Notes:
Sociological Perspective: the process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society (HP).
Social Structures: the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole (HP).
Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society (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 established positivism: authentic and valid knowledge of the social world is found only through scientific and empirical pursuit
3 basic theories: conflict, functionalist, and symbolic interactionism
sociological theory, a set of interrelated ideas that provide a systematic understanding of the social world.
macro sociology, a level of analysis focusing on social systems and populations on a large scale.
micro sociology, a level of analysis focusing on individuals and small groups within the larger social system.
German Karl Marx:
the proletariat, the majority, who were the poor, property-less industrial working class
bourgeoisie, the small minority who were the wealthy
conflict theory, a sociological perspective emphasizing the role of political and economic power and oppression as contributing to the existing social order
emile durkheim:
functionalist theory, a macro view of how the parts of society serve to maintain stability
manifest functions, intentional and formally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society.
Latent functions, unintentional and informally sanctioned functions of social institutions and society,
dysfunction, the undesirable disruptions of social patterns resulting in negative consequences within society
george herbert mead
socialized self, which states that the self cannot develop apart from society
symbolic interaction, a micro view of how society is the product of interactions between people, which occur via symbols that have distinct meanings
weber believed in verstehen
verstehen (vûrst e hen), an empathetic approach to understanding human behavior, loosely translated as understanding or interpretation.
feminist theory, a view on anti-oppression, gender relations, and gender inequality, evolved from the conflict theory and is an important contemporary sociological perspective.
applied sociology, the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society.
queer theory, a critical view that rejects the traditional categories of gender, sex, and sexuality in contemporary society.
postmodern social theory, a critical view rejecting the historical, scientific,
French sociologists Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, and Jean-Francois Lyotard are largely responsible for promoting this new social theory that rejects the idea of positivism and the structured and systematic approaches found within traditional sociological theories
social structures, the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole
rationalization of society, the replacement of traditional values and personal connections with bureaucracy, efficiency, and a means-end approach
- organizes behaviors of large groups of people
- capable of coercing individuals and groups
- provides norms, rules, and practices
- assigns roles and powers to individuals and groups
- encompasses large geographical areas
the government is a social structure and meets the criteria. family is a social structure as well.
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
Personal troubles, matters experienced at the individual level,
public issue, a matter that impacts society as a whole.
anomie, the breakdown of social values, norms, and order resulting in social instability,
applied sociology, the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society.