Chapter 1 Flashcards
Sociology in a Changing World
Functionalist Theories
focus on consensus and cooperative interaction in social life, emphasizing how the different parts of a society contribute to its overall operations
Objective
Material world
economics, technology
How to operate in a diverse society
we need to understand not only how we make sense of the world, but how other people do so as well
Meso
Medium scale
companies, organizations
Durkheim most responsible for
Establishing sociology as an academic discipline
Mechanical Solidarity
Social cohesion based on shared experience and a common identity with limited individuality (small communities)
Rationallity
The use of reason and logical calculation to achieve a goal as efficiently as possible
Responsible for the formation of bureaucracies within large organizations
Harriet Matineau
First female sociologist — issues of gender discrimination and slavery.
Translated the work of Comte for english speaking audiences
Conflict Theories
focus on issues contention, power, inequality, highlighting the competition for scarce resources
Herbert Spencer
argued society is a “social organism” - society is made up of separate parts, each with a unique function, that work together to sustain the entire organism
Core Concepts of sociological perspective
Culture
Structure
Power
Auguste Comte
Father of sociology
Argued for the empirical study of society
Analyzed social statics and dynamics
Power
the ability to bring about an intended outcome, even when opposed by others
Marx highlighted which core concept in sociology?
Power — Economic power could be used to influence others aspects of social life (Government, School, Media)
Sociology
The systematic study of the relationship between individuals and society
Which belief did Comte believe enabled a deeper understanding of human life and was the key to solving persistent social problems?
Positivism - a belief that accurate knowledge must be based on scientific method
Who helped establish the idea that the social world could be the subject of systematic, scientific investigation?
Comte and Spencer
Social Solidarity
The collective bonds that connect individuals
Sociology Perspective
Is to see and understand the connections between individuals and the broader social contexts in which they live
W.E.B Du Bois
First African American to obtain a PhD from Harvard
Groundbreaking research on race in America. Promoted racial justice.
Latent Functions
unrecognized and unintended consequences
Max Weber
Argued for the importance of ideas, ideologies, and charismatic leaders
Argued for value free sociology
Argued cultural beliefs could influence economic development.
Tried to understand social action (behavior) by viewing it from a perspective of, Verstehen - “understanding”
Contributed through his effort to explain the shift from traditional to rational action
Most prophetic