Chapter 2: Terms, Concepts and their Use in Sociology

Answer: Social control refers to the mechanisms a society uses to regulate individual and group behavior, aiming to conform to societal norms and rules. Formal social controls are codified laws and regulations enforced by designated bodies like police forces and judicial systems. Informal controls involve cultural norms and values exercised through family, peer groups, and community expectations. An example of formal control is the legal system punishing criminals, while informal control is a family disapproving of certain relationships.

Answer: Status refers to the recognized social position within a group or society, while role is the behavior expected from someone holding a particular status. Social hierarchy is maintained through differing statuses ascribed at birth or achieved through accomplishments, influencing social mobility. Roles provide structure to interactions, where higher status roles often have more privileges but more duties. Understanding these helps examine how social positions can change and the potential for mobility within a structured society.

Answer: Social stratification leads to structured inequalities in access to resources like education, wealth, and healthcare. Historically, the caste system in India is an example where birth determined one's access to resources, educational opportunities, and occupations. Similarly, the class system in feudal Europe limited resources to the aristocracy. Access to resources is typically stratified by hierarchical positions, often perpetuating power dynamics and limiting upward mobility.

Answer: Micro-level concepts focus on individual interactions and small-scale structures, like family dynamics and peer influences. Macro sociological concepts relate to larger societal patterns and structures, such as economic systems and social stratification. Integrating these levels ensures a comprehensive view of society by examining how individual behavior influences and contributes to larger socio-political frameworks, and vice versa. This dual perspective is crucial for understanding complex societal issues.

Answer: Sociological imagination is the ability to see individual experiences within a larger social context, differentiating between personal troubles and public issues. For instance, unemployment may seem like a personal trouble, due to lack of skills or effort, but sociologically, it is often a public issue tied to economic downturns, technological advancements, and policy decisions affecting job availability. This understanding encourages looking beyond individual circumstances to structural causes and broader societal trends.