Famous Sociologists

Development of Sociology Rapid development of Europe Industrial Revolution Urbanization Revolutions American/French Physical Sciences

Auguste Comte Founder of Sociology French Revolution Social Order (Statics) Social Change (Dynamics) Scientific Research

Harriet Martineau Society in America Marriage, Family, Race Relations, Education, Religion Detached Style Translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy Scholars should advocate change to solve problems they studied

Herbert Spencer Natural and Social Sciences Society is interdependent parts working together to maintain system Social Darwinism Survival of the fittest

Karl Marx Society influences economy Bourgoisie (capitalists) Own the means of production Proletariat (workers) Own the labor Class Conflict (Conflict Theory) Classless society Contribute according to ability Rewarded according to needs

Emile Durkheim Social Order Functions of the parts Production for the maintenance of social system Religion Shared beliefs and values held society together

Max Weber Separate Groups Society’s effect on individual Verstehen (fer-SHTAY-en) Meaning behind action…put yourself in shoes

Jane Addams Hull House Welfare house in Chicago Solve problems, Nature of Problems Interview those in poverty First discussion of effects of Industrialization and Urbanization

W.E.B. Du Bois First African American to earn Doctorate from Harvard Issues of Race Counter to accepted views NAACP

Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalist Perspective Society is a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system “Structural Functionalism” Society held together through consensus Functions that family, religion, education, and the economy serve in society

Functionalist Perspective Dysfunction Negative consequence an element has on stability of society Can lead to social change Manifest Function Intended and recognized consequence Car: get from one place to another Latent Function Unintended and unrecognized consequence Car: social status of wealth

Conflict Perspective Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change Power struggle: more power vs. less power Violent and Non-Violent Men v. Women, Different Ages, Racial and National Background, Family, Workers and Employers

Conflict Perspective Scarcity Resources are in limited supply Time, Wealth, Power Conflict Feminist Perspective Male dominated society Not Biology (Family, Religion, Education) End gender inequality

Interactionist Perspective Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society Meanings people attach to their Actions (Verstehen) Child development, relationships within small groups, mate selection Symbols Anything that represents something else Members of society must agree

Interactionist Perspective Symbolic Interaction Meaning, language, and thought Interacts with people based on meaning Arise out of social interaction through language Adjusts and modifies meanings through thought Individuals reacting to each other’s actions

Levels of Analysis Macrosociology Functionalist and Conflict Perspective Large-Scale Systems Microsociology Interactionist Perspective Small-Group settings