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Questions and Answers
What are the disciplines that study human beings and human behavior?
What are the disciplines that study human beings and human behavior?
What is sociology?
What is sociology?
Systematic study of society and social interaction.
What is the emphasis of sociology?
What is the emphasis of sociology?
Society and its origins and development.
What is the driving question of sociology?
What is the driving question of sociology?
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Who said 'Sociology looks for the public issues that underlie private troubles'?
Who said 'Sociology looks for the public issues that underlie private troubles'?
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What is anthropology?
What is anthropology?
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What does anthropology embrace in its approach?
What does anthropology embrace in its approach?
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What are the driving questions of anthropology?
What are the driving questions of anthropology?
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What is the primary focus of political thought?
What is the primary focus of political thought?
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What question did Socrates pose that led to his death?
What question did Socrates pose that led to his death?
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What is cultural relativism?
What is cultural relativism?
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What is ethnocentrism?
What is ethnocentrism?
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What is culture shock?
What is culture shock?
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What are the elements of culture?
What are the elements of culture?
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Study Notes
Sociology and Anthropology
- Sociology and anthropology are social science disciplines focused on studying human behavior and interactions.
- Sociology examines society, social structures, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.
Key Themes in Sociology
- Central themes include society's origins, development, social classes, institutions, structures, and movements.
- Sociology poses questions about society's role in shaping human nature and vice versa.
C.Wright Mills' Perspective
- C. Wright Mills emphasized the importance of understanding "public issues" underlying "private troubles," highlighting the interconnectedness of individual experiences and societal context.
Anthropology Overview
- Anthropology investigates the entirety of human history, from beginnings to modern times.
- It embraces a holistic and comparative approach to studying humans across various cultural settings.
Driving Questions in Humanities
- Sociology asks: "What is society, and how does it reflect human nature?"
- Anthropology explores: "What does it mean to be human? How do humans behave and why?"
Importance of Social Thought
- Social thought involves philosophical ideas regarding society's growth and issues.
- It plays a role in diagnosing social problems and formulating theories for societal improvement.
Economic Thought
- Focuses on researching diverse economic areas grounded in theoretical reasoning and mathematical analysis of economic challenges.
- It emphasizes the production and consumption of goods.
Political Thought
- Explores governance issues, justice, rights, and the nature of political power.
- Asks foundational questions about government legitimacy and citizen duties.
Cultural Concepts
- Society is a group of people interacting, sharing culture, and residing in a definable area.
- Culture consists of a society's beliefs, practices, norms, and values, shaping collective behaviors and social organization.
Cultural Definitions and Components
- E.B. Taylor defined culture as a complex whole, encompassing diverse human experiences, symbols, and artifacts.
- Cultural elements include beliefs, values, norms (formal and informal), mores, folkways, symbols, and language.
Cultural Dynamics
- Culture is dynamic, flexible, and learned through processes of enculturation (learning another culture) and socialization (informal learning through primary social groups).
- Cultural universals, identified by George Murdock, represent patterns essential for human survival and shared experiences.
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
- Ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures based on one's cultural norms, often leading to cultural bias.
- Cultural relativism assesses cultures by their own standards, requiring an open mind and adaptability to new values.
Norms and Social Control
- Norms guide behavior and expectations, categorized into formal (written rules) and informal (unwritten expectations).
- Mores embody moral principles and are often legally protected, while folkways govern day-to-day behaviors without moral implications.
Cultural Categories
- High culture represents the cultural experiences of the societal elite, associated with intellectualism and prestige.
- Popular culture refers to mainstream society's cultural experiences, accessible to the general public.
Cultural Change and Social Subgroups
- Cultural change occurs as new ideas and lifestyles emerge, impacting societal norms.
- Subcultures exist within larger societies, identifying with specific characteristics while countercultures actively oppose dominant societal norms.
Xenocentrism
- Xenocentrism is the belief in the superiority of other cultures over one's own, highlighting cultural comparisons and biases.
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Description
Test your knowledge on sociology and anthropology with these flashcards. Dive into the definitions and concepts surrounding social science disciplines that study human behavior and society. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of social interactions and structures.
