Introduction to Sociology Flashcards
Grade 12 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Core concepts, theorists, and vocabulary for understanding human society, social structure, and sociological analysis.
Flashcards
- Sociology
- The systematic, scientific study of society, social relationships, social structures, and social institutions; seeks to understand how social forces shape human behavior.
- Auguste Comte
- French philosopher (1798-1857) who coined the term 'sociology' and argued for a scientific study of society using empirical observation; is considered the founding father of sociology.
- Émile Durkheim
- French sociologist (1858-1917) who established sociology as an academic discipline; famous for studies of suicide, religion, and social solidarity; introduced concepts of anomie and collective conscience.
- Collective Conscience
- Durkheim's concept of the shared beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes that operate as a unifying force within society; the 'social glue' that holds a community together.
- Social Class
- A group of people sharing a similar socioeconomic position in society based on income, wealth, occupation, and education; a central concept in both Marxist and Weberian sociology.
- Reference Group
- A group to which an individual compares themselves when evaluating their attitudes, behavior, or achievements; shapes aspirations and self-assessment.
- Labeling Theory
- The sociological perspective (Becker, Lemert) arguing that deviance is not inherent to an act but results from society attaching a negative label to individuals, which then shapes their self-identity and future behavior.
- Social Control
- The mechanisms by which society regulates individual behavior to maintain social order, including formal controls (laws, police) and informal controls (peer pressure, family norms).
- Culture Shock
- The feeling of disorientation, anxiety, and confusion experienced when encountering an unfamiliar culture; highlights the role of cultural context in shaping everyday life.
- Gender Socialization
- The process by which individuals learn the behaviors, attitudes, and roles considered appropriate for their gender in their culture, through family, media, peers, and institutions.
- Social Cohesion
- The degree of connectedness, solidarity, and mutual trust among members of a society or group; Durkheim linked its breakdown (anomie) to social dysfunction.
- Social Reproduction
- The processes by which social inequalities are passed from one generation to the next through institutions, norms, and practices, particularly through education and family.
- Verstehen
- Max Weber's concept of 'interpretive understanding' — the sociological method of understanding social action by grasping the subjective meaning actors give to their behavior.
- Manifest vs. Latent Functions
- Merton's distinction between the intended, recognized functions of social institutions (manifest) and the unintended, hidden functions (latent); e.g., school's manifest function is education; a latent function is building social networks.
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