SOCL 2001 : SOC Study Guide Exam 1
Document Summary
Four perspectives (know their views as well) Study chart on page 32: functionalist perspective: system of independent parts working together. This perspective is based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system. (function together: conflict perspective: not one unified theory, but rather encompasses several branches. According to the theory groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources: symbolic interactionist perspective: views society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups. Marcolevel analysis: examines whole societies, large-scale social structures. Focuses on the fragmented nature of society as a result of constant change: important sociologists. Auguste comte: french philosopher, coined the term sociology. Founder of sociology his philosophy became known as positivism(a belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry) Stressed that people are the product of their social environment and that behavior cannot be fully understood in terms of individual biological and psychological traits social facts anomie.
