sociology, the scientific study of social relationships, institutions, and societies
social institutions, structures in society providing the framework for governing the behavior of individuals in a community or society, such as family, education, religion, economy, and the government
society, a large group of people associated with a shared culture and social institutions
Sociological Perspective: the process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society (HP).
Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society (HP).
Social Structures: the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole (HP).
Sociological Imagination: the ability to see the details of our own lives in the context of larger social structures as opposed to merely personal choices or personal troubles (HP).
Social Change: the forces that change society’s organization and social structures (HP)
Auguste Comte (1798–1857), challenged this idea and stated that society could be studied using the same scientific methods in natural sciences, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. At age 24, he wrote an essay titled “Plan for the Scientific Work Necessary to Reorganize Society.”
positivism — authentic and valid knowledge of the social world is found only through scientific and empirical pursuit.
Three basic social theories emerged, providing the fundamental elements of the sociological perspective. The theories are titled conflict, functionalist, and symbolic interactionism.