Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective Glossary

global perspective (p. 5)
the study of the larger world and our society's place in it

high-income countries (p. 6)
industrialized nations in which most people have relatively high incomes

latent functions (p. 15)
the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern

low-income countries (p. 6)
nations with little industrialization in which most people are poor

macro-level orientation (p. 17)
a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole

manifest functions (p. 15)
the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern

micro-level orientation (p. 17)
a close-up focus on social interaction in specific situations

middle-income countries (p. 6)
nations with limited industrialization and moderate personal income

positivism (p. 13)
a way of understanding based on science

social dysfunction (p. 15)
the undesirable consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society

social function (p. 15)
the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole

social structure (p. 15)
any relatively stable pattern of social behavior

social-conflict paradigm (p. 16)
a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change

sociology (p. 1)
the systematic study of human society

stereotype (p. 21)
an exaggerated description applied to every person in some category

structural-functional paradigm (p. 15)
a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability

symbolic-interaction paradigm (p. 18)
a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals

theoretical paradigm (p. 14)
a basic image of society that guides thinking and research

theory (p. 14)
a statement of how and why specific facts are related

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