SOC101Y1 Midterm: good notes for test 1
Document Summary
Sociology is the systematic study of human behavior in social context. Social causes are distinct form physical and emotional causes. French sociologist emile durkheim (1951 [1897]), demonstrated at the end of the. 19th century that suicide is more than just an individual act of depression resulting from psychological disorder. He showed suicide rates are strongly influenced by social forces. Psychological disorders occurred most frequently when a person reached maturity. Unmarried adults, men, non-jews, seniors more prone to suicide. Data today shows that suicide rates do not necessary increase steadily with age. Sociologists call relatively stable patterns of social relations social structures. One of the sociologist"s main tasks is to identify and explain the connection btw people"s personal troubles and the social structures in which people are embedded. 3 levels of social structure surround and penetrate us. microstructures are patterns of intimate social relations. Families, friendship circles, and work associations are all examples of this.
