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Introduction To Sociology

The document provides comprehensive course notes on sociology, covering key concepts such as sociological perspectives, major theoretical frameworks, research methods, and various social phenomena including culture, socialization, and stratification. It discusses the roles of race, gender, family, education, religion, health, and urbanization in shaping society, along with the dynamics of social change and movements. The notes emphasize the importance of understanding social interactions and structures to analyze human behavior and societal issues.

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13 views5 pages

Introduction To Sociology

The document provides comprehensive course notes on sociology, covering key concepts such as sociological perspectives, major theoretical frameworks, research methods, and various social phenomena including culture, socialization, and stratification. It discusses the roles of race, gender, family, education, religion, health, and urbanization in shaping society, along with the dynamics of social change and movements. The notes emphasize the importance of understanding social interactions and structures to analyze human behavior and societal issues.

Uploaded by

singomillionaire
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Sociology - Course Notes

Sociological Perspective
 Definition: Scientific study of human society and social interactions
 Sociological imagination (C. Wright Mills): Connecting personal experiences to
larger social forces
 Levels of analysis: Micro-sociology (small-scale interactions) vs. macro-sociology
(large-scale patterns)
 Benefits of sociological perspective: Debunking common sense, questioning taken-
for-granted reality
 History of sociology: Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, early development as
discipline
 Applied sociology vs. basic sociology

Major Theoretical Perspectives


 Functionalism (Structural-Functionalism):
o Society as an integrated system of parts working together
o Social structures exist to fulfill societal needs
o Key theorists: Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton
o Concepts: Manifest/latent functions, dysfunction, equilibrium
 Conflict Theory:
o Society characterized by inequality and competition for resources
o Focus on power dynamics and social conflict
o Key theorists: Karl Marx, Max Weber, C. Wright Mills
o Concepts: Class conflict, alienation, power elite
 Symbolic Interactionism:
o Society created through shared meanings and interpretations
o Focus on symbols, gestures, everyday interactions
o Key theorists: George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer, Erving Goffman
o Concepts: Looking-glass self, definition of the situation, dramaturgical
analysis
 Feminist Theory:
o Focus on gender inequality and women's experiences
o Analyzes patriarchy and gendered power structures
o Types: Liberal, radical, socialist, intersectional feminism
 Other perspectives: Exchange theory, rational choice, postmodernism

Research Methods
 Scientific method in sociology
 Quantitative methods:
o Surveys: Questionnaires, interviews, sampling techniques
o Experiments: Independent/dependent variables, control groups
o Secondary analysis of existing data
 Qualitative methods:
o Participant observation and ethnography
o In-depth interviews
o Content analysis
o Focus groups
 Mixed methods approaches
 Ethics in sociological research: Informed consent, confidentiality, avoiding harm
 Reliability vs. validity in research

Culture
 Definition: Knowledge, values, customs, material objects transmitted in society
 Components of culture:
o Material culture: Physical objects created by society
o Nonmaterial culture: Abstract creations (values, norms, language)
 Cultural variation: Subcultures, countercultures, cultural universals, ethnocentrism,
cultural relativism
 Norms and sanctions: Folkways, mores, taboos, laws
 Values and beliefs: Dominant values, value contradictions
 Language and symbols: Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, symbolic meaning
 Cultural change: Innovation, diffusion, discovery, globalization

Socialization
 Definition: Process of learning culture and social roles
 Nature vs. nurture debate
 Theories of socialization:
o Cooley's looking-glass self
o Mead's role-taking stages
o Freud's personality structure
o Piaget's cognitive development
o Kohlberg's moral development
 Agents of socialization:
o Family: Primary socialization
o Peers: Horizontal relationships
o Education: Formal and hidden curriculum
o Media: Traditional and social media influence
o Religion, workplace, government
 Gender socialization and gendered experiences
 Resocialization: Total institutions (Goffman)
 Life course perspective: Socialization throughout life

Social Interaction and Social Structure


 Social interaction foundations: Status, role, groups, organizations
 Types of statuses: Ascribed vs. achieved, master status
 Role conflict, strain, and exit
 Impression management (Goffman's dramaturgical approach)
 Social construction of reality (Berger and Luckmann)
 Group dynamics: Primary/secondary groups, reference groups, in-groups/out-groups
 Networks and formal organizations
 Bureaucracy: Weber's characteristics, dysfunctions (Merton)

Deviance and Social Control


 Definitions of deviance: Relative and contextual
 Theories of deviance:
o Functionalist: Durkheim's functions of deviance, strain theory (Merton)
o Conflict: Power and inequality in defining deviance
o Symbolic interactionist: Differential association, labeling theory
o Control theory: Social bonds preventing deviance
 Stigma and stigma management
 Crime: Types, measurement challenges, statistics
 Criminal justice system: Police, courts, corrections
 Social control: Formal and informal mechanisms

Social Stratification
 Definition: Systematic inequalities between groups
 Systems of stratification: Slavery, caste, class, estate
 Class structure in different societies
 Social mobility: Types and barriers
 Theories of stratification:
o Functionalist: Davis-Moore thesis
o Conflict: Marx's class theory, Weber's multidimensional approach
 Global inequality: World-systems theory, development theories
 Poverty: Absolute vs. relative, causes, consequences
 Wealth distribution and concentration

Race and Ethnicity


 Social construction of race vs. biological concepts
 Ethnicity, nationality, and minority groups
 Prejudice vs. discrimination: Individual attitudes vs. actions
 Types of discrimination: Individual, institutional, structural
 Racism: Individual, institutional, structural, cultural
 Theoretical perspectives on racism
 Patterns of intergroup relations: Assimilation, pluralism, segregation, genocide
 Current issues: Systemic racism, privilege, microaggressions
 Global racial and ethnic inequality

Gender and Sexuality


 Sex vs. gender: Biological vs. social construction
 Gender socialization and gender roles
 Gender stratification: Pay gap, glass ceiling, pink-collar jobs
 Gendered institutions: Family, work, education, media
 Theoretical perspectives on gender:
o Functionalist: Complementary roles
o Conflict and feminist: Patriarchy, gender inequality
o Symbolic interactionist: Doing gender
 Sexuality: Social construction, historical and cultural variations
 Sexual orientation and LGBTQ+ experiences
 Sexuality and inequality: Heteronormativity, homophobia, transphobia

Family
 Definition and functions of family
 Family structures: Nuclear, extended, blended, single-parent, same-sex
 Theoretical perspectives on family:
o Functionalist: Functions and dysfunctions
o Conflict: Power dynamics and inequality
o Symbolic interactionist: Negotiated realities
 Marriage patterns and trends
 Divorce: Rates, causes, consequences
 Parenthood and child-rearing
 Family violence and abuse
 Contemporary issues: Work-family balance, changing gender roles

Education
 Functions of education: Manifest and latent
 Theoretical perspectives:
o Functionalist: Socialization, social integration, social placement
o Conflict: Reproducing inequality, hidden curriculum
o Symbolic interactionist: Teacher expectations, labeling
 Educational inequality: Class, race, gender
 Standardized testing and tracking
 Higher education: Access, costs, benefits
 Global educational issues
 Educational reform and policy

Religion
 Sociological definition of religion
 Types of religious organizations: Church, sect, cult/new religious movement
 Theoretical perspectives:
o Functionalist: Social cohesion, meaning (Durkheim)
o Conflict: Maintaining status quo, inequality
o Symbolic interactionist: Religious symbols and rituals
 Secularization vs. religious fundamentalism
 Religion and social change
 Global religious trends and issues

Health and Medicine


 Social construction of health and illness
 Social epidemiology: Social patterns of health/disease
 Healthcare systems: Comparative analysis
 Healthcare inequalities: Access, quality, outcomes
 Theoretical perspectives:
o Functionalist: Sick role (Parsons)
o Conflict: Healthcare as business, power dynamics
o Symbolic interactionist: Social meaning of illness
 Mental health and society
 Aging and healthcare
 Contemporary issues: Healthcare reform, pandemics

Population and Urbanization


 Demography: Population size, composition, distribution
 Demographic transition theory
 Population growth and control
 Migration: Push/pull factors, patterns, policies
 Urbanization: Growth of cities, urban ecology
 Urban issues: Housing, infrastructure, environment
 Theoretical perspectives on cities:
o Functionalist: Urban ecology, concentric zone model
o Conflict: Growth machine, urban inequality
o Symbolic interactionist: Urban lifestyles and experiences
 Suburbanization, gentrification, and global cities

Social Change and Social Movements


 Sources of social change: Technology, social institutions, population
 Theoretical perspectives on social change:
o Evolutionary: Stage theories of development
o Conflict: Revolution and class struggle
o Functionalist: Social equilibrium and disorganization
 Collective behavior: Crowds, publics, mass behavior
 Social movements: Types, stages, organization
 Globalization: Economic, political, cultural dimensions
 Technology and social media in social change
 Environmental sociology and sustainability
 Future sociological trends and challenges

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