a short history of sociology

notes on appendix a from terrible, magnificent sociology by lisa wade

Who is considered the first sociologist and what key concept did he emphasize?

Auguste Comte; positivism.

What did Harriet Martineau focus her writings on?

Social justice and democracy.

What major theories did Émile Durkheim develop?

Those about structure, solidarity, and collective conscience.

What was Karl Marx's view of society?

It was composed of competing interests.

What concept did Max Weber introduce related to cultural beliefs?

The idea of the Protestant work ethic and the influence of cultural beliefs.

What did Marianne Weber study?

Marriage as a form of gendered oppression.

What profession did Jane Addams help to establish?

Social work.

Who were early proponents of conflict theory?

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Anna Julia Cooper, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.

What was W.E.B. Du Bois's contribution to sociology?

He worked to convince a racist America that Black Americans' struggle was due to discrimination and founded the NAACP.

What debate exists within the field of sociology?

Whether sociologists should write for other sociologists or for everyday people.

What does the term positivism refer to?

A philosophical perspective stating that scientific tools give us the capacity to accurately measure a true, objective reality in sociology.

Define public sociology.

The work of using sociological theory to make societies better.

What distinguishes microsociology from macrosociology?

One focuses on intricate studies of everyday interaction, while the other studies large-scale social trends.

What is structural functionalism?

The theory that societies are systems of necessary, synchronized parts that work together to create social stability.

What characterizes conflict theory in sociology?

Societies composed of competing interests and fights over control of valuable resources.

How does symbolic interactionism view social interaction?

Posits it depends on the social construction of reality and that we respond to symbolic meanings produced by it.

What is the sociological imagination?

The capacity to consider how people’s lives are shaped by the social facts surrounding them.

What did Robert Park contribute to sociology?

A pioneer in developing observational research techniques and quantitative data.

Who is known for the concept of the looking glass self?

Charles Horton Cooley.

What did Erving Goffman develop in the field of sociology?

The concept of dramaturgy.

What did Kimberlé Crenshaw introduce to sociology?

The idea of intersectionality.

What is standpoint theory and who originated it?

Originated by Dorothy Smith in 1989, it emphasizes the importance of social positions in shaping knowledge.