Reflexivity in sociology describes the ongoing connections and mutual influence between social life and the knowledge we gain about it; the very act of studying and understanding society can subsequently affect the way individuals and groups behave within it. For instance, if a survey reveals a high level of public support for a particular political party, this knowledge might lead some individuals to express their own support for that party, either to align with the perceived majority or because the information itself influences their opinion. Similarly, sociological research on the effects of labeling can lead to changes in how institutions approach and treat individuals labeled as deviant, potentially altering the outcomes for those individuals. Reflexivity highlights the dynamic and interactive relationship between social research and the social world it seeks to understand, emphasizing that sociological knowledge is not always neutral or detached but can have real-world consequences on social actions and perceptions.