Intro to Sociology: Theorist Quick Reference Sheet

Auguste Comte

father of sociology, used positivism, coined the term “sociology”

Karl Marx

original developer of conflict theory, identified 2/3 social classes

Emile Durkheim

researched suicide, published rules of sociological method, known for anomie, published suicide, believed people are products of their environment

Harriet Martineau

advocate for social change, noted for translation of comte’s work to english, encouraged race & gender equality, published society in america

Talcot Parsons

identified specific roles for men and women in the home, believed society must meet basic social needs for the population

Robert Merton

distinguished between manifest and latent functions

W.E.B. Du Bois

founded 2nd department of sociology at Atlanta University, published numerous articles on race & ethnicity, co-founder of NAACP

Jane Addams

founder of the hull house in Chicago, advocated for social reform in society, recipient of the noble prize for peace

Georg Simmell

identified groups and their effect on society