Chapter 2 - The Development of Sociology

Question 1

Law of Human Progress

Answer 1

Auguste Comte’s theory that society has gone through 3 stages 1) Theological or fictitious 2)Metaphysical or abstract ( 3)Scientific

Question 2

Theological or fictitious (Law of Human Progress)

Answer 2

The age of society where everything is explained through supernatural, power is held by military and religion. The family is the operative social unit.

Question 3

Metaphysical or abstract (Law of Human Progress)

Answer 3

Abstract forces are assumed the forces of explanation and the power is now in the hands of clergy and lawyers. The state is the operative social unit.

Question 4

Scientific age (Law of Human Progress)

Answer 4

Everything is explained through scientific explanations, through observation, experimentation, and comparison. The entire race is the operative social unit.

Question 5

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Answer 5

The creator of Social Conflict Theory and two social classes called the bourgeoisie and proletariat , and the concept of class-consciousness.

Question 6

Social Conflict Theory

Answer 6

Theory by Karl Marx that believes that conflict is the source of all social change. Based on two social classes, the bourgeoisie (owners and rulers), and the proletariat (Industrial workers).
Macro level analysis
Pros: examines inequalities, stratification, and reasons, and who benefits .
Cons: does not explore competition as potentially beneficial.

Question 7

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Answer 7

Is famous for believing in social facts, division of labor, and collective conscience, meaning the actions of people are influenced by society. Not the other way around. Major proponent of structural functionalism.

Question 8

Functionalist Perspective (Structural Functionalism)

Answer 8

Using Macro level analysis to explain society and social structures. A theory that society uses interdependent structures to form equilibrium. And look into the cause of problems that cause unevenness.
Macro level analysis
Pros: examines structure, and the impact of large structures on society.
Cons: does not emphasize interactions between individuals.

Question 9

Manifest Functions

Answer 9

Intended Functions in the Structural functional theory.

Question 10

Latent Functions

Answer 10

Unintentional Functions in Structural Functional theory.

Question 11

Symbolic Interaction theory (Interactionalist Perspective)

Answer 11

Perspective that uses micro level analysis of social behavior based on interactions and their symbolic meanings.
Micro based level of analysis
Pros: examines day to day interactions of people, examines relationship between identity and society.
cons: does not emphasize the ways in which large scale structures affect interaction

Question 12

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

Answer 12

Considered the father of Sociology, most known for “Law Of Human Progress”, social statics, social dynamics

Question 13

Social Dynamics (pg 24)

Answer 13

Comte’s term for social processes and forms of change.

Question 14

Social Statics (24)

Answer 14

Comte’s term for the stable structure of a society.

Question 15

Economic Determinism (29)

Answer 15

Karl Marx’s idea that all change, social conditions, and even society itself are based on economic factors.

Question 16

Social facts (30)

Answer 16

External factors of society that cannot be changed that affect individuals life decisions. (Example: when children in low income family’s have greater % of high school drop outs. The influence of low income to school dedication is the social fact.)

Question 17

Collective Conscience (31)

Answer 17

A collective psyche that results from the blending of many individual mentalities, but exists above any one individual. (Meaning an idea that is believed by many will influence individuals).

Question 18

Egoistic suicide (32)

Answer 18

Durkiem - A result of not being sufficiently integrated into society or meaningful social groups.

Question 19

Altruistic suicide

Answer 19

When people are overly connected to society or a social group to the extent that that group takes on more meaning than their personal life and they live for the group. (Someone will die for a group or cause of the group)

Question 20

Anomic suicide(32)

Answer 20

When individuals are faced with sudden social disorganization or a disruption in social conditions that guide their lives. Sudden changes, the values, goals, and rules of living may suddenly lose their meaning. (A dedication to your family and the family dies).

Question 21

fatalistic suicide (33)

Answer 21

When faced with oppressive social conditions with such a high degree of regulation over people’s lives that gives no hope. (Slavery)

Question 22

Social groups, systems, structures (39)

Answer 22

A set of interrelated social statuses and the expectations that accompany them.

Question 23

Dysfunctions (Functionalist theory 40)

Answer 23

Some lead to instability or the breakdown of a system.