Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective – Everyday Applications
Summary of Learning Objectives
Module 1:
1.1.1: Compare Comte’s means of studying society with the methods of studying natural
science.
Comte is considered the father of sociology. He coined the terms sociology and positivism and
set the stage for the development of the discipline. His new idea was to study society using the
same scientific processes that had been used within the natural sciences for centuries. His goal
was to use the objective and empirical methods in his quest to find solutions for the social
problems within society.
1.1.2: Compare and contrast the three sociological theories or views of society.
The conflict and functionalist theories are macro level analyses and symbolic interaction is a
micro level analysis. Conflict theory focuses on exploitation and class struggles while
functionalism is centered on the parts of society and the interdependence of the parts. Symbolic
interaction involves the symbolic meanings that are derived from social interactions and the
development of the socialized self.
1.1.3: Apply the three main sociological theories to a contemporary social issue.
Conflict, functionalist, and symbolic interaction are the three main sociological theories. The
first two are macro level theories and the latter is a micro approach. The conflict perspective
involves identifying class struggles and exploitation within society. Functionalism identifies the
functions of society such as social institutions, which include family, education, religion,
economy, and the government. There are manifest and latent functions as well as dysfunctions
within each of the social institutions. The symbolic interaction perspective identifies the
symbols and meanings associated with social interactions to better understand society as a
whole. Higher education serves many functions in society (functionalist) but many students
cannot afford the cost of the elite private universities (conflict). Interviewing students who work
two jobs and enrolled full-time would be a symbolic interaction approach to understand the
challenges of low-income students.
1.1.4: Define verstehen and compare and contrast how Weber’s perspective differs from the
three main sociological theories.
Verstehen is loosely translated as understanding or interpretation. Weber believed that empathic
understanding is necessary during the process of studying groups of people, which conflicts with
the scientific method. Verstehen is similar to symbolic interaction but is much more
participatory in practice. Weber’s indirect explanatory model of verstehen can be applied at the
macro level, but does not have similarities with conflict theory.
1.1.5: Summarize the feminist, queer, and postmodern theories.
Feminist theory is closely associated with conflict theory and focuses on issues such as gender
inequality and the movement to empower women. This theory is an example of how
sociological theory can be applied to find solutions to problems in society. The queer theory
emerged from the feminist theory and is centered on sexuality in areas such as gay, lesbian, and
transgender rights. The postmodern social theory refutes the traditional sociological theories and
sets aside positivism for relativism. Today’s modern societies are too complex and abstract to
use grand theories that attempt to explain how society operates on a large scale.
Module 2:
1.2.1: Explain characteristics of social structures.
Social structures are distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society
as a whole. Formal organizations such as United Nations Emergency Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) and the National Organization for Women (NOW) are not considered social
structures. The family, economic systems, and American values system are examples of social
structures. Social structures are not formal entities but organize behavior, coercive of individuals
and groups, provide norms and rules, assign roles, and are geographically dispersed.
1.2.2: Describe how Martineau, Addams, Du Bois, and Merton recognized social structures
in their research, writings, or practice of sociology.
Harriet Martineau studied American social structures during a two-year visit with one area being
the American values system. Jane Addams practiced sociology by establishing the Hull House
and recognizing that social structures such as basic social services and education were not readily
available for poor immigrants in Chicago. W. E. B. Du Bois, a civil rights activist and scholar,
worked to change social structures that perpetuated racism and discrimination in the U.S. Robert
Merton wrote extensively about social structures and built upon Max Weber’s work on
bureaucracy as a form of a social structure.
1.2.3: Identify social structures within a contemporary social issue.
A contemporary social issue on college campuses is incidents of sexual assault. There are
consistent and frequent messages within media that depict females as sexual objects that
contribute to this social problem on campuses. Sexual assaults often go unreported as women
can experience social stigmas and be ostracized for reporting an assault. Alcohol is often
involved in assaults and campus cultures often promote the consumption of alcohol at social
events. By identifying and altering social structures that perpetuate the behavior on campuses, it
will lead to lowering the crime rate.
Module 3:
1.3.1: Identify the role of sociology in understanding social problems.
A social problem is an issue that a segment of the society feels ought to be changed. Sociology’s
role in understanding social problems involves measuring the objective and subjective
conditions, evaluating the social context, and identifying possible policy solutions. Chocolate
and its relationship to the human trafficking of children illustrates how sociology can be used to
help us see a situation from a broader perspective, and understand why it is an issue that society
feels needs to be addressed.
1.3.2: Describe the social problems associated with a social inequality.
Social inequality comes in a variety of forms and often results in social problems. A society’s
response to a social problem can be viewed in terms of its manifest function, latent function or
dysfunction. The dysfunction of the U.S. welfare system included a rule that penalized children
if there was evidence of a man in the home. Different theoretical perspectives may be used to
analyze the impact of policy solutions on social problems from a macro or micro level.
Module 4
1.4.1: Explain the relationship between the sociological imagination and Durkheim’s
anomie.
Anomie involves a breakdown of the social bonds between the individual and the community.
On a backdrop of the sociological imagination, we find that anomie is linked to the personal
troubles an individual may experience in their life. Outside the individual, anomie is about a
lack of social control in the society overall. The economic crisis in Greece illustrates how and
why anomie may develop in a society, and the impact anomie can have on a society’s ability to
function.
1.4.2: Apply the sociological imagination to Durkheim’s research on suicide.
Research from Durkheim’s book Suicide is used to further investigate the Greek financial
situation. The U.S. stock market crash of 1929 is used to illustrate the fact that the anomie
experienced by the Greek society is not unique. By applying the sociological imagination in the
context of economic crises context we find that often an individual’s personal troubles are linked
to larger public issues.
Module 5:
1.5.1: Evaluate the consequence of globalization in the context of social change.
Globalization involves the integration of our cultural, economic and political lives across
societies. This process has been occurring for generations, with examples found in the
Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. Globalization spurs change within society in both positive
and negative ways, leaving societies to figure out how to balance their traditional culture with the
new ideas and patterns of behavior offered by other countries.
1.5.2: Explain how sociology can be applied to social change.
Sociology can be used to understand people’s behaviors in an ever changing social world via the
field of applied sociology. Applied sociology refers to the practical application of sociology in
careers outside of academia. One of the skills important to an applied sociologist is the ability to
translate knowledge, theory and research in a way that is understood by the layperson. When
successfully utilized, applied sociology can be a tool to help people understand how and why
they think, act and feel the way they do towards one another.