Soc101-Ch.1-The Sociological Imagination

the systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society and of the consequences of difference

an awareness of the relationship between who we are as individuals and the social forces that shape our lives

obstacles that individuals face as individuals rather than as a consequence of the social position

obstacles that individuals in similar positions face; aka social problems (note that private troubles can become public issues)

the freedom individuals have to choose and to act

a condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power

the body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation

the study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change

the study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change

in sociology, a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior

the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective

sociological investigation that concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations

sociological investigation that stresses the study of small groups and the analysis of our everyday experiences and interactions

sociological approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability

sociological approach that assumes social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power and resource, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation

sociological approach that generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole

the process of recognizing the impact our individual position has on who we are and how we think and act, and of taking responsibility for the impacts our actions have on others

the use of sociology w/ the specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior or organizations

the use of sociology w/ the specific intent of altering organizations or restructuring social institutions

the worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas