Chapter 1 Flashcards
what sociology looks at
how others influence our behavior; how major social institutions affect us; and how we affect other individuals, groups, and even organizations
the 4 pioneering thinkers of sociology
Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx, and W. E. B. DuBois
sociology
the scientific study of social behavior and human groups which focuses on social relationships; how those relationships influence people’s behavior; and how societies; the sum total of those relationships, develop, and change
the leading sociologist who coined the term “sociological imagination”
C. Wright Mills
sociological imagination
an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, both today and in the past
what sociological imagination allows us
to comprehend the links between our immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world that surrounds and helps to shape us
key element of sociological imagination
key element of sociological imagination
science
the body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation
natural science
the study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change
social science
the study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change
what sociologists focus on
the influence that society has on people’s attitudes and behavior and the ways in which people interact and shape society
theory
a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior
Auguste Comte
most influential of the philosophers of the early 1800s
theoretical science of society and a systematic investigation of behavior were needed to improve society
coined “sociology” to apply to the science of human behavior
feared that the excesses of the French Revolution had permanently impaired France’s stability
hoped that systematic study of social behavior would lead to more rational human interactions
put sociology at top of science hierarchy
Harriet Martineau
offered insightful observations of the customs and social practices of bother her native Britain and the United States
book “Society in America” examined religion, politics, child rearing, and immigration in the young nation and gave special attention to social class distinctions and to such factors as gender and race
wrote the first book on sociological methods
emphasized the impact that the economy, law, trade, health, and population could have on social problems
spoke out in favor of the rights of women, the emancipation of slaves, and religious tolerance
deaf later in life
intellectuals and scholars should act on their convictions in a way that will benefit society
conducted research on the nature of female employment and pointed to the need for further investigation of the issue
Herbert Spencer
didn’t feel compelled to correct or improve society
hoped to understand society better
applied the concept of evolution of the species to societies in order to explain how they change, or evolve, over time
adapted Darwin’s evolutionary view of the survival of the fittest
argued that it is natural that some people are rich while others are poor
his approach was extremely popular
suggested that one need not be highly critical of present social arrangements or work actively for social change since societies are bound to change»_space; appealed to many influential ppl in England and the U.S.
Anomie
the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective
verstehen
German word for “understanding” or “insight”
