender
behaviors and attitudes considered appropriate for our sex; not just determined by male and female
How do we develop a self?
by interacting with others//we imagine how we appear to others//we interpret others' reactions//we develop a self-concept//defining moments shape who we are
In his book, Sick Societies, anthropologist Robert Edgerton proposed that cultures should be evaluated on their "quality of life" and not just automatically accepted. This is contrary to which of the following sociological concepts?
cultural relativism
The author's experience in Morocco, which included the absence of women from public positions, intense stares directed at him, pushing and shoving at the train station, and total disregard for sanitation by food vendors, left the author with a profound sense of ________.
culture shock
Conflict of self
develops between who we are or how we feel and how safe/validated we feel to be that person//if the self is not appreciated or accepted, we adapt to please others
Max Weber
did not believe economics was the force of social change, religion was key//coined phrase "protestant ethic"//emphasized value of free research//encouraged sociologists to look at the big picture
New technologies
emerging technologies that have a significant impact on social life
How are people influenced by their society?
external influences//experiences that influence thinking and motivation
Auguste Compte
father of sociology//applied scientific method to social world to uncover the laws that underlie society//coined phrase "sociology"//armchair philosophy//observe society to uncover fundamental laws
W.E.B. DuBois
first African American to earn a doctor at Harvard//studied race relations and published a book that remained unappreciated until recently//writer and teacher//helped found the NAACP//critic against racism//embraced revolutionary Marxism
If Alice came to class wearing a soiled and torn blouse, she would be violating a ________. But if Alice came to class not wearing a blouse (or any other garment), she would be violating a _______
folkway; more
Jane Adams
founder of social work//wanted to bridge the gap between powerful and powerless//co-founded the Hull House in Chicago. Applied sociology to social reform
Mark views society as a system of interrelated parts, while John views society as composed of groups competing for scarce resources. Mark would be considered a(n) ________ and John would be seen as a(n) ________.
functionalist; conflict theorist
The Smiths are going Christmas shopping for their two children, Dick and Jane. They plan to buy Dick a Tonka truck and Jane a Barbie doll. Their selection of toys for their children is an example of ________ by parents.
gender socialization
People all over the world, including college students, are breaking down national boundaries because of advances in communication, trade, and travel. This is referred to as ________.
globalization
Capitalism is becoming the world's dominant economic system. This is referred to as ________.
globalization of capitalism
Where did sociology come from?
grew out of upheaval during the Industrial Revolution, the American and French Revolutions encouraged new thought: freedom
Harriet Martineau
had to hide her early research for fear that she would be seen as masculine//a published sociologist long before the others were even born//best known for her translations of Comte's text to other English
Nature vs. Nurture
how many of our characteristics come from nature (heredity) and how many from nurture (social environment)//humans have no natural language
Sociological perspective
how people are influenced by society//understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context
Values
ideas of what's desirable in life//standards by which people define good and bad//feelings
Id
instant gratification//natural human needs//"red devil"//pleasure seeking
Based on studies of isolated and institutionalized children, what is the key variable in acquiring the basic "human" traits we take for granted?
intimate early social interaction
What did the Harlow experiment conclude as being the key to infant-mother bonding?
intimate social contact
What are some factors of social location?
jobs, income, education, gender roles, age, race, religion
Anthropologists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf concluded that
language creates ways of thinking and perceiving
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
language has embedded within it ways of looking at the world//thinking and perception are shaped by language//language affects the meaning we attach to things//we shape our language for different experiences (ex:wording used in an email to a teacher as opposed to language used in social media)
Resocialization
learning new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors that match a new situation in life//occurs each time we learn something contrary to our previous experiences
What are some emerging values?
leisure//self-fulfillment//physical fitness//youthfulness//concern for the environment
Levels of Analysis
macro: large scale patterns of society micro: small scale social interactions
Symbolic culture
nonmaterial culture whose central components are symbols
Taboos
norms so strongly ingrained that even the thought of violation is greeted with revulsion//the unthinkable
Mores
norms that are considered essential to our core values//breaking means consequences//ex: cheating on a test; walking around street naked
Folkways
norms that are not strictly enforced//if someone does not follow a folkway, we may stare of shrug our shoulders//ex: walking on left side of sidewalk; not showering
Cultural lag
not all parts of a culture change at the same pace//material culture usually changes before nonmaterial culture//ex: googling symptoms but still going to doctor for diagnosis and medication
We receive gender messages from
our family, peers, mass media
Cooley's looking-glass self
our sense of self develops from interaction with others
Agents of socialization
people and groups that influence our self-concept, emotions, attitudes, and behavior//family, neighborhood, religion, day, school, work place
Mead's role taking
play is critical to the development of the self//children learn to take the role of others; they put themselves in someone else's shoes (empathy)//at first they take on the role of only significant others and then take on expectations of others as they develop
Sanctions
positive or negative reactions to the ways in which people follow norms//positive ex: following laws=acceptance//negative ex: losing job
Receiving the Medal of Honor and making the Dean's List are both examples of ________.
positive sanctions
Emile Durkheim
recognize sociology as an academic discipline//practical research//discovered social factors lead to suicide//social integration
According to the sociological perspective, what are key to shaping people's decisions and behaviors?
relationships//ex: Johnny's mom gets checks instead of having a job. When asked, Johnny says he'd rather have a check than a job.
Norms
rules of behavior that develop out of a group's values//expectations//ex:going to school, obeying parents
Herbert Spencer
second founder of sociology//believed no one should intervene in the evolution of society//societies evolve from lower to higher forms//coined the phrase "survival of the fittest"
Piaget's development stages
sensorimotor (0-2)//preoperational (2-7)//concrete operational (7-12)//formal operational stage (12+)
Technology
skills or procedures necessary to make or use tools//sets a framework for a group's nonmaterial culture
A young woman is contemplating a particular behavior, in this case, dropping out of college. She is also considering an awareness of the self in relationship to others to avoid feelings of shame and embarrassment. This is referred to as her
social mirror
Functional Analysis
society is a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together//if society is to function smoothly, it's parts must work together in harmony
Conflict theory
society is composed of groups engaged in fierce competition for scarce resources//focus on fairness and equality//opposite of functionalist//opposing interests run through every layer of society
Debate over Basic vs. Applied sociology
some sociologists believe their role is to analyze society and publish results//others feel sociologists have an obligation to make society a better place
Symbol
something to which people attach meaning and which they use to communicate (gestures, language, values, norms, sanctions, folkways, mores, and taboos)
Symbolic Interactionism
symbol-things to which we attach meaning//studies how people use symbols to establish meaning, develop views of the world, and communicate//study face to face interactions and relationships
Feral
term used to describe children who are assumed to have been raised by animals in the wilderness and isolated from other children, such as the "wild boy of Aveyron"
Isolated children
the ability to develop intelligence and relations with others depends on early interaction//what we learn and how we learn comes from socialization
Social location
the corners in life that people occupy because of their place in a society; why people do what they do
Social integration
the degree to which people are tied to their social group (ex. more ties a person has, the less likely they are to commit suicide)//cannot study human behavior based on individuals; must study social forces that affect their lives
How does culture affect our lives?
the effects of our own culture generally remain imperceptible to us; becomes the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us
Socialization
the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, norms, and actions thought appropriate for people of a particular group//what makes us human
Culture
the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are passed from one generation to the next//learned
Material Culture
the material objects that distinguish a group of people//ex: wedding ring, jewelry, art
Real Culture
the norms and values that people actually follow//ex: not everyone works hard or achieves academically
Cultural diffusion
the spread of cultural characteristics from one group to another//travel and communication unite us
Ethnocentrism
the tendency to use one's own culture as a yardstick for judging the ways of other societies//thinking our culture is better than another culture//imposing our own values on another culture
Applied sociology
the use of sociology to solve problems//ex: business firms solve problems in the work place; others investigate problems like porn, rape, pollution...
Ideal Culture
the values, norms, and goals that a group considers ideal, worth aspiring to//success//ex: academic progress, material possessions
Gender socialization
the ways in which society sets children onto different courses in life because they are male or female
What is the purpose of sociology?
to discover social principles and apply them to social reform//social world should be studied and the knowledge obtained should be applied