What is Sociology Jon Witt Sociology is the systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society and the consequences of difference From The Big Picture Allan Johnson Sociology s Most Important Point We are always participating in something larger than ourselves and if we want to understand social life and what happens to people in it we have to understand what it is that we re participating in and how we participate in it From The Forest and the Trees C Wright Mills The Sociological Imagination The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society From The Sociological Imagination Jon Carl Conflict theory is a theoretical framework that views society as an unequal system that brings about conflict and change From Think Sociology Conflict Theory Agency Intentional and undetermined human action Social Structure The framework that surrounds us consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another which gives direction to and sets limits on behavior Our actions and interactions are structured by social forces peers families communities cultures religious groups schools workplaces economic systems laws governments norms values social roles etc