Sociology 1210 Week 8: Understanding Agency
24 Questions
17 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is collective effervescence according to Durkheim?

  • The joy of participating in individual activities.
  • The feeling of isolation during social events.
  • Connection and meaning derived from individual experiences.
  • The sense of connection and meaning from collective events. (correct)

Social structure refers solely to individual actions and choices.

False (B)

Explain reflexivity in the context of socialization.

Reflexivity is the capacity to recognize and critique socialization forces and alter one's role in social structures.

The interchange between structure and agency that leads to changes in social systems is known as ___ .

<p>social change</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the concepts with their definitions:

<p>Agency = The capacity of individuals to act independently Structure = Patterns of relationships and distributions in society Collective effervescence = Sense of connection from group events Social inequality = Uneven distribution of resources among groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term agency imply in sociology?

<p>The capacity to make choices independently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes social integration?

<p>It refers to the degree of individual participation in social relationships. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Social structures have no impact on an individual's ability to create change.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Determinism in sociology argues that individual choices are completely independent of social structures.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of social determinism in sociology.

<p>Social determinism suggests that social structures and historical contexts significantly influence human behavior and life choices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does social change relate to activism?

<p>Social change is often driven by activism, as individuals and groups work to challenge existing norms and advocate for new societal values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

AGENCY IMPLIES _______!

<p>POWER</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the types of agency with their descriptions:

<p>Reflexive Agency = Contemplation and critique of oneself Spontaneous Agency = Unplanned collective actions with shared attention Organized Agency = Deliberate social movements seeking change Individual Agency = Personal choices independent of influence</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best reflects the interaction between structure and agency?

<p>Individuals act within and against existing social structures. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Collective agency involves individuals acting alone without any influence from others.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of belonging to a group, as expressed by Émile Durkheim?

<p>Belonging to a group helps individuals cling to life more resolutely and prevents deep personal troubles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Plummer suggest about agency in people’s lives?

<p>Some people are restricted in their agency. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Agency always promotes social justice and equality.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does sociology play in understanding agency?

<p>Sociology provides a systematic study of social interactions and helps identify and analyze taken-for-granted norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The time period from 1980 to 1996 includes the generation known as ______.

<p>Millennials</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their definitions:

<p>Agency = The capacity to act and make choices Determinism = The theory that social structures dictate behavior Social change = Transformations in social practices and norms Reflexivity = The examination of one's own social influences</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way can agency be restricted?

<p>By structural inequalities based on class or race. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Collective effervescence refers to the shared energy that can bring people together in social movements.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do structural forces intersect in personal experiences?

<p>Structural forces intersect through various societal influences like family, education, and culture affecting individual agency and choices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Uneven Agency

The idea that not everyone has equal ability to influence their lives and the world around them. This differs by factors like social status.

Agency is not always progressive

The use of agency isn't always directed towards improvements in justice or equality or less divisiveness; it can help with things that aren't equitable.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make choices.

Structure/Agency Debate

The ongoing discussion regarding the balance of individual free will and societal constraints (structure) on behaviors.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Determinism

The view that all events, including human actions, are predetermined.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social Integration

The process by which individuals become part of a social group, contributing to its unity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Reflexivity

The process of critically examining one's own assumptions and biases.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Outsider status

The position of someone who is able to observe and analyze societal norms and structures critically because they are not fully engaged in and/or part of these structures.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Collective effervescence

The feeling of connection and shared meaning that arises when people come together and act/think similarly, fostering joy and unity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social integration

The degree to which individuals participate in and are connected to various social relationships/communities, with reciprocal obligations.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Reflexivity

The ability to critically examine and challenge societal norms and beliefs, to reshape these norms.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social change

The interplay between people's actions and the surrounding social contexts, which creates alterations in systems.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social structure

The network of relationships, institutions, and forces that impact individuals' lives and choices.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Structure/Agency debate

The discussion about the extent to which individual actions are influenced by social forces (structure) versus the extent to which these actions shape those forces.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social statuses

Different positions within a social system that affect an individual's rights, responsibilities, and opportunities.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social roles

The behaviours and expectations associated with a particular social status.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Agency

The ability of individuals to act independently of social structures, make choices, and shape their lives.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Social Structures

Pre-existing social norms, rules, and institutions that influence individual actions.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Reflexive Agency

Agency that involves thoughtful self-reflection and critical examination.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Spontaneous Agency

Agency that emerges unexpectedly and without prior planning.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Organized Agency

Agency involving deliberate actions toward achieving social change or disrupting the status quo.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Individual Agency

The ability of a single person to act independently and make choices.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Collective Agency

The ability of a group of people to act together to make a social change.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Historical Context

The particular circumstances and conditions that influence people and societies from the past

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

Week 8: What about Agency?

  • Sociology 1210, Dr. Elisabeth Rondinelli
  • Introduces the concept of "agency" within sociology, a crucial aspect of individual and group action.
  • Notes on the question of what agency is and its role in shaping human behavior.

Key Concepts and Learning Objectives

  • Agency: The capacity of individuals and groups to act independently of social structures, make choices, and shape their experiences. Agency implies power.
  • Different Forms of Agency:
  • Reflexive: Individual contemplation, critique, and reflection. Reevaluating values and making different choices.
  • Spontaneous: Collective action with others unplanned, but focused on common things (e.g., new cultural trends).
  • Organized: Collective and deliberate action to achieve social change and disrupt existing norms (e.g., social movements).
  • Structure/Agency Debate: A central debate in sociology. Discussing the relationship between social structures and individual agency in shaping human behavior.
  • Structure: The enduring patterns of relationships and distributions in a social system. This includes social norms and cultural expectations.
  • Determinism: The idea that an individual's actions are entirely controlled by external structural forces.
  • Social Integration: The degree to which people participate in and are connected to social relationships and communities.
  • Sociology and Agency: The significance of agency in relation to social structures.
  • Agency is not evenly distributed: People's agency is not the same; some have greater access or capacity to act on their lives.
  • Agency is not always progressive: Agency can promote social change or be used to create or support negative social conditions.

Key Points from the Text about Agency

  • Agency is part of a system. We are not free agents, we live in a system.
  • Structures and systems shape the world we live in.
  • Agency is a tool to change the structures and systems. We are individuals, but we should still understand and respect that structures shape what we can do.
  • Inheritance and inherited social structures affect our behaviours and identities, which affect the choices we make and the outcomes we see.
  • Individuals need context (structural forces) to understand how they can act (agent).
  • Humans can change the world.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

Week 8 - What About Agency - Sociology 1210 PDF

Description

This quiz explores the concept of agency as presented in Sociology 1210. Delve into the different forms of agency, including reflexive, spontaneous, and organized actions. Additionally, examine the important debate surrounding structure and agency within sociology.

More Like This

Sociology: Social Structure and Agency Quiz
29 questions

Sociology: Social Structure and Agency Quiz

FunVibrance avatar
FunVibrance
Sociology: Structure and Agency
50 questions

Sociology: Structure and Agency

DexterousHorse avatar
DexterousHorse
Sociology of Education and Social Structures
10 questions

Sociology of Education and Social Structures

CongenialGuitar526 avatar
CongenialGuitar526
Sociology: Structure vs Agency
40 questions

Sociology: Structure vs Agency

ProminentSacramento5961 avatar
ProminentSacramento5961
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser