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Intro to Sociology Core Concepts
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1
Question
What is sociology?
Page 1
Answer
The systematic study of human society and how people live together, assuming people are fundamentally social beings.
2
Question
What assumption does sociology start from?
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Answer
People are fundamentally social beings.
3
Question
What does sociology explore regarding individuals and groups?
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Answer
How individuals and groups interact.
4
Question
What governs behavior according to sociology?
Page 1
Answer
Social structures and institutions like family, education, religion, and government.
5
Question
What broader issues does sociology address?
Page 1
Answer
Inequality, social change, and cultural diversity.
6
Question
What methods does sociology use?
Page 1
Answer
Qualitative and quantitative research to analyze patterns and understand societal functions.
7
Question
How does sociology differ from psychology?
Page 1
Answer
Sociology focuses on social and societal aspects of human behavior; psychology on individual and internal features.
8
Question
Who is a key figure in sociology mentioned?
Page 1
Answer
Peter L. Berger.
9
Question
What book by Peter L. Berger discusses sociology?
Page 1
Answer
Invitation to Sociology.
10
Question
What does Peter L. Berger argue sociology reveals?
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Answer
The sociological perspective or consciousness.
11
Question
What is the first key aspect of sociological thinking?
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Answer
The general in the particular: identifying general patterns of social life by looking at particular examples.
12
Question
Give an example of the general in the particular.
Page 1
Answer
Studying for a diploma: individual reason reflects a societal pattern of education pursuit.
13
Question
What is the second key aspect of sociological thinking?
Page 1
Answer
The strange in the familiar: recognizing things are not what they seem by examining everyday norms from a fresh perspective.
14
Question
Give an example of the strange in the familiar.
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Answer
Shaking hands as a greeting: a social norm reinforced by culture, not natural.
15
Question
What is the third key aspect of sociological thinking?
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Answer
Individuality within a social construct: human behavior shaped by societal norms, expectations, and cultural influences rather than pure independence.
16
Question
Who analyzed suicide to show social influences?
Page 2
Answer
Émile Durkheim.
17
Question
What is Peter L. Berger's metaphor of closed doors?
Page 2
Answer
Refers to the curiosity of sociologists to understand what is behind social barriers by listening to human voices.
18
Question
What is the ultimate goal of sociology according to Berger?
Page 2
Answer
Understanding social situations, not necessarily solving society's issues.
19
Question
What does the social world model illustrate?
Page 2
Answer
The interconnected levels of analysis: micro, meso, and macro in social surroundings.
20
Question
What is the micro level in the social world model?
Page 2
Answer
Includes family, close friends, local organizations, and communities (e.g., school, place of worship, hangouts).
21
Question
What is the meso level in the social world model?
Page 2
Answer
Includes national organizations, institutions, ethnic subcultures (e.g., political party, ethnic affiliation).
22
Question
What is the macro level in the social world model?
Page 2
Answer
Includes society (e.g., national government, economic system) and global community (e.g., UN, World Bank, multinational corporations).
23
Question
Who introduced the concept of social facts?
Page 2
Answer
Émile Durkheim.
24
Question
What are social facts?
Page 2
Answer
Ways of acting, thinking, and feeling created and accepted by a group, with power to coerce individuals to follow.
25
Question
How are social facts often experienced?
Page 2
Answer
Through education, family, and sometimes even religion, compelling conformity (even unconsciously).
26
Question
Give examples of social facts.
Page 2
Answer
Widely accepted norms or values, such as obligation to wear clothes outside, language spoken, concept of time, or gender norms.
27
Question
What makes social facts collective?
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Answer
They exist beyond the individual and are not merely the sum of individual actions or experiences.
28
Question
Give an example of social facts being collective.
Page 3
Answer
The norm against stealing: a societal rule evolved and upheld by the entire society.
29
Question
What makes social facts external?
Page 3
Answer
They exist independently of individuals' will and are imposed on them.
30
Question
Give an example of social facts being external.
Page 3
Answer
Marriage laws or gender role expectations: shape actions even if disagreed with, or face sanctions like legal consequences or exclusion.