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.