Sociology Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who is known as the founder of sociology?

Karl Marx

Herbert Spencer

Auguste Comte (correct)

Max Weber

What does Herbert Spencer's social theory emphasize?

Social Darwinism

What concept did Emile Durkheim study related to social bonds?

Social integration

What did Max Weber argue was central to social change?

Religion Signup and view all the answers

What theory is Karl Marx associated with?

Conflict theory Signup and view all the answers

What notable work did Harriet Martineau do?

Translated Comte's work into English Signup and view all the answers

What was Jane Addams known for?

Creating Hull-House Signup and view all the answers

Who spoke out against racism as an African American sociologist?

W.E.B. Du Bois Signup and view all the answers

What did C. Wright Mills emphasize in his sociological perspective?

Society influences individual behavior Signup and view all the answers

What does sociological perspective emphasize?

Understanding human behavior within social context Signup and view all the answers

What is society?

A group of people who share a culture and territory Signup and view all the answers

What does social location refer to?

All areas of life that you occupy Signup and view all the answers

What is positivism?

Application of the scientific approach to the social world Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of sociology?

Scientific study of society and human behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is a theory in sociology?

A general statement about how parts of the world fit and work together Signup and view all the answers

What does symbolic interactionism focus on?

How individuals evaluate their conduct by comparing themselves with others Signup and view all the answers

What does functional analysis view society as?

A whole unit Signup and view all the answers

What is a manifest function?

Intended to help some part of a system Signup and view all the answers

What is conflict theory?

Groups compete for scarce resources Signup and view all the answers

What does macro level sociology focus on?

Large scale patterns of society Signup and view all the answers

What is micro level sociology concerned with?

Social interaction between people Signup and view all the answers

What is nonverbal interaction?

Gestures and use of space Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A statement about how variables are expected to relate Signup and view all the answers

What are variables in sociology?

Factors thought to be significant to human behavior Signup and view all the answers

What are research methods in sociology?

Surveys, case studies, and experiments Signup and view all the answers

What is a random sample?

People randomly selected from a target population Signup and view all the answers

What does 'population' refer to in research?

A target group to be studied Signup and view all the answers

What are closed-ended questions?

Questions with a list of answers to select from Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Foundational Sociologists

Auguste Comte: Established sociology and introduced Positivism, advocating for a scientific approach to understanding society.
Herbert Spencer: Advocated Social Darwinism, arguing against aiding the poor; believed in survival of the fittest within society.
Emile Durkheim: Focused on social integration, showing a link between weak social bonds and increased suicide rates.
Max Weber: Highlighted the role of religion in social change, particularly how Protestantism fostered capitalism through frugality and investment.
Karl Marx: Introduced conflict theory; believed economic factors drive social change and encouraged exploited workers to revolt against capitalists.

Influential Women in Sociology

Harriet Martineau: First female sociologist who translated Comte's work and examined social customs in the U.S. while combating sexism.
Jane Addams: Established Hull-House to support the marginalized and actively campaigned for labor reforms like child labor laws and improved working conditions.

Key Concepts and Perspectives

W.E.B. Du Bois: Acknowledged the struggles against racism; emphasized the importance of social context in shaping individual experiences and motivations.
C. Wright Mills: Introduced the concept of social location, asserting that societal influences shape personal perspectives, especially regarding wealth and power dynamics.

Fundamental Sociology Terms

Sociological Perspective: Understanding human behavior through the lens of social context and recognizing the influence of societal forces.
Society: Defined as a collective of individuals sharing a culture and physical territory.
Social Location: Encompasses various life aspects (occupation, class, religion, etc.) that shape personal aspirations and beliefs.

Methodological Frameworks

Positivism: The application of scientific principles to analyze society and human behavior.
Sociology: The systematic study of society and the behaviors of individuals within a social context.
Theory: General explanations outlining the interrelations among societal elements.

Sociological Theories

Symbolic Interactionism: Examines individual interactions and the subjective meanings people assign to their experiences.
Functional Analysis: Views society as a complex organism with interconnected parts working together to maintain stability and function.
Conflict Theory: Analyzes the competition among societal groups for resources, positing that this competition leads to inequality and social conflict.

Levels of Sociology

Macro Level (Macrosociology): Investigates large-scale social patterns and institutions.
Micro Level (Microsociology): Focuses on smaller social interactions among individuals.

Research Methodology

Research methods: Various approaches including surveys, participant observation, case studies, and experiments to gather data.
Random Sample: Selection process ensuring each individual in a population has an equal chance of being chosen for study.

Questions and Variables

Closed-ended Questions: Surveys where respondents choose from provided answers.
Open-ended Questions: Allow respondents to express their thoughts freely.
Hypothesis: Predictive statement about the relationship between variables.
Variables: Key factors that can change and influence human behavior.

Functions and Their Types

Functions:
- Manifest Function: Intended, beneficial consequences of a societal action.
- Latent Function: Unintended beneficial outcomes.
- Dysfunction: Negative impacts of societal actions.

Studying That Suits You

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

Description

Test your knowledge of key figures in sociology with these flashcards. This quiz covers foundational concepts including Positivism and Social Darwinism, as well as important contributions by Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, and Emile Durkheim. Perfect for students starting their sociology journey!