Chapter 1 Highlights
➔ The primary theme of sociology is that our everyday
thoughts and actions are the product of a complex
interplay between massive social forces and personal
characteristics. We can't understand the relationship
between individuals and societies without understanding
both.
➔ The sociological imagination is the ability to see the
impact of social forces on our private lives-an awareness
that our lives lie at the intersection of personal biography
and societal history.
➔ Rather than studying what goes on within people,
sociologists study what goes on between people, whether
as individuals, groups, organizations, or entire societies.
Sociology forces us to look outside the tight confines of
our individual personalities to understand the phenomena
that shape us.
,Chapter 1 Key Terms
Types of Suicide
Altruistic - Types of suicide that occur when a person feels
as though their death would benefit the group/community
(Community > Self Identity) *Suicide out of Obligation
Anomic - Suicides as a result of major social events that
cause people to feel hopeless or disillusioned (i.e. the great
depression)
Egoistic - Suicide caused by extreme isolation (Absence of
Social Integration). Individuals who are social outcasts and
see themselves as being alone or an outsider. These
individuals are unable to find their own place in society
and have problems adjusting to groups.
Fatalistic - When people come to the conclusion that death
is preferable to their own oppressive circumstances (i.e. life
sentence prisoners)
,Comparative Method
Compare and contrast official statistics with historical
records to test a theory about a social phenomenon (i.e
study on suicide rates looking for patterns)
Individualistic Explanation
Attributing people’s achievements and failures to their
personal qualities. (i.e. Blaming a failure on a person
instead of looking at the big picture)
Macro vs Micro Level
Macrolevel - Examining human life in a way that focuses on
broad social forces (The big picture)
Microlevel - Examining human life through the lens of
individual interactions and experiences
Sociological Imagination
The ability to see the impact of forces on private lives;
enables us to understand the larger historical picture and
, its meaning in our lives. (Outsider looking in? Or Self
Realization)
Sociology
Systematic study of human society
Chapter 2 Highlights
➔ Although society exists as an objective fact, it is also
created, reaffirmed, and altered through the day-to-day
interactions of the very people it influences and controls.
➔ Humans are social beings. We look to others to help define
and interpret particular situations. Other people can
influence what we see, feel, think, and do.
➔ Society consists of socially recognizable combinations of
individuals — relationships, groups, and organizations as
well as the products of human action — statuses, roles,
culture, institutions, and broad societal forces such as
➔ The primary theme of sociology is that our everyday
thoughts and actions are the product of a complex
interplay between massive social forces and personal
characteristics. We can't understand the relationship
between individuals and societies without understanding
both.
➔ The sociological imagination is the ability to see the
impact of social forces on our private lives-an awareness
that our lives lie at the intersection of personal biography
and societal history.
➔ Rather than studying what goes on within people,
sociologists study what goes on between people, whether
as individuals, groups, organizations, or entire societies.
Sociology forces us to look outside the tight confines of
our individual personalities to understand the phenomena
that shape us.
,Chapter 1 Key Terms
Types of Suicide
Altruistic - Types of suicide that occur when a person feels
as though their death would benefit the group/community
(Community > Self Identity) *Suicide out of Obligation
Anomic - Suicides as a result of major social events that
cause people to feel hopeless or disillusioned (i.e. the great
depression)
Egoistic - Suicide caused by extreme isolation (Absence of
Social Integration). Individuals who are social outcasts and
see themselves as being alone or an outsider. These
individuals are unable to find their own place in society
and have problems adjusting to groups.
Fatalistic - When people come to the conclusion that death
is preferable to their own oppressive circumstances (i.e. life
sentence prisoners)
,Comparative Method
Compare and contrast official statistics with historical
records to test a theory about a social phenomenon (i.e
study on suicide rates looking for patterns)
Individualistic Explanation
Attributing people’s achievements and failures to their
personal qualities. (i.e. Blaming a failure on a person
instead of looking at the big picture)
Macro vs Micro Level
Macrolevel - Examining human life in a way that focuses on
broad social forces (The big picture)
Microlevel - Examining human life through the lens of
individual interactions and experiences
Sociological Imagination
The ability to see the impact of forces on private lives;
enables us to understand the larger historical picture and
, its meaning in our lives. (Outsider looking in? Or Self
Realization)
Sociology
Systematic study of human society
Chapter 2 Highlights
➔ Although society exists as an objective fact, it is also
created, reaffirmed, and altered through the day-to-day
interactions of the very people it influences and controls.
➔ Humans are social beings. We look to others to help define
and interpret particular situations. Other people can
influence what we see, feel, think, and do.
➔ Society consists of socially recognizable combinations of
individuals — relationships, groups, and organizations as
well as the products of human action — statuses, roles,
culture, institutions, and broad societal forces such as
