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.