The document provides an overview of sociological perspectives and key theorists. It discusses three main theoretical perspectives: functionalism, which views society as a system of interrelated parts; conflict theory, which emphasizes competition and power struggles between groups; and symbolic interactionism, which focuses on how people interact through shared symbols and meanings. Several influential sociologists are also summarized, including Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, along with their major ideas and contributions to the field.

1. Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1
TODAY’S JOURNAL:
Using your sociological imagination (p. 11)
explain why a runaway “street rat” would
drop out of school, abandon his/her family,
and take to a life on the streets? (Just write
your answer, don’t rewrite the questions in
your journal.)

2. Sociology-scientific study of
social structure

3. Psychology- individual, what
makes them unique
Sociology-two or more people
 How a person influences a group
 How a group influences a person
(Sociological Perspective)
Psychology vs. Sociology

4. Societal vs. Individual
Responsibilities
Someone who can’t find a
job is _____?
Homelessness is the result
of _____?
Immigrants come here
because ______?

5. “I just want to fit in!”
Humans are creatures of
patterns and habit
Groups will change the way
an individual will react
Conformity
 all groups encourage it b/c
people value being a part of
the group over being an
individual

6. Sociological Imagination-the
ability of individuals to see the
relationship between events in
their personal lives and events in
their society.

7. Important Sociologists

8. Auguste Comte
The father of sociology
Used scientific observation in
the study of social behavior
Positivism or things we knew
for sure

9. Auguste Comte (cont.)
• Distinguished between:
• social statics-study of
social stability and order
• social dynamics-study of
social change

10. Harriet Martineaus
• Writer
• Leading feminist
• Saw slavery and oppression
of women in the same light

11. Herbert Spencer
Justified corporate wealth
Introduced Social Darwinism
 If left alone, natural selection
would ensure survival of the
fittest
Don’t change social leveling

12. Karl Marx
Felt concern for the poor
and working class in a
capitalistic system
Believed you should
change society and the
social structure

13. Karl Marx’s Theory
Bourgeoisie- owned the 5
factors of production,
capitalists
Proletariat- workers who
were paid just enough to
survive

14. Karl Marx’s Theory (cont.)
Class Conflict-revolution
was inevitable and
encouraged to promote
social change

15. Emile Durkheim
Society exists because of an
agreement among members of
society
Developed important research
techniques involving statistics
(Suicide Research)

16. Emile Durkheim (cont.)
• Pre-Industrial Revolution:
• Mechanical solidarity
• Widespread values and beliefs
• Traditional families
• Strong social pressure to
conform

17. Emile Durkheim (cont.)
• Post-Industrial Revolution:
• Organic solidarity
• Social interdependency based on
a web of highly specialized roles

18. Max Weber
Believed humans act on the
basis of their own situation
Verstehen-mentally putting
yourself in someone else’s
shoes

19. Max Weber (cont.)
Rationalization-Post-industrial
mindset emphasizing knowledge,
reason, and planning in contrast
to the tradition, emotion, and
superstitions of before.
Stressed rationality and
objectivity in sociology

20. Jane Addams
Focused on imbalance of
power amongst American
social classes
Co-founded Hull House
Proponent of suffrage
Only sociologist to receive
Nobel Peace Prize

21. W.E.B. DuBois
• Studied race and its place in
society

22. Theoretical Perspectives
Ch. 1, Sec. 3

24. Theoretical Perspectives
Categories that we can put
various sociological theories into
3 sociological perspectives
Functionalism
Conflict
Symbolic Interactionism

25. Functionalism
Theories emphasize the
contribution or function of each
part of society and how each part
helps create society as a whole
If there wasn’t a need for it, it
would not be functional and
wouldn’t exist any more

26. Functionalism
Manifest function is the intended
result of an action
Latent function is the unintended
result of an action, unexpected
byproduct
Dysfunction is an unintended,
negative result

27. Conflict Perspective
Emphasis on competition,
conflict, and constraint within
society
Groups compete to preserve or
promote their own special
interests
Life is a struggle for power to
then control the behavior of
others

28. Symbolic Interactionism
Focuses on the interaction
between people based on
mutually understood symbols,
not the larger parts of society
Symbols are something chosen
to represent something else and
can be an object, word, gesture,
facial expression, or action