The Beginnings of SociologyThe Beginnings of Sociology
Social ContextSocial Context
New industrial economyNew industrial economy
The growth of cities The growth of cities
Political changePolitical change
Growth of Scientific StudyGrowth of Scientific Study
Positivism Positivism a means of understanding the world a means of understanding the world
through sciencethrough science
Positivist thought had become an Positivist thought had become an important aspect in the study of the important aspect in the study of the physical world, so it made sense to physical world, so it made sense to apply it to the social world. apply it to the social world.
Auguste ComteAuguste Comte Among the earliest Among the earliest
theorists to use theorists to use science to exam science to exam the social world.the social world.
Created the term Created the term “sociology” to “sociology” to describe the describe the scientific study of scientific study of society in 1838society in 1838
Levels of AnalysisLevels of Analysis
Macrosociology – looks at the Macrosociology – looks at the world on the large (global) world on the large (global)
scalescale
Microsociology – looks at the Microsociology – looks at the world on a smaller scale; of world on a smaller scale; of
from an individual from an individual perspective.perspective.
MacrosociologyMacrosociology
Functionalist ParadigmFunctionalist Paradigm
Conflict ParadigmConflict Paradigm
The Functionalist ParadigmThe Functionalist Paradigm
a framework that sees society as a complex a framework that sees society as a complex system whose various parts work together to system whose various parts work together to allow society to functionallow society to function
believes our lives are guided by social believes our lives are guided by social structure – stable patterns of social behaviorstructure – stable patterns of social behavior
structures are understood through their structures are understood through their social functions – consequences for the social functions – consequences for the operation of societyoperation of society
Emile DurkhiemEmile Durkhiem
Stressed the use of social Stressed the use of social facts – aspects of social facts – aspects of social life that shape our actions life that shape our actions as individualsas individuals
Organic SolidarityOrganic Solidarity
AnomieAnomie
Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer
Studied sociobiologyStudied sociobiology
Coined the term Coined the term “survival of the fittest”“survival of the fittest”
Robert K. MertonRobert K. Merton
Developed the concepts of Developed the concepts of manifest and latent manifest and latent functionsfunctions
Manifest – the recognized and Manifest – the recognized and expected consequences of expected consequences of social patterns social patterns
Latent – unexpected and often Latent – unexpected and often unrecognized consequences unrecognized consequences
Criticisms of the Criticisms of the Functionalist ParadigmFunctionalist Paradigm
Structural-Functionalism glosses over Structural-Functionalism glosses over issues of inequality issues of inequality
its focus on stability often ignores its focus on stability often ignores conflict and change conflict and change
Conflict ParadigmConflict Paradigm
sees society as an arena of inequality that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and changegenerates conflict and change
focuses on divisions through inequalityfocuses on divisions through inequality
examines the unequal distribution of examines the unequal distribution of money, power, education, and social money, power, education, and social prestigeprestige
argues that social structure benefits some argues that social structure benefits some people depriving otherspeople depriving others
Karl MarxKarl Marx
Materialist conception of Materialist conception of historyhistory
Bourgeoisie and Bourgeoisie and ProletariatProletariat
Examined the role of Examined the role of Capitalism on social Capitalism on social changechange
Criticism of Conflict Criticism of Conflict ParadigmParadigm
Doesn’t address shared values or Doesn’t address shared values or interdependence that leads to unity interdependence that leads to unity
MicrosociologyMicrosociology Symbolic Interactionist ParadigmSymbolic Interactionist Paradigm
Focuses on social interaction in specific situationsFocuses on social interaction in specific situations
Sees society as the product of the everyday Sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals interactions of individuals
Shared reality – we construct our reality as we Shared reality – we construct our reality as we interact with one anotherinteract with one another
Definition of reality differs from one person to the Definition of reality differs from one person to the nextnext
Max WeberMax Weber
understand setting through understand setting through point of view of those in it point of view of those in it
Studied bureaucracyStudied bureaucracy
George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead
We build our personalities We build our personalities through our social through our social experiencesexperiences
Criticism of Symbolic Criticism of Symbolic InteractionismInteractionism
Tends to overlook social structures Tends to overlook social structures and the widespread effects of culture. and the widespread effects of culture.
Other Important ParadigmsOther Important Paradigms
Feminist theoryFeminist theory
As with all other sciences, the focal As with all other sciences, the focal point of research had been menpoint of research had been men
focus is on the intersection of gender, focus is on the intersection of gender, race, and classrace, and class
Stresses advocacy for political and Stresses advocacy for political and social activitiessocial activities
Other Important ParadigmsOther Important Paradigms
Rational ChoiceRational Choice
If there could be only one explanation for the If there could be only one explanation for the actions we take, it would be self-interest.actions we take, it would be self-interest.
Other Important ParadigmsOther Important Paradigms
PostmodernPostmodern
There is no longer an historical context There is no longer an historical context for our social developmentfor our social development
Modern society is pluralistic and diverseModern society is pluralistic and diverse
Often Forgotten SociologistsOften Forgotten Sociologists
W. E. B. DuBoisW. E. B. DuBois
Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau
Jane AddamsJane Addams
W. E. B. DuBoisW. E. B. DuBois
First African American to First African American to earn a doctorate at Harvardearn a doctorate at Harvard
Founding member of the Founding member of the NAACPNAACP
Research addressed issues Research addressed issues of race and conflictof race and conflict
Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau
First woman sociologistFirst woman sociologist
Argued that when studying any Argued that when studying any society, one must look at all aspects of society, one must look at all aspects of itit
Said women’s lives must be studiedSaid women’s lives must be studied
First to study issues such as marriage, First to study issues such as marriage, children, race relations, and religious children, race relations, and religious and domestic lifeand domestic life
Jane AddamsJane Addams Founded Hull House to assist Founded Hull House to assist
immigrantsimmigrants Brought various groups of people Brought various groups of people
(from poor immigrants to wealthy (from poor immigrants to wealthy businessmen) together to discuss businessmen) together to discuss social issues.social issues.
Worked for women’s Worked for women’s suffragesuffrage
Helped found the NAACPHelped found the NAACP Helped found the ACLUHelped found the ACLU Won the Nobel Peace PrizeWon the Nobel Peace Prize