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Topic Review
Technology Studies
Technology society and life or technology and culture refers to cyclical co-dependence, co-influence, and co-production of technology and society upon the other (technology upon culture, and vice versa). This synergistic relationship occurred from the dawn of humankind, with the invention of simple tools and continues into modern technologies such as the printing press and computers. The academic discipline studying the impacts of science, technology, and society, and vice versa is called science and technology studies.
  • 2.6K
  • 07 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Social Mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy, typically involving changes in socioeconomic status, occupational attainment, or educational attainment across generations or within a single lifetime. It encompasses upward mobility, where individuals ascend to higher social positions, as well as downward mobility, where individuals experience a decline in social status. Social mobility reflects the fluidity and dynamism of social structures, influenced by factors such as meritocracy, education, economic opportunity, and social policies.
  • 2.6K
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Civil Inattention
Civil inattention is a term in sociology coined by the sociologist Erving Goffman. It refers to the social norm of signaling awareness of others without imposing on them. In other words, when people engage in civil inattention, they acknowledge the presence of others in a public space but avoid staring or making prolonged eye contact in order to respect each other's privacy and maintain social boundaries.
  • 2.5K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Negative Capability
Negative capability was a phrase first used by Romantic poet John Keats in 1817 to characterise the capacity of the greatest writers (particularly Shakespeare) to pursue a vision of artistic beauty even when it leads them into intellectual confusion and uncertainty, as opposed to a preference for philosophical certainty over artistic beauty. The term has been used by poets and philosophers to describe the ability of the individual to perceive, think, and operate beyond any presupposition of a predetermined capacity of the human being.
  • 2.5K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Freedom
The concept of freedom has been a central theme in philosophy, politics, and human discourse throughout history. While interpretations may vary, freedom generally refers to the state of being free from coercion, constraint, or interference, allowing individuals to act or choose according to their own will. It encompasses various dimensions, including political, social, economic, and personal freedoms.
  • 2.5K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Deindividuation
Deindividuation is a concept in social psychology that is generally thought of as the loss of self-awareness in groups, although this is a matter of contention (resistance) (see below). Sociologists also study the phenomenon of deindividuation, but the level of analysis is somewhat different. For the social psychologist, the level of analysis is the individual in the context of a social situation. As such, social psychologists emphasize the role of internal psychological processes. Other social sciences, such as sociology, are more concerned with broad social, economic, political, and historical factors that influence events in a given society.
  • 2.5K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Globalization
Globalization refers to the interconnectedness and interdependence of countries and cultures through the exchange of goods, services, information, and ideas on a global scale. It is characterized by the breaking down of traditional barriers to international trade, communication, and cultural exchange, resulting in increased economic, political, and cultural integration among nations. This phenomenon is driven by advancements in technology, transportation, and communication, facilitating the flow of capital, goods, and information across borders, ultimately shaping the global landscape and influencing various aspects of society.
  • 2.5K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Collective Behavior
Collective behavior refers to the spontaneous and unstructured actions of individuals within a group or society. Unlike more predictable forms of behavior guided by established norms and institutions, collective behavior emerges when people respond to a situation or event in ways that are often unplanned and can be unconventional.
  • 2.5K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Role of parasocial relationship (PSR)
       Individuals’ emotional bonds with media performers have impacts on desirable attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. A parasocial relation (PSR) is “a seeming face-to-face relationship” created between a media persona and audience members. PSR has persuasive influence on knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors concerning specific social issues such as health, environment, and politics. Audiences are also likely to perform the behaviors advocated by celebrities and adopt attitudes and beliefs similar to those held by celebrities. 
  • 2.4K
  • 08 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Systems of Social Stratification
Detailed anthropological and sociological studies have been made about customs of patrilineal inheritance, where only male children can inherit. Some cultures also employ matrilineal succession, where property can only pass along the female line, most commonly going to the sister's sons of the decedent; but also, in some societies, from the mother to her daughters. Some ancient societies and most modern states employ egalitarian inheritance, without discrimination based on gender and/or birth order.
  • 2.4K
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Value
In social sciences, value refers to a deeply held belief or principle that guides individuals' attitudes, behaviors, and decision-making processes. Values are subjective and culturally influenced, reflecting what individuals consider important, desirable, or morally significant in their lives and interactions with others. They serve as guiding principles that shape social norms, institutions, and collective identities within society.
  • 2.4K
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Social Network
A social network refers to a structure of social relationships and interactions among individuals, groups, or organizations. These relationships are characterized by connections, ties, or links that facilitate communication, exchange, and interaction within a network of interconnected nodes. Social networks can vary in size, complexity, and purpose, encompassing a wide range of interpersonal, professional, and community-based connections.
  • 2.4K
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Inequality
In social science, inequality refers to the disparities in the distribution of resources, opportunities, or privileges among individuals or groups within a society. These disparities can manifest in various forms, including economic, educational, and social inequalities, contributing to differential access to resources and opportunities. The study of inequality involves examining the structural factors, such as socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity, that perpetuate and shape these disparities, with the aim of understanding their impact on individuals and society at large.
  • 2.4K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Culture
Culture is the collective expression of a community's identity and represents the sum of its members' shared experiences. It encompasses both tangible and intangible elements, ranging from material artifacts and technology to language, rituals, and social norms. As a pervasive force, culture influences individual behaviors, shapes societal structures, and contributes to the diversity of human societies.
  • 2.4K
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Fire Knife
The fire knife is a traditional Samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. It was originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on both ends with a portion of the blade exposed in the middle. Tribal performers of fire knife dancing (or Siva Afi or even "Ailao Afi" as it is called in Samoa) dance while twirling the knife and doing other acrobatic stunts. The towels are set afire during the dances thus explaining the name.
  • 2.3K
  • 31 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Disability Studies
Disability studies is an academic discipline that examines the meaning, nature, and consequences of disability. Initially, the field focused on the division between "impairment" and "disability", where impairment was an impairment of an individual's mind or body, while disability was considered a social construct. This premise gave rise to two distinct models of disability: the social and medical models of disability. In 1999 the social model was universally accepted as the model preferred by the field. However, in recent years, the division between the social and medical models has been challenged. Additionally, there has been an increased focus on interdisciplinary research. For example, recent investigations suggest using "cross-sectional markers of stratification" may help provide new insights on the non-random distribution of risk factors capable of acerbating disablement processes.[clarification needed] Disability studies courses include work in disability history, theory, legislation, policy, ethics, and the arts. However, students are taught to focus on the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities in practical terms. The field is focused on increasing individuals with disabilities access to civil rights and improving their quality of life. Disability studies emerged in the 1980s primarily in the US, the UK, and Canada. In 1986, the Section[clarification needed] for the Study of Chronic Illness, Impairment, and Disability of the Social Science Association (United States) was renamed the Society for Disability Studies. The first US disabilities studies program emerged in 1994, at Syracuse University. The first edition of the Disabilities Studies Reader (one of the first collections of academic papers related to disability studies) was published in 1997. The field grew rapidly over the next ten years. In 2005, the Modern Language Association established disability studies as a "division of study". While Disability Studies primarily emerged in the US, the UK and Canada, disability studies were also conducted in other countries through different lens. For instance Germany, looks at Queer Disability Studies since the beginning of the early 20th century. The Disability Studies in Germany are influenced by the written literary works of feminist sexologist who study how being disabled affects one's sexuality and ability to feel pleasure. In Norway, Disability Studies are focused in the literary context. A variation emerged in 2017 with the first Accessibility Studies program at Central Washington Univeristy with an interdisciplinary focus on social justice, universal design and international Web Accessibility Guidelines (WAG3) as a general education knowledge base.
  • 2.2K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Visual Ageism
The concept of “visual ageism” describes the media practice of visually underrepresenting older people or misrepresenting them in a prejudiced way. Visual ageism refers to visual representations of older people being in peripheral or minor roles without positive attributes; non-realistic, exaggerated, or distorted portraits of older people, and over-homogenized characterizations of older people. 
  • 2.2K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Drugs’ Use in Mass Culture
Drugs in mass culture are uncritical, positive, or neutral representations of drug use that can be encountered in mass cultural products and media. Such representations can be seen in films, music, literature, websites, commercially marketed everyday products such as food, clothing, cosmetics, and celebrities' statements and attitudes towards drugs, among others. Some studies suggest a causal relationship between the representation of drug use in mass culture content and the liberalization of attitudes towards psychoactive substances and the decision to use these substances by the recipients of such content.
  • 2.2K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Remote Sensing for International Security
Remote sensing technology has seen a massive rise in popularity over the last two decades, be-coming an integral part of our lives. Space-based satellite technologies facilitated access to the in-accessible terrains, helped humanitarian teams, support complex emergencies, and contributed to monitoring and verifying conflict zones. The scoping phase of this review investigated the utility of the role of remote sensing application to complement international peace and security activities owing to their ability to provide objective near real-time insights at the ground level.
  • 2.2K
  • 01 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Bike-Sharing Systems
The idea behind Bike-Sharing Systems (BSS) is simple: a pool of publicly available bicycles placed around the city and ready to be used for a low payment BSS have raised in popularity in the last years due to their potential share in sustainable cities. Although the first attempts to implement a bike-sharing public service date back to 1965 (Amsterdam), their widespread use arrived with the millennium becoming a vibrant research area whose activity has increased steadily in the last decade.
  • 2.1K
  • 02 Mar 2021
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