Sociology Key Concepts: Theories, Thinkers, and Social Structures

sociology

the systematic study of human social life

why learn sociology?

a sociological imagination helps to see the world from another perspective, going beyond common sense

sociological imagination

ability to break free from our particular circumstance and see our social world in a new, broader light

C. Wright Mills

Wrote "The Promise", defined sociological imagination

troubles

issues that arise from individual shortcomings or bad luck

issues

occur because of broader environmental factors

industrial revolution

key to the emergence of sociology, changed the way work in done and changed social interaction

positivist sociology

the study of society based on scientific observation of social behavior

Harriet Martineau

wrote one of the first sociological methods book, early sociological feminist

Karl Marx

founder of modern communism, one of the earliest sociological theorists

proletariat

working class, do not control means of production

bourgeoisie

capitalist class who own the means of production

Auguste Comte

coined the term sociology/positivism, believed sociology could help solve social problems

materialism

the view that economic structures shape all other aspects of social life

infrastructure

economic basis (forces and regulation of production)

superstructure

legal/political institutions and ways of thinking (ideologies/philosophies)

two classes according to Marx

owners and laborers

Emile Durkheim

pushed sociology as a social science, first to engage in scientific social research, saw society as an integrated whole

mechanical social solidarity

social cohesion based on sameness (pre-industrial revolution)

organic social solidarity

social cohesion based on differences and interdependence of the constituent parts (industrial revolution)

4 types of suicide

egoistic, altruistic, anomic, fatalistic

egoistic suicide

low social integration

altruistic suicide

high social integration

anomic suicide

low social regulation

fatalistic suicide

high social regulation

Max Weber

felt society was multidimensional (economic, political, cultural)

power, according to Weber

the ability of one to achieve aims/goals despite resistance

authority

the justifiable right to exercise power

charismatic authority

power legitimized by extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience

traditional authority

power legitimized by respect for long-established cultural patterns

legal-rational authority

power that is legitimated by explicit rules and rational procedures that define the rights and duties of the occupants of given positions

bureaucracy

an organization that uses the most efficient means to achieve a valued goal

Marx history view

historical materialism

Durkheim history view

division of labor

Weber history view

rationalization

Marx view of industrial revolution

economic exploitation

Durkheim view of industrial revolution

economic interdependence and solidarity

Weber view of industrial revolution

charisma and tradition lose out to formal authority