Sociological Perspective Chapter #1

Sociology Class 2025

Sociology

study of:

• individual human behavior

• Groups

• Society

• Social aspect

Sociological imagination

Way of understanding complex relation of one individual experience and applying to real world social issues.

Paradigm

a perspective, different way of looking at the world.

Urbanization

growth of people and cities

Social location

person's unique identity, consisting of groups such as race, class, gender, and age, influences

Society

group of people sharing culture and territory

Auguste Comte (1798 - 1857)

• French Guy

• Coined the term “sociology”

• Proposed applying the scientific method to social science

Positivism

• looking at the facts rather than theories

• belief scientific method is more applicable to social life

Harriet Martinue (1802 - 1876)

• aociologist and advocate for women's rights

• known for her work on social reform and her writings on inequality

• author of more than a thousand paper liners

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883)

• German guy

• Wrote 2 books (Das Kapital and Communist Manifesto)

• theorized class struggle and relationships in society

Herbert Spencer (1820 - 1903)

honestly, only known for the term he coined together: “survival of the fittest,” meaning the tendency of ppl being rich and poor. A survive type of situation

Class Conflict

Marx envisioned society as a struggle between capitalists and workers

Bourgeoisie

Owners of the means of production. Control economic power.

Proletanat

working class, sells labor for wages. Bourgeoisle often exploit the proletariat for more money, maximizing profits.

Surplus value

difference between what the owner paid for goods vs what they pay workers, equaling profit.

Dialectal materialism

extreme form of social dialect. a way of thining about the world. !!! CHECK !!!

Synthesis

Thesis + Antithesis = ???

resolution produces new idea of both the thesis and antithesis, leading to a new solution.

Emile Durkheim (1858 - 1917)

french sociologist known for his studies on social integration and the importance of social norms.

also studied suicides, coming up with the idea that suicide is the result of a person’s relationship in society.

Social Integration

Individuals of a group of society, feeling united by shared values or social bonds.

Social Facts

regular patterns of behavior existing independently and constrain individual behavior.

Social Structures

enduring relatively stable patterns of social behavior

Moral Regulation

act of a social group sets boundaries. Trying to pursure own desires.!!! Check !!!

Max Weber (1864 - 1920)

• German guy

• Influential sociologist

• Argues life experiences influence more rationality

• Known for concepts of Verstehen (Subjective Understanding)

• Believed a “Protestant Ethic” helped lead the rise of Capatlismand the importance of bureaucracy in modern societies. Emphasized the role of values and beliefs in shaping social action.

Predestination

The belief that god has a predetermined plan for people.

Protestant Ethic

The concept by Max Weber is that if one is disciplined and hard working, ultimately would lead to economic success

Calvanist

Member/Person who heavily believed in pre-destination, also didn’t fw poor people. Believed who interacted with the poor would result in moral corruption.

Georg Simmel (1858 - 1918)

• Pioneer in microsociology

• Believed in the theory “The Stranger” - meaning emotionally distant, but approximately close.

• Studied Social Interactions.

Jane Adams (1860 - 1935)

• Known for Social Reform

• Co-founded the Hull House - providing assistance to immigrants

• Established the juvenile court system, advocated for womans rights

George Herbert Mead (1863 - 1931)

• Masters in Philosphy in 1888

• Founder of symbolic interactions

• emphasized the importance of social interactions

Symbolic Interactionism

• A person changes their self-concept/values accordingly to the person he/she meet

Self, I, Me

• Concept by George Herbert Mead

• Self - an Individuals personality of self awarness + image

• I - part of oneself, subject of onself

• Me - perspective we imagine how others see us; an object.

Web Du Bois (1868 - 1963)

• 1st African American to graduate with PHD in Harvard

• Founded the NAACP, civil rights activist.

• Wrote “The Souls of Black Folk”

• Coined the word “double consciousness” describing internal conflict between both people of African descent and Americans.

The Souls of Black People

• Influential book by W. E. B. du Bois

• Central themes talked about in series of passages

• Talking about the Veil, reffering to microaggression and misconceptions of people of color

• Color line - metaphor for racial segregation

Macrosociology

analysis focusing on broad features of society/ in society

Microsociology

analyzing small social interactions among individuals

Mesosociology

Between Macro and Micro sociology focused on social units such as organizations and communities.

Structural Function

Sociological framework viewing society as a complex system.

Social Structure

Organized / Stable patterns of social behavior.

Social Function

Consequence / Effect of social structure.

Manifest functions

open, obvious + intended functions

Latent Functions

hidden, unintended functions

Social Dysfunction

Consequence of disrupting social structure and negatively impacting social stability.

Latent Dysfunction

hidden function, negative consequences for social stability.

Conflict theory

Theoretical perspective that interprets the idea that society is split into groups and compete for resources.

Power

Ability to influence / control. Even in the force of resistance.

Power Elite

A small group that holds such power is insignificant to others. Ex. military, political, and economic leaders.

Feminism

Support for both women and men. Challenging patriarchy and advocating for gender equality.

Symbolic Interactionism

Socioloical perspective focusing on the meanings of symbols and interactions among individuals in society.