Sociology Unit 1

Sociological Perspective Vocabulary

Sociology

• Definition: – Social science that studies human society and

social behavior.

Social Interaction

• Definition: – How people relate to one another and influence

each other’s behavior.

Society

• Definition: – A group of mutually interdependent people who

have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and have a feeling of unity.

Sociological Perspective

• Definition: – A viewing of the behavior of groups in systematic

ways.

Social Sciences

• Definition: – Related disciplines that study various aspects of

human social behavior.

Class Conflict

• Definition:– Conflict between entire classes over the

distribution of a society’s wealth and power.

Auguste Comte

• Definition: – Considered the father of sociology. He proposed

using the scientific method to study society.

Herbert Spencer

• Definition:– Used Darwin’s theory of evolution to describe the

nature of society. He believed the best aspects of society, and the fittest societies, would survive over time (“survival of the fittest”).

Karl Marx

• Definition: – German sociologist who believed that the

structure of society is influenced by how its economy is organized. He felt that conflict is the primary cause of social change.

Emile Durkheim

• Definition:• French sociologist interested in the functions of

different elements of society in maintaining social order

Max Weber

• Definition– German sociologist interested in groups within

society and the effect of society on the individual.

positivism

• Definition: – Used by Auguste Comte, it is the idea of applying

the scientific method to the social world.

Structural-functional approach

• Definition: – A framework for building theory that sees society

as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Social-conflict approach

• Definition: – A framework for building theory that sees society

as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.

Symbolic-interaction approach

• Definition: – A framework for building theory that sees society

as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals

Gender-conflict approach

• Definition: – A point of view that focuses on inequality and

conflict between men and women

Race-conflict approach

• Definition: – A point of view that focuses on inequality and

conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories.