2 History Of Sociology

Question 1

What was going on in the world when sociology emerged as an independent discipline?

Answer 1

Sociology emerged during and directly after the enlightenment period in world history. During this period, a series of major changes were occurring, including the disappearance of feudalism, increasing world exploration, increasing urbanization and industrialization, the emergence of modern medicine, and increasing belief in reason and science as the best way to understand our world.

Question 2

What are the main contributions to sociology of August Comte?

Answer 2

Coined the term sociology; argued that knowledge progresses from theology to metaphysics to positivism; he also considered sociology to be the “queen” science. Comte was a proponent of studying society as an object.

Question 3

What are the main contributions to sociology of Harriet Martineau?

Answer 3

Widely read intellectual on her own merits but was held back in her career by virtue of being a woman. Her greatest contribution was translating Comte’s work from French to English, thereby making it available to a much wider audience.

Question 4

What are the main contributions to sociology of Herbert Spencer?

Answer 4

One of the father figures of the structural-functional perspective. This perspective views society as a complex system of interconnected parts which must work together for society to function properly. Each “part” of society exists because it does something useful for society.

Question 5

What are the main contributions to sociology of Emile Durkheim?

Answer 5

Similar to Spencer, Durkheim adopted a functionalist approach to studying society. Durkheim argues that common culture (collective conscience) is the primary driver of societal well-being.

Question 6

What are the main contributions to sociology of Karl Marx?

Answer 6

Father of the conflict perspective. From his view, all aspects of social life are determined by the productive arrangements. Viewed capitalism as an economic system that creates vast inequality and must inevitably collapse.

Question 7

What are the main contributions to sociology of Max Weber?

Answer 7

Similar to Marx, Weber was also concerned about the impact of capitalism on human society. His primary concern was what is known as the “iron cage of bureaucracy”. Weber believed that in a capitalist system, it was rational to divide up labor in an increasingly specialized manner. He viewed this as having a limiting effect on human potential and freedom. He also famously argued that Protestantism led to the emergence of capitalism in the United States.

Question 8

According to August Comte, what is the best way to gain knowledge about the universe?

Answer 8

Positivism (what we would call science)

Question 9

What did Durkheim point to as the single need of society?

Answer 9

Common culture

Question 10

According to Marx, what is the basis for society?

Answer 10

Conflict and domination.

Question 11

What was Marx’s “inevitable” solution to capitalism?

Answer 11

A working-class revolution that would transform society from capitalist to communist.

Question 12

How does Weber differ from Marx in his understanding of society?

Answer 12

For Weber, cultural change can drive economic change in society (protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism). For Marx, this isn’t possible as all societal change must start with economic change.

Question 13

For Weber, why did Protestantism lead to success of capitalism? That is, how did culture drive economic change?

Answer 13

Weber argued that protestants who believed in predestination, were concerned about having a spot in heaven. From this concern, they were motivated to search their lives for signs that they had been selected. One critical sign of being selected was being wealthy. This motivated protestants to work hard, earn money, and reinvest their earnings. These behavioral habits helped spur the growth of capitalism in the United States, according to Weber.

Question 14

What are the main contributions to sociology of George Herbert Mead?

Answer 14

One of the father figures of the symbolic-interactionist perspective. This perspective focuses on symbols and their meanings. From this perspective, we actively create our reality, and we communicate symbolically on a moment-to-moment basis.

Question 15

What are the main contributions to sociology of Jane Adams?

Answer 15

One of the first “applied sociologists” who devoted her life to helping those in need. Was the first American women to win the Nobel peace prize.

Question 16

What are the main contributions to sociology of W.E.B. Du Bois?

Answer 16

Created African American sociology; co-founder of the NAACP. Primary goal of his work was to understand and eliminate racial inequalities.

Question 17

How does George Herbert Mead explain social order and cooperation in society?

Answer 17

We are socialized to control ourselves. As we develop, we develop the ability to role-take which help us form our self-image. Our self-image is first developed as we interact with close family and friends, then later is formed as we interact with the “generalized other.”

Question 18

Define this term: Role-Taking

Answer 18

The ability to understand how someone else is perceiving the world

Question 19

Define this term: Generalized Other

Answer 19

this refers to a collection of roles and attitudes that people use as a reference point for figuring out how to behave in a given situation.

Question 20

Define this term: Self-Image

Answer 20

Our idea of who we are and how we fit in to society

Question 21

What does the case of Oxana Malaya tell us about Mead’s model of socialization and learning?

Answer 21

It tells us that developing in a “normal” manner isn’t purely a biological process. There are social factors that impact us tremendously.

Question 22

Distinguish between sociology, psychology, and social work.

Answer 22

Psychology - the study of individual factors that impact behavior
Sociology - the study of contextual factors that impact behavior
Social work - A profession for directly assisting those in need

Question 23

Explain the “bystander effect.” How did scientists demonstrate this effect in an experimental setting?

Answer 23

Individuals are less likely to help someone in need if others are present. One argument for this phenomenon is that the responsibility for helping is diffused throughout those present, thus making everyone less likely to help than if they were the only ones there.