Connecting Sociology and YOU!

Chapter 1: Introduction – Understanding Sociology

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sociology: the scientific study of social relationships, institutions, and societies

social institutions, and structures in society provide the framework for governing the behavior of individuals in a community or society

society, a large group of people associated with a shared culture and social institutions

Sociological Perspectivethe process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society

Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society

Sociological Imaginationthe ability to see the details of our own lives in the context of larger social structures as opposed to merely personal choices or personal troubles

Social Changethe forces that change society’s organization and social structures

positivism: authentic and valid knowledge of the social world is found only through scientific and empirical pursuit.

social theories: ConflictFunctionalist, and Symbolic Interactionism.

sociological theory: a set of interrelated ideas that provide a systematic understanding of the social world.

macro sociology, a level of analysis focusing on social systems and populations on a large scale

micro sociologya level of analysis focusing on individuals and small groups within the larger social system.

proletariatthe majority, who were the poor, property-less industrial working class

bourgeoisthe small minority who were the wealthy class

conflict theorya sociological perspective emphasizing the role of political and economic power and oppression as contributing to the existing social order

functionalist theory, a macro view of how the parts of society serve to maintain stability 

manifest functionsintentional and formally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society

Latent functionsunintentional and informally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society

 dysfunctionthe undesirable disruptions of social patterns resulting in negative consequences within society 

socialized self the self cannot develop apart from society

symbolic interactiona micro view of how society is the product of interactions between people, which occur via symbols that have distinct meanings