Sociology Concept Map

Sociological imagination - the "when" and "where" we were born

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Principles of Sociology - "sociology is the scientific study of human behavior, interaction, and organization."

The Outsiders Ch 3: Success is not due to natural talents and skills but rather the advantages you have from where and when you are born. Ex) Hockey players born early in the year had an advantage. Older children in each grade were placed in more advanced groups.

Children born into foster care face many struggles in becoming successful. These children do not have the resources they need to do well in school. They have no one helping them like parents usually do. 20% become homeless once aged out. This is not due to lack of intelligence, this is caused by a failed system.

"Culture represents the characteristics of a group or society that make it distinct from other groups and societies."

People belong to many different sub cultures. For example: I belong to NC State culture, American culture, and my own personal family culture.

Sociology is a science! The study of human behavior, interaction, and organization.

There is material cultures (artifacts, foods, things you can touch) and non-material cultures (traditions, music, beliefs, things you cannot touch)

Elements: norms, values, beliefs, symbols, language

Social Construct - Our interactions with other people create meaning.

Culture is a social construct that can be altered.

Physical reality: concrete. Social reality: non concrete

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Our rituals are what we practice. Such as brushing our teeth or going to the gym. We practice these rituals everyday but they are socially constructed.

Ethnocentrism - "The belief that one's own culture is superior to others."

Outliers Chapter 4: When looking at parenting styles between the middle and lower class, there are some key differences. The middle class children are taught to be more assertive and question authority more, while the lower class children are taught to not do this. This develops certain skills in one group that are not seen in the other. One is not better than the other, but it sets the children up differently.

Socialization allows us to internalize that norms of our social group.

Primary Socialization: Occurs in early childhood by family

Secondary Socialization: already socialized person joining new groups (later in life)

Identity is developed by the different roles we play. Our culture, family, community, sexuality, etc. are parts of our identity.

The looking glass self - children learn who they are through their intentions with others - see through others eyes

Role strain - a social role has competing demands

Role conflict - different social roles conflict

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Aging out of foster care offers many sociological challenges for young people.

Sociological Mindfulness - How private matters are connected to public issues

Everyone has their own viewpoint of the world

Our actions matter and we must pay attention to the outcomes of them

Community engagement is higher education coming together with the larger community and collaborating in order to both benefit

Conduct research to explore, explain, define, and evaluate

There is basic research and applied research

We look at quantitative vs qualitative research

Social Stratification

Society's categorization of putting people into groups

Symbolic interaction - viewing society as a social construct

Structural Functionalism

Conflict Theory - Conflict arises when resources, status, and power are unequal

Structural power, status power, expert power

Race is a social construct - product of social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics

Ethnicity - group of people who share the same heritage

White privilege - inherent advantages for white people

White fragility - defensive reactions from white people

Racism