SOCIOLOGY 2001 INTRODUCTION:
What Is Sociology:
- A social science that studies human society
- Social interactions- How people relate to one another and how they influence each other’s
decisions
- Sociologists focus on the group relations rather than individuals themselves
- Sociologists examine social phenomena or observable facts or events involving human
interaction to make predictions about future trends and behaviors
- Aspects of social life that shape a person’s life
- Always affected by multiple communities and their own specific social norms
- Individuals and society must be studied together
Terms:
Group- Any collection of at least two people who connect frequently and share certain aspects
Society- Group of people who lived in a defined geographic area who interact and share a common
culture
Micro-level- Theories that relate to large scale issues and large groups of people. Look at very
specific relationships between individuals or small groups
Culture- Refers to the group’s shared practices, values, and beliefs
Reification- Error of treating an abstract concept as though it is a real material existence
Social construct- Ideas or beliefs that are developed by society but are not biological facts or
existence
Questions:
1. What are people doing with each other?
2. What are their relationships with each other?
3. How are these relationships organized in institutions?
4. What are the collective ideas that move men and institutions?
Narrowing It Down:
- Sports
- Sexuality
- Gender/Sex
- Age
- Media
- Animals
- Religion
What Is Sociology:
- A social science that studies human society
- Social interactions- How people relate to one another and how they influence each other’s
decisions
- Sociologists focus on the group relations rather than individuals themselves
- Sociologists examine social phenomena or observable facts or events involving human
interaction to make predictions about future trends and behaviors
- Aspects of social life that shape a person’s life
- Always affected by multiple communities and their own specific social norms
- Individuals and society must be studied together
Terms:
Group- Any collection of at least two people who connect frequently and share certain aspects
Society- Group of people who lived in a defined geographic area who interact and share a common
culture
Micro-level- Theories that relate to large scale issues and large groups of people. Look at very
specific relationships between individuals or small groups
Culture- Refers to the group’s shared practices, values, and beliefs
Reification- Error of treating an abstract concept as though it is a real material existence
Social construct- Ideas or beliefs that are developed by society but are not biological facts or
existence
Questions:
1. What are people doing with each other?
2. What are their relationships with each other?
3. How are these relationships organized in institutions?
4. What are the collective ideas that move men and institutions?
Narrowing It Down:
- Sports
- Sexuality
- Gender/Sex
- Age
- Media
- Animals
- Religion
