What is a key element in the sociological imagination is the ability to view ones own society?

the scientific study of social behavior and human groups. It focuses on social relationships; how those relationships influence people's behavior; and how societies, the sum total of those relationships, develop and change.

the awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society. It is based on the ability to view our own society as an outsider might, rather than from the perspective of our limited experiences and cultural biases. 

What does sociological imagination allow us to do?

to comprehend the links between our immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world that surrounds us and helps to shape us. 

What is a key element in the sociological imagination?

the ability to view one's own society as an outsider would, rather than only from the perspective of personal experiences and cultural biases. 

What else does the sociological imagination allow us to do?

it allows us to go beyond personal experiences and observations to understand broader public issues. 

the term science refers to the body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation. Just like other scientific disciplines, sociology involves the organized, systematic study of phenomena (in this case, human behavior) in order to enhance understanding.

the study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change. They include astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. 

the study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change. They include sociology, anthropology, economics, history, psychology, and political science. 

What do social science disciplines have in common?

they focus on the social behavior of people, yet each has a particular orientation. 

Where do our theories and opinions come from?

common sense- that is, from our experiences and conversations, from what we read, from what we see on television, and so forth. 

Why do we rely on common sense?

to get us through many unfamiliar situations. However, this commonsense knowledge, while sometimes accurate, is not always reliable, because it rests on commonly held beliefs rather than on systematic analysis of facts.

How do sociologists accept something as a fact?

each piece of information must be tested and recorded, then analyzed in relation to other data.

Why do sociologists rely on scientific studies?

in order to describe and understand a social environment. 

a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior in a comprehensive manner. 

What makes an effective theory?

having both explanatory and predictive power. That is, it can help us to see the relationships among seemingly isolated phenomena, as well as to understand how one type of change in an environment leads to other changes. 

Why are theories not totally reliable and accurate all of the time?

It's not a final statement about human behavior. 

How is sociology difference than other social sciences?

sociology emphasizes the influence that groups can have on people's behavior and attitudes and the ways in which people shape society. 

Who were the nineteenth-century thinkers who contributed to sociological insights? 

Auguste Comte, a French philosopher; Harriet Martineau, an English sociologist; and Herbert Spencer, an English scholar.

pioneered work on suicide

taught the need for insight in intellectual work

emphasized the importance of the economy and social conflict

advocated for the usefulness of basic research in combating prejudice and fostering racial tolerance and justice.

Who was influential in the 20th century?

U.S. sociologists Charles Horton Cooley and Robert Merton, as well as French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu

concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations

stresses the study of small groups

Durkheim's term for the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective.

noneconomic goods, such as family background and education, which are reflected in a knowledge of language and the arts.

the division of an individual's identity into two or more social realities.

a construct or model for evaluating specific cases.

the collective benefit of social networks, which are built on reciprocal trust.

the German word for "understanding" or "insight"; used by Max Weber to stress the need for sociologists to take into account the subjective meanings people attach to their actions.

a sociological approach that assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power or the allocation of resources, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation.

a view of social interaction, popularized by Erving Goffman, in which people are seen as theatrical performers. 

an element or process of a society that may disrupt the social system or reduce its stability.

a sociological approach that views inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization.

functionalist perspective

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

interactionist perspective

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

an unconscious or unintended function that may reflect hidden purposes.

an open, stated, and conscious function.

the sending of messages through the use of gestures, facial expressions, and postures. 

the study of society from the perspective of a broad spectrum of sexualities including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

the use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations.

sociological inquiry conducted with the objective of gaining a more profound knowledge of the fundamental aspects of social phenomena. Also known as pure sociology. 

the use of the discipline of sociology with the specific intent of altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions. 

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

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

What are the key components of the sociological imagination?

What best describes the sociological imagination?