The document provides an overview of early sociological theorists and perspectives. It discusses Auguste Comte as founding sociology and coining the term. It also covers Karl Marx's emphasis on class conflict, Herbert Spencer's idea of social Darwinism, Emile Durkheim's application of scientific method, and Max Weber's concept of verstehen. The three main sociological perspectives are examined: functionalist looks at social elements' functions/dysfunctions; conflict focuses on power divisions; and interactionist analyzes how people relate and attach meaning.

1. Sociology --
the scientific
study of
human social
relationships

2. WHAT
IS
SOCIAL?

3. Social -- interaction between
two or more people

4. Asocial -- not social, not
interacting with others
Either by
choice …
… or by
being left out

5. Anti-social -- negative
interaction or avoidance
of interaction
KEEP
OUT

6. Pseudo-social -- appears to
be social, but isn’t

7. Early
Sociologists
A Brief Review

8. Theorists of Sociology
Comte Durkheim Marx
Spencer Weber

9. Auguste Comte
• Considered the
founder of
Sociology
• Coined the term
“sociology”

10. Comte
coined term “Sociology”
– Socious- companion
(Latin)
– Logos- study of
(Greek)

11. Theorists of Sociology
Auguste Comte-
• French Philosopher, interested in
finding solutions to the chaos of
the French Revolution

12. Comte believed that
sociologists should be
concerned with two main
concepts:
Order & Change

13. Comte
• Social Statics
èconstants
ènon-changing
principles
èlife and
death
èman v.
nature

14. Comte
–change
–attitudes and
acceptable
behaviors
Social Dynamics

15. Auguste Comte
• Practiced
“cerebral
hygiene”

16. Comte
§ Positivism
- all
science
should be
value free
and
objective

17. Karl Marx
• Not really a
sociologist, but
a social
philosopher

18. Karl Marx
• Believed that
class conflict
led to social
change
• Influenced the
modern conflict
theory

19. Theorists of Sociology
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
not a sociologist
but had a
profound affect
on sociology
(and history)

20. Marx-
• importance
of
economics
in everyday
life and in
history
Economic
Determinism

21. Marx-
Concerned with
class conflict
• Worker v.
Capitalist

22. Marx
• Felt that any
historical
change would
involve
conflict
between the
workers and
capitalists

23. Marx-
• society similar
to a human
body- each part
performs a
function
• many parts
make up the
whole
Organic Totalitity

24. Herbert Spencer
• Was strongly
influenced by
Charles Darwin
• Believed no steps
should be taken to
correct society’s
problems

25. Herbert Spencer
• Coined the phrase
“Survival of the
Fittest”
• His theory is
called “Social
Darwinism”

26. Herbert Spencer
• Society is made
up of
interdependent
parts

27. Emile Durkheim
• First sociologist
to systematically
apply the
scientific method
to the study of
society

28. Emile Durkheim
• Greatly
influenced the
modern
Functionalist
theory

29. Emile Durkheim-
• Thought only the
overt should be
studied
• Not- thoughts,
feelings or emotions
• Believed that
everything has
numerous functions

30. Emile Durkheim- functions
• Manifest Function- the
intended or primary
purpose of an object
– transportation
• Latent Function- the
unintended purpose of
an object
– status symbol

31. Max Weber
• Studied the
effects of society
on the individual
• Influenced the
modern Inter-
actionist theory

32. Max Weber
• Verstehen --
essentially seeing a
situation through
someone else’s
eyes

33. Max Weber-
• Interested in
groups within
society, not
just society as
a whole

34. Max Weber- Verstehen
§ understanding the
meaning others
attach to their
actions

35. … And now
for something
new ...

36. Sociological
Imagination

37. C. Wright Mills
No social study is
complete until it
deals with the
“intersection” of
History and
Biography
Biography
H
t
i
s
r
y

38. This “intersection” is
the connection
between the larger
world (history) ...
… and our personal
lives (biography)

39. Sociological
Imagination
… can therefore be defined
as the ability to perceive the
connection between your per-
sonal life and the larger world
around you.

40. Sociological
Imagination
Mills said that the
researcher must follow three
lines of questioning to utilize
sociological imagination:

41. What is the structure of the
society as a whole?
•What are its essential components?
•How are they interrelated?
•How does this society differ from
others?

42. Where does this society
stand in human history?
•How is it changing?
•How is it affected by the historical
period in which it exists?

43. What varieties of people
prevail in this society?
•What are the men and women in
this society like?
•Who are the “winners” and how
are these people selected or
formed in this society?

44. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
developed the
idea of
“Social
Darwinism”?

45. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
developed the
idea of
“Social
Darwinism”?
• A. Herbert
Spencer

46. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Who
coined the
term
“sociology”?

47. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Who
coined the
term
“sociology”?
• A. Auguste
Comte

48. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
emphasized
class conflict?

49. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
emphasized
class conflict?
• A. Karl Marx

50. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist is
responsible
for the idea of
verstehen?

51. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist is
responsible
for the idea of
verstehen?
• A. Max
Weber

52. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
applied the
scientific
method to
sociology?

53. Theorist Evaluation
• Q. Which
theorist
applied the
scientific
method to
sociology?
• A. Emile
Durkheim

54. … And now for the
Sociological Theoretical
Perspectives ...

55. Functionalist Perspective:
Asks the question: “What is
the use or purpose of A or B?”

56. Function -- the positive
consequence of an element of
society
stabilizes society

57. Dysfunction -- the negative
consequence of an element of
society
destabilizes society

58. Example: Cars
Function? Dysfunction?

59. Manifest function -- the intended
and recognized function
Latent function -- the unintended
and unrecognized function

60. Cars …
Manifest function?
Latent function?

61. Conflict Perspective:
Asks the question: “How is A
pitted against B, and why?”

62. Conflict Perspective:
Society is divided between
“haves” and “have-nots”
Conflict leads to social change

63. Conflict Perspective:
Looks at who has power and who
does not.
How did those in power get it and
how do they keep it?

64. Conflict Perspective:
Who does not have power and how
are they trying to get it? What
obstacles stand in their way from
succeeding?

65. Interactionist Perspective:
Asks the question: “How is A
related to B?”

66. Interactionist Perspective:
Looks at how individuals relate to
one another.

67. Interactionist Perspective:
An area if interest is
understanding the meaning that
people attach to their own and
others’ actions.

68. Symbolic Interaction

70. Social Phenomenon --
an act or occurrence in
human society that can
be observed and
studied
Notes:

71. Variable -- a characteristic that
can change from one individual
(or group) to another (opposite
of “constant”)

72. Correlation -- when a
change in one variable is
associated with a change in
another variable
A B

73. Causation -- when a
change in one brings about
a change in another
variable.
A B

74. Ex:
Smoking &
Lung Cancer
This is a direct or a positive correlation

75. Ex: Amount of Homework &
Stress
Does one cause the other?

76. Ex: Exercise & Heart Disease
This is an inverse or a negative
correlation

77. Ex: Hospitalization & Death
Does one cause the other?

78. Hospitalization
Death
NO! A third variable causes both!
Serious
Illness

79. When a third variable causes
both, this is called a spurious
correlation.