Important Sociology Theorists Flashcards
First woman sociologist; believed sociologists should not just study, but use their knowledge to promote change; used observation as part of her research
Harriet Martineau
The theory put forth by Robert K. Merton and other functionalists stating that society is an organism which contains many parts, and each part has a specific function.
Functionalist Perspective
A theory by Comte that says societies have scientific laws and principles, similar to science.
Positivism
Sociologist who believed that individual issues could be connected to societal problems; saw knowledge as a critical part of implementing social change.
C. Wright Mills
The sociological perspective by Erving Goffman that uses normal, everyday behavior and the interactions between people to explain larger phenomenon in society.
Symbolic Interaction Perspective
explain why society or people function in certain manners or why certain changes occur.
Theories
An important socialist thinker who believed you could understand society by understanding the struggles between the poor and the rich.
Karl Marx
Type of society where people are nomadic and rely on food that is available from nature, rather than producing it.
Hunter-Gatherer
A sociologist who focused on studying society and how to make it more equal and just; was one of the founders of the NAACP.
W.E.B. Du Bois
false consciousness; creation of labor unions; the presence of contradictry political ideologies; the rise of Communism
Reasons why Marx’s working-class revolution failed in larger countries
Our current society, which is characterized by consumer goods and media, with a large emphasis with a use of technology.
Postmodern Society
- Imagining how we present ourselves to other people
- Imagining how others view us
- Developing a sense of self based on our perception of what others think
The three stages of development according to the Looking Glass Self Theory
Representations of concepts and beliefs in a society
Symbols
this is the theory by Erving Goffman that social interaction can be viewed as a theatrical performance.
Dramaturgical Approach
was a sociologist who studied human behavior. He coined the concept of primary groups, was a founder of the interactionist perspective, and created the theory of the looking glass self.
Charles Horton Cooley
theory by WEB Du Bois Feeling like your identity is split into multiple parts, making it hard to understand your true identity. describe the experience of blacks in a predominantly white U.S.
Double Consciousness
Characteristics include: formal hierarchy, rules and regulations, specialized division of work, impersonal relationship between managers and workers, competence-based rewards, formal records.
Bureaucratic Organizations (according to Max Weber)
The theory that people will use their own prejudices to decide that other people are at fault for their problems.
Scapegoat Theory
The division of a large population into smaller, interdependent units
Organic Solidarity
theory by Herbert Spencer that those people who are the strongest will be most successful in society and the weaker should be left to die out. Based on Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Social Darwinism
The stage of society where most people believe that events that happen in the world can be explained using scientific principles.
The Scientific Stage
the process of change involving a society’s level of innovation, transmission and technological advances.
sociocultural evolution
