WGU C273; INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIOLOGY SUMMARY
Primary group
small group characterized by intimate, long-term, face-to-
face association and cooperation.
secondary group
a large and impersonal social group whose members
pursue a specific goal or activity
In-Group
a group toward which one feels loyalty
Out-Group
a group toward which one feels antagonism
Dyad
group of two
Which social theorist was the first to analyze
bureaucracies as powerful forms of social
organization that are concerned with the "bottom
line"?
Max Weber
Role Strain
Conflict someone feels within a role
Suppose that you are exceptionally well prepared for a
particular class assignment. Although the instructor asks
an unusually difficult question, you find yourself knowing
the answer when no one else does. If you want to raise
your hand, yet don't want to make your fellow students
look bad, you will experience role strain.
,____________ was interested in how societies manage
to create social integration —their members united by
shared values and other social bonds. He found the
answer in what he called mechanical solidarity.
Sociologist Emile Durkheim
mechanical solidarity
Durkheim's term for the unity (a shared consciousness)
that people feel as a result of performing the same or
similar tasks
division of labor
the splitting of a group's or a society's tasks into
specialties
organic solidarity
Durkheim's term for the interdependence that results from
the division of labor; as part of the same unit, we all
depend on others to fulfill their jobs
Which type of influence could convince people to
participate in horrible acts according to Milgram's
research?
Authority
What is the position conflict theorists have regarding
deviance?
Deviant behavior is defined by those with power
Deviance
violation of the norms
How is deviance culturally relative?
Applies to crimes, sexuality and capitalism
Biosocial perspective on deviance
Explained deviance by looking within individuals. Assume
genetic predispositions lead people to bad behavior.
Psychological perspective on deviance
, Abnormalities within an individual. Personality disorder.
Subconscious motives drive people to deviance.
Sociological perspective on deviance
Look at factors outside of the individual. Look for social
influences that "recruit people" to break the norms. To
explain deviance, they apply symbolic interactionalism,
functionalism and conflict theory.
Three Sociological Perspectives on Deviance
Differential association theory
Control Theory
Labeling Theory
Differential association theory
theory that individuals learn deviance in proportion to
number of deviant acts they are exposed to
Control Theory
the idea that two control systems- inner controls and outer
controls- work against our tendencies to deviate. This
theory is about self control
Labeling Theory
The significance of reputations and how they set us up on
paths to deviance or away from it.
Pervert - Cheater - Etc
Strain Theory
Merton's theory that deviance occurs when a society does
not give all its members equal ability to achieve socially
acceptable goals
Use strain theory to explain why someone may
commit the crime of selling drugs
SOCIOLOGY SUMMARY
Primary group
small group characterized by intimate, long-term, face-to-
face association and cooperation.
secondary group
a large and impersonal social group whose members
pursue a specific goal or activity
In-Group
a group toward which one feels loyalty
Out-Group
a group toward which one feels antagonism
Dyad
group of two
Which social theorist was the first to analyze
bureaucracies as powerful forms of social
organization that are concerned with the "bottom
line"?
Max Weber
Role Strain
Conflict someone feels within a role
Suppose that you are exceptionally well prepared for a
particular class assignment. Although the instructor asks
an unusually difficult question, you find yourself knowing
the answer when no one else does. If you want to raise
your hand, yet don't want to make your fellow students
look bad, you will experience role strain.
,____________ was interested in how societies manage
to create social integration —their members united by
shared values and other social bonds. He found the
answer in what he called mechanical solidarity.
Sociologist Emile Durkheim
mechanical solidarity
Durkheim's term for the unity (a shared consciousness)
that people feel as a result of performing the same or
similar tasks
division of labor
the splitting of a group's or a society's tasks into
specialties
organic solidarity
Durkheim's term for the interdependence that results from
the division of labor; as part of the same unit, we all
depend on others to fulfill their jobs
Which type of influence could convince people to
participate in horrible acts according to Milgram's
research?
Authority
What is the position conflict theorists have regarding
deviance?
Deviant behavior is defined by those with power
Deviance
violation of the norms
How is deviance culturally relative?
Applies to crimes, sexuality and capitalism
Biosocial perspective on deviance
Explained deviance by looking within individuals. Assume
genetic predispositions lead people to bad behavior.
Psychological perspective on deviance
, Abnormalities within an individual. Personality disorder.
Subconscious motives drive people to deviance.
Sociological perspective on deviance
Look at factors outside of the individual. Look for social
influences that "recruit people" to break the norms. To
explain deviance, they apply symbolic interactionalism,
functionalism and conflict theory.
Three Sociological Perspectives on Deviance
Differential association theory
Control Theory
Labeling Theory
Differential association theory
theory that individuals learn deviance in proportion to
number of deviant acts they are exposed to
Control Theory
the idea that two control systems- inner controls and outer
controls- work against our tendencies to deviate. This
theory is about self control
Labeling Theory
The significance of reputations and how they set us up on
paths to deviance or away from it.
Pervert - Cheater - Etc
Strain Theory
Merton's theory that deviance occurs when a society does
not give all its members equal ability to achieve socially
acceptable goals
Use strain theory to explain why someone may
commit the crime of selling drugs
