Foundations of
Sociology
Relation of Sociology to
other social sciences
Social Sciences
 History-
study of the past
 Political Science- study of political
(government) systems.
 Anthropology- study of past and
present cultures.
 Psychology- study of mind and
human behavior.
 Economics- study of economic
systems.
Social Interaction
How
people
relate and
influence
each other.
Social Phenomena
Observable
facts or
events that
involve
human
society.
Sociological Perspective
A
person’s
view of
themselves
and the
world around
them.
Sociological Imagination
 Ability
to see the
connection
between the
larger world and
your personal
life.
 Developed by C.
Wright Mills.
Early Sociology
People that shaped the
field of Sociology
Auguste Comte
 French
philosopher
 Founder of
sociology?
 Applied
scientific
method to
society.
Herbert Spencer
 Englishman
 Applied
Darwin’s
Theory of
Evolution to
society creating
Social
Darwinism.
Karl Marx
Believed social
structure is influenced
by how an economy is
organized.
 Divided society into
two classes…
proletariats (have
nots) and the
bourgeousi (haves)
 Wanted two social
classes equal.

Emile Durkheim
French sociologist
concerned with the
problem of social
order.
 Studied religion in
society.

Max Weber
Focused on smaller
groups and
individuals in
society.
 Ideal typeessential
characteristics of a
feature of society.

Current Perspectives
in Sociology
3 broad perspectives that
form the basis of modern
Sociology
Functionalist Perspective
 Bases
on ideas of Comte, Spencer, and
Durkheim.
 View society as a set of interrelated
parts that work together to produce a
stable social system.
 Society is held together through
consensus. Most people agree on what
is best for society and work together to
ensure that the social system runs
smoothly.
Terms of Functionalists
 Dysfunctional-
negative
consequences or situation in society.
 Manifest Function- intended
consequence of an element in society
ex: Car = transportation.
 Latent Function- unintended
consequence of an element in society
ex: Car = sign of wealth and status
Conflict Perspective
 Focuses
on the forces in society that
promote competition and/or change.
 Karl Marx studied how some have
power in society over others and that
conflict over resources is the basis of
all conflict.
Interactionist Perspective
 Focus
on how individuals interact
with one another in society.
 Study ways in which individuals
respond to one another in everyday
situations.
 Max Weber studied the role of
symbols in society ex: flag, eagle,
Uncle Sam etc.
 Symbolic interaction- how people use
symbols when interacting.