Sociology Basics

Study Notes

Study of human social behavior, relationships, and institutions
Examines how social structures, relationships, and institutions shape individual and group behavior
Key areas of focus:
- Social inequality and stratification
- Social institutions (family, education, religion, etc.)
- Social change and social movements
- Deviance and social control
- Race, gender, and class
Theoretical perspectives:
- Functionalism: society as a system with interdependent parts
- Conflict theory: society as a battleground for resources and power
- Symbolic interactionism: people create meaning through symbols and interactions

Study of power, governance, and decision-making in human societies
Examines the distribution of power, resources, and authority
Key areas of focus:
- Political institutions (governments, parliaments, etc.)
- Political behavior and participation (voting, activism, etc.)
- Political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, socialism, etc.)
- International relations and global politics
- Political economy and policy-making
Theoretical perspectives:
- Liberalism: emphasis on individual rights and freedoms
- Realism: emphasis on state power and national interest
- Marxism: emphasis on class struggle and economic determinism

Human social behavior, relationships, and institutions are studied in sociology
Social structures, relationships, and institutions shape individual and group behavior
Key areas of focus:
- Social inequality and stratification: examines unequal distribution of resources and opportunities
- Social institutions: family, education, religion, and other institutions that shape society
- Social change and social movements: explores how societies change and movements that drive change
- Deviance and social control: understanding behavior that deviates from norms and how society responds
- Race, gender, and class: examines how these factors intersect and impact social life

Functionalism: society is a system with interdependent parts working together
Conflict theory: society is a battleground for resources and power between different groups
Symbolic interactionism: people create meaning through symbols, interactions, and negotiated meanings

Power, governance, and decision-making in human societies are studied in politics
Distribution of power, resources, and authority are examined
Key areas of focus:
- Political institutions: governments, parliaments, and other institutions that shape governance
- Political behavior and participation: voting, activism, and other forms of engagement
- Political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and other belief systems
- International relations and global politics: explores relationships between nations
- Political economy and policy-making: examines how economic systems and policies shape societies

Liberalism: emphasizes individual rights and freedoms in political systems
Realism: emphasizes state power and national interest in international relations
Marxism: emphasizes class struggle and economic determinism in shaping societies