Sociology 1027A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Latent Learning, Social Inequality, Industrial Revolution

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 1027A/B
• Professor: Wolfgang Lehmann

Document Summary

The term sociology was coined by auguste comte who sought to understand how society. worked and how all of the changes (going on during the industrial revolution) might transform society and the people living in it. Society is based on and requires interaction b/w its members. Through socialization, we teach others the written/unwritten values in our society, as well as regulate each other to ensure we are following society"s rules and expectations. Interactions in society are based on our culture, which can be divided into two categories; dominant culture and countercultures. The dominant culture imposes its beliefs on society because of its power, whereas the counterculture rejects certain elements of the dominant culture. Subcultures do not necessarily oppose the dominant culture, but they do differ from the dominant culture. High culture is society"s elite, whereas popular culture is usually the majority. Sociology primarily focuses on social inequality, the role of social institutions, and social change.