Lesson Outline Introduction to Sociology: Theories and
Theorists 2 What is a Theory? Sociologys family tree (theorists)
The three major theoretical perspectives in sociology New
theoretical approaches
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What is a Theory? Introduction to Sociology: Theories and
Theorists 3 According to sociologists, a theory is an abstract
proposition that both explains the social world and makes
predictions about future events. Theories can and do change over
time because theories seek to explain society, which itself also
changes over time.
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Sociology s Family Tree Auguste Comte Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 4 Auguste Comte is often only
remembered for coining the term, sociology, though his other
contributions to the discipline were also significant. He developed
the theory of positivism, which argues that sense perceptions are
the only valid source of knowledge.
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Sociology s Family Tree Auguste Comte Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 5 He also began to imagine how
the scientific method, a procedure for acquiring knowledge that
emphasized collecting concrete data through observation and
experiment, could be applied to the study of social affairs. Why is
this so important (and it is!)?
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Sociology s Family Tree Harriet Martineau Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 6 Harriet Martineau was an
English journalist and political economist. She traveled to the
United States and studied American society, which she believed was
flawed and hypocritical because of the existence of slavery and the
fact that both women and blacks were denied equal rights.
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Sociology s Family Tree Harriet Martineau (Cont) Introduction
to Sociology: Theories and Theorists 7 Despite these impressive
works, her most important contribution may have been her English
translation of Comte s Introduction to Positive Philosophy. Why
would this be the case for her?
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Sociology s Family Tree Herbert Spencer Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 8 Herbert Spencer was the first
great English-speaking sociologist. Spencer was an advocate of the
idea of evolution, even before Darwin made it famous and coined the
phrase survival of the fittest. He believed that societies, like
living organisms, evolve through time by adapting to their changing
environment. His philosophy is often referred to as social
Darwinism.
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Sociology s Family Tree Classical Period Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 9 The era of the 1800s is
referred to as sociology s classical period because it marked the
beginning of sociology as a substantive discipline and the work
done in this period forms the theoretical foundations for all
sociological work that followed. What was going on in the world at
this time?
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Sociology s Family Tree Emile Durkheim Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 10 Emile Durkheim spent much of
his life trying to establish sociology as an important academic
discipline. In his first major study, he demonstrated that social
bonds exist in all types of societies (mechanical and
organic).
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Sociology s Family Tree Emile Durkheim (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 11 He believed that agrarian,
pre-modern societies were held together by mechanical solidarity, a
type of social bond where shared traditions and beliefs created a
sense of social cohesion. Ex: The Amish
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Sociology s Family Tree Emile Durkheim (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 12 On the other hand, industrial
societies were held together by organic solidarity, a type of
social bond based on a division of labor that created
interdependence and individual rights. Ex: modern cities
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Sociology s Family Tree Emile Durkheim (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 13 In another study, Durkheim
found that the more firmly connected people are to others, the less
likely they are to commit suicide; thus demonstrating that even
suicide is impacted by social forces. Durkheim was probably
important for sociology
Slide 14
A Normative Theory of Suicide Introduction to Sociology:
Theories and Theorists 14
Slide 15
Sociology s Family Tree Karl Marx Introduction to Sociology:
Theories and Theorists 15 Karl Marx was a German philosopher and
political activist whose contribution to sociology can be found in
conflict theory.
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Sociology s Family Tree Karl Marx (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 16 Marx lived during the
Industrial Revolution, when major societal changes were leading to
the emergence of capitalism, the economic system that is based on
the private for-profit operation of industry.
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Sociology s Family Tree Karl Marx (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 17 Marx believed that capitalism
was creating class conflict and social inequality between the
bourgeoisie, who owned the means of production (money, factories,
natural resources, land), and the proletariat, who were the
workers.
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Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat Introduction to Sociology:
Theories and Theorists 18
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Sociology s Family Tree Max Weber Introduction to Sociology:
Theories and Theorists 19 Max Weber was also interested in the
shift from traditional society to the modern industrial
society.
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Sociology s Family Tree Max Weber (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 20 He was particularly concerned
with the process of rationalization, the application of economic
logic to all human activity, due to the development of
bureaucracies throughout society.
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Sociology s Family Tree Max Weber (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 21 Too much rationalization iron
cage of rationality Cloak to iron cage
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Sociology s Family Tree Max Weber (cont d) Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 22 He believed that contemporary
life was filled with disenchantment, the inevitable result of the
dehumanizing features of bureaucracies that dominated modern
societies.
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Modern Schools of Thought Structural Functionalism Introduction
to Sociology: Theories and Theorists 23 Structural Functionalism or
simply functionalism begins with the assumption that society is a
unified whole that functions because of the contributions of its
separate structures. Its origins can be traced to the ideas of
Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim.
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Modern Schools of Thought Structural Functionalism Introduction
to Sociology: Theories and Theorists 24 Society is viewed as an
ordered system of interrelated parts, or structures, which are the
different large-scale social institutions that make up society
(family, education, politics, the economy). Each of these different
parts of society meets the needs of society by performing specific
functions for the whole system (society).
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Modern Schools of Thought Functionalism Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 25 Robert Merton clarified the
difference between manifest functions, the obvious intended
functions of a social structure for the social system, and latent
functions, the less obvious unintended functions of a social
structure.
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Modern Schools of Thought Conflict Theory Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 26 Conflict Theory sees social
conflict as the basis of society and social change, and emphasizes
a materialist view of society, a critical view of the status quo,
and a dynamic model of historical change, emerged from the writings
of Marx.
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Modern Schools of Thought Symbolic Interactionism Introduction
to Sociology: Theories and Theorists 27 Symbolic Interactionism
sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that
meanings are not inherent but are created through interaction. It
is America s unique contribution to sociology and has proved to be
the most influential perspective of the twentieth century.
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Three tenets of Symbolic Interactionism Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 28 Symbolic Interactionism, the
process by which things are socially constructed: 1) Human beings
act toward ideas, concepts and values on the basis of the meaning
that those things have for them. 2) These meanings are the products
of social interaction in human society. 3) These meanings are
modified and filtered through an interpretive process that each
individual uses in dealing with outward signs
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Symbolic Interactionism: An example Introduction to Sociology:
Theories and Theorists 29 Are these the same? Do they have the same
meaning? What do you think of when you see each?
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New Theoretical Approaches Feminist Theory Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 30 Feminist Theory looks at
gender inequalities in society and the way that gender structures
the social world.
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New Theoretical Approaches Postmodern Theory Introduction to
Sociology: Theories and Theorists 31 Postmodern Theory is a
paradigm that suggests that social reality is diverse, pluralistic,
and constantly in flux. Critical of accounts of Truth especially
traditional science
Slide 32
Take Away Points Introduction to Sociology: Theories and
Theorists 32 Theories are explanations for events (that is
behaviors, people, attitudes, etc.). Theme connecting many
classical theorists work: modernization, society (social bonds) and
capitalism.