Develop A 3-5 Page Outline Of Concepts You Would Like To App

Develop A 3 5 Page Outline Of Concepts You Would Like To Apply To Your

Develop a 3-5 page outline of concepts you would like to apply to your own life and identify relevant scholarly sources that will help you with your application of concepts. As you may have noticed as you have worked through earlier assessments, Sociology is applicable to our everyday lives. We can oftentimes take a sociological concept and use it to explain something that occurs in our own lives. For example, you have learned about norms and how we tend to follow the norms of a society. You can use that to explain how people behave when they are in an elevator.

Most people face forward, look up at the numbers, and don't talk. Many of your experiences can be analyzed using sociological concepts. For your final assessment, Assessment 6, you will complete a Sociology of Me and apply many of the concepts you have learned about in this course to your own life. For Assessment 5, begin to think about which concepts you would like to apply to your own experience, develop an outline, and identify appropriate resources. In order to complete this assessment, you will need to show your understanding of some additional concepts related to social structure, education, and technology/media.

We have learned how a society's culture can influence people. There are other elements in society, however, that also affect our decisions and behavior. Sociological research has found that in addition to culture, social structure and groups also significantly impact many of our individual choices. Our position in the social structure affects our behaviors, attitudes, and ideas. For example, an important element of social structure are groups.

We belong to a variety of different groups. Decades of research have documented the impact of group conformity on the individual. Although people tend to often believe that they act as individuals and aren't impacted by others, research has found this is usually not the case. The Milgram experiment in your Resources is a great example. Milgram (1963) examined conformity and obedience and found that people are highly influenced by authority and the demands of conformity, even to the point that we will inflict pain on another person to obey authority.

Sociologists also study education and how it is impacted by a society's culture and structure. The purpose of education is to provide knowledge (facts, skills, cultural norms) to members of a society. In the United States, education teaches us not just skills, but also how to be effective citizens. Education transmits the dominant culture, ensuring that children understand cultural norms and values. Educational attainment impacts life outcomes—it affects our occupation, earnings, work conditions, and health.

Thus, education is related to social inequality. We have a tendency to assume that education is an equalizer in the United States, but this is something that is debated by sociologists. Is education equally available to everyone? Studies suggest it is not. Social class can impact the quality of school children attend, what they study, and how many years they attend school.

Many students graduate from college with significant student loan debt. How might someone's experience after college graduation be different if they graduated from college debt-free because their parents could afford to pay for it? We regularly see new products and services as a result of increasing technology. We often take the influence of technology and media for granted, but it has a substantial impact on how we understand our culture and society as a whole. Many new products and services are a response to society's changing needs.

But technology can also serve to shape the values held by a society. Think about how our interaction has changed in the past ten years as a result of technology. Has that impacted our values? A small number of corporations deliver Internet platforms and a small number of corporations produce most of our media. What impact does that have on our access to technology and information?

Paper For Above instruction

Sociology offers a profound lens through which to analyze various facets of personal experience and societal influence. Applying sociological concepts to one's own life illuminates how societal structures, cultural norms, education, and technological advancements shape individual behaviors and perceptions. In this outline, I will explore several key sociological concepts—culture and socialization, social structure and groups, education, and technology/media—and analyze their relevance to my personal experiences.

1. Culture and Socialization

The foundation of sociological analysis begins with understanding culture and socialization. Culture encompasses the shared beliefs, norms, values, symbols, and language that define a society. Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals internalize their culture, learning the norms and behaviors expected of them. In my life, cultural values instilled during childhood have significantly influenced my worldview and behavior. For instance, my family's emphasis on respect and community cooperation reflects broader societal values learned through agents of socialization such as family, peers, and media.

The concept of norms, including how they operate in specific settings like an elevator — where most people conform by facing forward and avoiding conversation — exemplifies informal social rules that maintain social order (Giddens, 2013). Additionally, my experiences with language and cultural symbols have shaped my social identity, aligning with findings that language and symbols serve as core elements of cultural transmission (Schilling, 2013).

2. Social Structure and Groups

The influence of social structure and groups is evident in my life through the various roles and statuses I occupy. My membership in primary groups like family and friends has provided emotional support and social identity, consistent with Cooley’s (1902) theory of primary groups shaping self-concept. Conversely, my involvement in secondary groups, such as academic or professional organizations, has introduced new norms and expectations, highlighting how group membership influences behavior and perspectives (Henslin, 2017).

The impact of conformity and obedience—illustrated by Milgram’s (1963) experiments—reminds me of situations where authority figures or peer pressure sway decision-making. Understanding groupthink, where the desire for consensus overrides individual judgment (Janis, 1982), helps me reflect on moments of collective decision-making in group settings.

3. Education and Social Inequality

My educational journey exemplifies how education functions as a social institution transmitting cultural norms and knowledge. The hidden curriculum, which includes norms such as punctuality and discipline, has subtly influenced my work ethic. Tracking and social stratification have shaped my educational opportunities, consistent with research indicating that social class impacts access to quality education (Bourdieu, 1986).

The debate over education as an equalizer resonates with my experience; while I had access to higher education, I acknowledge that socioeconomic background influences the quality of my education relative to others from different social classes. The burden of student debt post-graduation exemplifies ongoing issues of economic inequality and access to higher education (Hout & Elliott, 2011).

4. Technology and Media

Technology and media continuously influence my daily routines and perceptions. The digital divide remains pertinent, impacting access to information and opportunities (Van Dijk, 2006). Social media platforms frame my understanding of current events and cultural trends, demonstrating framing effects that shape public perception (Entman, 1993). Furthermore, technological development has accelerated social change, making adaptation essential for personal and professional growth (Castells, 2010).

The rise of major corporations controlling internet platforms has implications for media diversity and narrative control, raising questions about the societal impact of concentrated media ownership (McChesney, 2008). As someone navigating digital spaces, awareness of these sociological factors enables me to critically evaluate information sources and recognize biases.

Conclusion

Applying sociological concepts to my life underscores the interconnectedness of individual agency and societal influences. From cultural norms and group dynamics to educational inequalities and technological advancements, these concepts offer valuable insights into understanding my experiences within the broader social fabric. Recognizing these influences enhances my sociological awareness and equips me with tools for critical reflection and active participation in society.

References

• Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241-258). Greenwood.
• Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
• Cooley, C. H. (1902). Human nature and the social order. Scribner.
• Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58.
• Giddens, A. (2013). Sociology (7th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
• Henslin, J. M. (2017). Sociology: A down-to-earth approach. Pearson.
• Hout, M., & Elliott, S. W. (2011). Incentives and opportunities: Are college students more likely to choose higher-quality colleges because of financial aid? Sociology of Education, 84(3), 200-211.
• Janis, I. L. (1982). Groupthink: Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes. Houghton Mifflin.
• Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371-378.
• Schilling, N. (2013). Culture, symbols, and language. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 16(3), 251-262.
• Van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2006). The network society: Social aspects of new media. Sage Publications.