Intro to Sociology Ch 1 – Flashcards
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Sociological Perspective
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Stresses social contexts in which people live and how these contexts influence peoples' lives.
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Auguste Comte
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The founder of sociology. He supported the concept of positivism. Credited with coining the term. Ideas have not stood the test of time.
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Herbert Spencer
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Believed that societies are evolving and that there is a progression from barbarianism to civilization. He coined the term "Survival of the Fittest."
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Social Darwinism
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You don't need to help people who can't live on their own; ignore the weak.
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Ethnocentric
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Centered on ethnicity, your culture is superior.
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Karl Marx
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Wide ranging influence in many areas. Human society was shaped by class conflict and two classes of bourgeoisie and the proletariat. He didn't consider himself a sociologist.
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Emile Durkheim
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He focused on recognition of sociology as a separate discipline. He studied suicide rates and found that people who are less socially integrated are more likely to commit suicide. Social integration was a key to his theories.
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Max Weber
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Said religious change brought about capitalism. Capitalism more likely to develop in Protestant countries.
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Protestant Ethic
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Term to describe the ideal of a self-denying, highly moral life focusing on hard work and frugality.
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Harriet Martineau
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Prolific writer, wrote Society in America.
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Jane Addams
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Awarded Nobel Peace Prize, started Hull House in Chicago. Co-founder of NAACP.
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Marion Talbot
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Associate editor of The American Journal of Sociology.
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W.E.B. DuBois
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Co-founder of NAACP. He did research during a time when segregation of whites and blacks was strongly enforced. Became a very outspoken critic of racism.
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C.W. Mills
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Urged sociologists to get back to social reform and helped pave to way for sociologists working the turbulent time of the 60's and 70's.
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Basic Sociology
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Aimed at purely academic research within the University setting.
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Applied Sociology
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Aimed at applying sociology to solve contemporary problems.
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Public Sociology
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More recent and somewhat of a middle ground between research and reform. This view focuses on using the sociological perspective to benefit the public such as in improving social policy.
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Symbolic Interactionism
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The focus is face to face interaction of how people make sense out of life. (Cooley, Mead)
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Functionalism
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Society is a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together. May be viewed organically. May be manifest or latent. (Spencer, Durkheim, Merton)
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Conflict Theory
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Society is composed of groups that are competing with one another for scarce resources, a struggle for power. (Marx)
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Macro
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Analysis focuses on large scale patterns of society.
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Micro
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Analysis focuses on individual interaction.
