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Connecting Sociology and YOU!

Chapter 1: Introduction – Understanding Sociology

– 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