sociological theorists

what did auguste comte believe in?

positivism

define positivism

emphasizes scientific method and that behavior can be objectively observed

who was Harriet Martineau?

one of the earliest feminist social scientists who addressed different social institutions like:

• institution of women

• federal vs local government

• educatoin of children

who was Karl Marx?

focused on conflict among social classes and believed change happened from conflict

define Marxism

a social, political, and economic philosophy that critiques capitalism and views class struggle as the main driver of historial change

who was Max Weber?

believed in interpretive sociology

define interpretive sociology

believed the meaning behind behavior was what mattered

who was Emile Durkheim?

looked at how social institutions work together to hold society together

• if one was lacking, he believed the other could pick up the slack

related to structural functionalism and anomie

define anomie

aimlessness or despair that one can feel during social change

what was the Chicago School?

a movement for american sociology that discussed things like:

• how different ethnic groups were viewed

• the way meaning emerges through interactions

who was W.E.B Du Bois?

believed in double consciousness

define double consciousness

the idea that there are 2 behavioral scripts

• one through white society involving prejudice and adjusting to that idea of what society is

• one with the people where you feel comfortable

who was Jane Addams?

an applied sociologist, similar to a social worker, who founded the hull house

what was the hull house?

a community resource for those in need

define functionalism

where various social institutions and processes in society exist to serve some important function and that everything works together to be as stable as possible

“everything in society is good and serves a power”

who were examples of theorists that believed in functionalism?

Durkheim & Comte

what is conflict theory?

the idea that there are political struggles among different groups and inequality is unfair and exists at the expense of less powerful groups

“everyone is fighting over power and it’s bad”

who is a theorist that believed in conflict theory?

Karl Marx

what is symbolic interactionism

how small groups interactions lead to shared meanings, orientations, and assumtptions form the basic motivation behind people’s actions

what was Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory?

the metaphor of theater related to everyday social interactions

• front stage: when you leave your house and there’s some sort of impression management

• back stage” being home and acting with less boundaries

define postmodernism?

known for questioning the status quo

• it follows the idea that we create the meaning and definition of things

  • asks you to consider alternatives

define microsociology

smaller group interactions

what is microsociology usually studied with?

qualitative analysis methods

define macrosociology

institution level interactions

what is macrosociology usually studied with?

statistical analysis