sociological theory
theory advanced by social scientists to explain facts about the social world
social constructivism
sociological theory of knowledge according to which human development is socially situated, and knowledge is constructed through interaction with others; states that people work together to actively construct artifacts
symbolic interactionism
a sociological theory focused on cultural symbols exchanged during interpersonal interactions
Veneer theory
term coined by Dutch primatologist Frans de Waal to label the Hobbesian view of human morality
female gaze
feminist film theoretical term
broken windows theory
criminological theory
critical sociology
philosophy that sociological understanding's primarily use should be social reform
The Peter Principle
book and concept by Laurence J. Peter that states that people in a hierarchy tend to rise to "a level of respective incompetence"
social conflict theory
sociological theory that argues that societal interactions are defined by conflict between the oppressed and the oppressors
The School of Reis
Film theory concept
field theory
in sociology
generational replacement
theory by P. R. Abramson and R. Inglehart that attributes changes in values between generations to different circumstances growing up
high trust and low trust societies
sociology concept
social differentiation
sociological theory
Glass of water theory
doctrine in communism
role theory
concept in sociology that considers most of everyday activity to be acting-out socially defined categories
Deviance regulation theory
sociological theory
Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development
adaptation of a psychological theory originally conceived by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget
action theory
sociological theory of social action
social theory
analytical framework, or paradigm, that is used to study and interpret social phenomena
modernization theory
explanation for the process of modernization within societies
Thomas theorem
sociological theory stating that "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences"
media system dependency theory
1976 theory developed by Sandra Ball-Rokeach and Melvin Defleur
intersectionality
theoretical framework of multidimensional oppression
Theory of generations
sociological theory
structural functionalism
a sociological theory arguing that the stability of society is determined by functional institutions and individuals having a specific role
conflict theory
perspectives in sociology and social psychology that emphasize a materialist interpretation of history, dialectical method of analysis, a critical stance toward existing social arrangements, and political program of revolution or, at least, reform
risk society
manner in which modern society organizes in response to risk
racialization
political process of ascribing ethnic or racial identities to a relationship, social practice, or group that did not identify itself as such for the purpose of domination and social exclusion
relational sociology
interactionist approach of social sciences interested in emergence of social structures
mean world syndrome
perception of more danger than really exists
self-determination theory
cognitive theory of human motivation and personality
social identity theory
social psychology theory about intergroup behavior based on perceived group status differences, perceived legitimacy and stability of status differences, and perceived mobility between groups
control theory
in sociology, the idea that two control systems—inner controls and outer controls—work against our tendencies to deviate
modernization theory of nationalism
Nationalism is distinctly modern