– Sociological Perspective: the process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society
– Social Structures: the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole.
– Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society
– 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 problems
– Social Change: the forces that change society\’s organization and social structures.
Sociology: In the Beginning
– The discipline has only existed for approximately 180 years
– the traditional views of philosophy and religion were the primary means to explain one\’s personal and social realms
Auguste Comte (1798 – 1875):
– A french philosopher that challenged the traditional views and idea that stated that society could be studied using the same scientific methods in natural sciences, like physics, chemistry, and biology.
– He established the term positivism – Authentic and valid knowledge of the social world is found only through scientific and empirical pursuit
– Comte believed that by using scientific methods to analyze society, sociologists could provide solutions to social problems, like crime and poverty.
– There are three basic social theories that emerged which provide the fundamental elements of the sociological perspective:
1. Conflict
2. Functionalist
3. Symbolic Interactionism