Anomie The loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective. Applied sociology The use of the discipline of sociology with the... Anomie The loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective. Applied sociology The use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations. Basic sociology Sociological inquiry conducted with the objective of gaining a more profound knowledge of the fundamental aspects of social phenomena. Also known as pure sociology. Clinical sociology The use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions. Conflict perspective A sociological approach that assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power or the allocation of resources, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation. Cultural capital Noneconomic goods, such as family background and education, which are reflected in a knowledge of language and the arts. Double consciousness The division of an individual’s identity into two or more social realities. Dramaturgical approach A view of social interaction in which people are seen as theatrical performers. Dysfunction An element or a process of society that may disrupt a social system or reduce its stability. Feminist perspective A sociological approach that views inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization. Functionalist perspective A sociological approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability. Globalization The worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas. Ideal type A construct or model for evaluating specific cases. Interactionist perspective A sociological approach that generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole. Latent function An unconscious or unintended function that may reflect hidden purposes. Macrosociology Sociological investigation that concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations. Manifest function An open, stated, and conscious function. Microsociology Sociological investigation that stresses the study of small groups, often through experimental means. Natural science The study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change. Nonverbal communication The sending of messages through the use of gestures, facial expressions, and postures. Queer theory The study of society from the perspective of a broad spectrum of sexual identities, including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality. Science The body of knowledge obtained by methods based upon systematic observation. Social capital The collective benefit of social networks, which are built on reciprocal trust. Social inequality A condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, and power. Social science The study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change. Sociological imagination An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, both today and in the past. Sociology The scientific study of social behavior and human groups. Theory In sociology, a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior. Verstehen The German word for “understanding” or “insight”; used to stress the need for sociologists to take into account the subjective meanings people attach to their actions. Read more