Sociological Theory: a set of interrelated ideas that provide a systematic understanding of the social world
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Macro Sociology: a level of analysis focusing on social systems and populations on a large scale
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Micro Sociology: a level of analysis focusing on individuals and small groups within a larger social system
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German Karl Marx
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Proletariat: the majority, who were the poor, property-less industrial working class
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Bourgeois: the small minority who were the wealthy class
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Conflict Theory: a sociological perspective emphasizing the role of political and economic power and oppression as contributing to the existing social order
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French Emile Durkheim
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Functionalist Theory: a macro view of how the parts of society serve to maintain stability
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Manifest Functions: intentional and formally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society
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Latent Functions: unintentional and informally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society
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Dysfunction: the undesirable disruptions of social patterns resulting in negative consequences within society
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American George Herbert Mead
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Socialized Self: the self cannot develop apart from society
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Symbolic Interaction: a micro view of how society is the product of interactions between people, which occur via symbols that have distinct meanings
Social Facts: social patterns that are external to individuals and greatly influence our way of thinking and behaving in society
Max Weber
Verstehen: an empathetic approach to understanding human behavior, loosely translated as understanding or interpretation
Feminist Theory: a view on anti-oppression, gender relations, and gender inequality, evolved from the conflict theory and is an important contemporary sociological perspective
Applied Sociology: the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society
Queer Theory: a critical view that rejects the traditional categories of gender, sex, and sexuality in contemporary society
Postmodern Social Theory: a critical view rejecting the historical, scientific, and structured means of investigating and interpreting the social world
Social Problems: the social conditions that harm segments of society
Objective Conditions: the scope of a problem
Subjective Concerns: people\’s feelings about a problem
Human Trafficking: a situation in which a person is smuggled, abused, and forced to work against their will for the economic gain of another
Fair Trade: an organizational movement and certification process to help producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their products with the goals of reducing poverty, providing for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices
Sustainability: the idea that current and future generations should have equal or greater access to social, economic, and environmental resources
Sustainable Development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sociological Imagination: the 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
Personal Troubles: matters experienced at the individual level
Public Issue: a matter that impacts society as a whole
Anomie: the breakdown of social values, norms, and order resulting in social instability