Introduction to Sociology Week 1 & 2

An economic system where resources and means of production are privately owned, allowing for personal profit, free competition, and consumer choice.

A system of industrial production, pioneered by Henry Ford, emphasizing mass assembly-line production of standardized products.

A shift away from Fordism, characterized by flexible production, specialized goods, and a focus on consumer demands.

The sector of the economy that extracts raw materials directly from nature, such as farming, mining, and fishing.

The sector of the economy that transforms raw materials into finished goods, like manufacturing, construction, and processing.

The sector of the economy that provides services to individuals and businesses, including healthcare, education, finance, and entertainment.

The study of how societies produce, distribute, and consume goods and services.

A state of social instability and lack of clear norms or values, often associated with rapid social change.

The study of human society and social patterns. It aims to understand how people interact, form groups, and create social structures.

The ability to see the connection between personal experiences and broader social forces.

Seeing general patterns in specific situations, like identifying trends in wealth distribution or education attainment.

Recognizing the familiar as strange, questioning assumptions about the social world.

Understanding that our actions are influenced by social structures but also that we have the ability to make choices and influence society.

A period of rapid technological and economic advancements, bringing new industries and urbanization.

Shift from rural to urban areas, leading to population growth in cities.

Belief in individual rights and liberty, challenging traditional authority.

A traditional, close-knit community based on shared values and strong relationships.

A modern society characterized by individualism, self-interest, and weaker social bonds.

Groups with close personal relationships that are enduring, such as families and close friends.

Large, impersonal groups where individuals share a common interest or activity, like a sports team or a school club.

Groups that individuals use as a framework for making decisions and evaluating themselves. They can be real or imagined.

The tendency for individuals to conform to group norms and pressures, even if it goes against their own beliefs.

A social group with two members.

A social group with three members.

A type of social group that is formal, often large, and has specific goals. Examples include corporations, universities, and governments.

Organizations where individuals join for material rewards or benefits.

Organizations based on shared values and moral commitments, where individuals join based on personal beliefs.

Organizations where membership is involuntary and often involves coercion or punishment.

The concept that individuals are personally responsible for all aspects of their lives, including their choices and outcomes.

The paradox of choice, where consumers have an abundance of options, leading to feelings of overwhelm, dissatisfaction, and reduced happiness despite having more choices.

A philosophical approach that emphasizes reason, logic, and objectivity in understanding the world and making decisions.

A philosophical approach that emphasizes emotions, intuition, and individual experience in understanding the world and making decisions.

An approach to consumption that focuses on demonstrating one's identity through authenticity and sincerity in purchasing goods and services.

A critique of materiality and consumption that emphasizes the importance of intangible values and experiences. It challenges the consumerist mindset and its impact on society.

The process by which the principles of Disney theme parks are applied to other sectors of society, creating a culture of entertainment, spectacle, and commercialism.

A key principle of Disneyization where shopping experiences are integrated into a themed environment, often with a storyline or narrative. For example, a Hard Rock Cafe creates a rock-and-roll atmosphere around its food.

A social theory that views society as a system of interconnected parts, each with its own function, emphasizes stability, consensus and shared values, and sees social change as a gradual evolution.

A social theory that focuses on power, inequality, and conflict, sees society as a battleground between different groups competing for resources, and emphasizes the role of social class, race, and gender in shaping social outcomes.

A theoretical framework that views society as the product of everyday interactions between individuals, focuses on how people interpret and negotiate meanings through symbols, and emphasizes the role of social interaction in shaping our identities and social realities.

A society characterized by the use of simple hunting and gathering techniques for sustenance, nomadic lifestyle, and a strong emphasis on kinship and collective living.

A society that cultivates crops and raises livestock, allowing for a more settled lifestyle and the emergence of specialized roles and social hierarchies.

A society based on advanced agricultural technologies, allowing for more complex social organization, specialization of labor, and the emergence of cities and states.

A society characterized by industrial production, urbanization, and sophisticated technology, driven by the pursuit of economic growth and technological innovation.

People who have a strong connection to the land, water, and wildlife of their ancestral domain, often associated with traditional knowledge and practices.

A statement that explains how and why specific facts are related, based on a systematic analysis.

Karl Marx's idea that the way we produce and consume material goods (the infrastructure/base) determines everything else in society, including culture and beliefs (the superstructure).

The conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners of production) and the proletariat (workers) based on the unequal distribution of wealth.

The feeling of estrangement from one's work, product, fellow workers, and human potential.

The process of social change driven by the changing ideas, values, and religious beliefs of people.

The idea that a person's success in life is a sign of God's favor, motivating them to work hard, save money, and invest.

A change from traditional ways of thinking and acting to a more rational and calculated approach, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.

Highly organized structures based on logic, rules, and procedures, often associated with modern society.

The idea that society is more than the sum of its parts and that social facts (shared beliefs and practices) shape individuals.

The shift from mechanical solidarity (strong social bonds based on shared beliefs) to organic solidarity (interdependence based on specialized roles).