Lecture 2 - Developing a Sociological Perspective

What are the 3 main theories in sociology?

1. Positivist

2. Interpretive

3. Critical

Define macro level.

Studying social structures and institutions.

Define micro level.

Studying individuals and groups.

What is the functionalists perspective most concerned with?

How social order is maintained.

Hence, they care a lot about the structures within society that function to make society run smoothly.

Define anomic suicide.

A type of suicide that occurs when there is a breakdown of social norms and values, leading to a sense of purposelessness and a lack of direction in individuals' lives.

When did Durkheim think that anomic suicide would occur?

He felt that in times of rapid social change, people would become unregulated and start to move away from the regular social norms that made society orderly.

Hence, leading to anomic suicide.

How could a positivist perspective help define the concept of family?

Positivists approaches will gather data that can be used to identify trends in the way families are usually structured.

How could an interpretivist help define the concept of family?

They would look at fictive kin; people who are not related by blood, marriage or adoption but feel attached to one another and act like a family.

They would do this with the intention of understanding how people go about their daily lives and create meaning in their lives.