Foundations of Sociology
This is the systematic and scientific study of human social behavior.
What is sociology?
This theory sees society as a product of everyday interactions of individuals.
What is symbolic interactionism?
The obvious and intended functions of a social phenomenon.
What are manifest functions?
This is a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole.
What is macrosociology?
The belief that your relationship to the means of production determines everything in your life.
What is economic determinism?
This concept means being partially excluded from the mainstream of society.
What is social marginality?
This approach sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.
What is the social conflict approach?
The unintended and non-obvious functions of a social phenomenon.
What are latent functions?
This is a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations.
What is microsociology?
The base of society, which includes relations of production.
What is the substructure?
This term means an understanding of the relationship between larger social factors and people’s personal lives.
What is the sociological imagination?
This theoretical framework sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.
What is structural functionalism?
The consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole.
What are social functions?
People who live in a defined territory and share a way of life.
What is society?
The ideas, philosophies, and culture built upon the means of production.
What is the superstructure?
This is a model or typical example.
What is a paradigm?
This is a basic image of society that guides thinking and research.
What is a theoretical approach?
Anything that keeps a social system from operating smoothly and efficiently.
What is dysfunction?
A predictable, established way to provide for one of society’s basic needs.
What is a social institution?
Becoming aware of the implications of your class position.
What is class consciousness?
This is the study of the larger world and our society’s place in it.
What is the global perspective?
This scientific approach to knowledge is based on “positive” facts rather than speculation. Discovered by Auguste Comte.
What is positivism?
This theorem states: “If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.”
What is the Thomas Theorem?
The lifelong process by which we learn our culture and become functioning members of society.
What is socialization?
Anything that hinders the growth of class consciousness.
What is false consciousness?