sociology- the scientific study of social relationships, institutions, and societies
social institutions- structures in society providing 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 Perspective: the process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society
Social Structures: the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole
Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society
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
Social Change: the 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
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 sociology- a level of analysis focusing on individuals and small groups within the larger social system
proletariat- the majority, who were the poor, property-less industrial working class,
bourgeois- the small minority who were the wealthy class
conflict theory- a 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 functions- intentional and formally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society
Latent functions- unintentional and informally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society
dysfunction- the undesirable disruptions of social patterns resulting in negative consequences within society
socialized self- which states that the self cannot develop apart from society
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
verstehen (vûrst e hen)- an empathetic approach to understanding human behavior
feminist theory- a view on anti-oppression, gender relations, and gender inequality
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
rationalization of society- the replacement of traditional values and personal connections with bureaucracy, efficiency, and a means-end approach
social problems- the societal 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
social inequality- the unequal distribution of power, property, or prestige in society
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
globalization- the worldwide integration of our cultural, economic, and political lives that results from ever-increasing levels of business, trade, and technology
applied sociology- the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society