Sociology Notes

These are my sociology notes from class. I received them from my teacher, and God knows where he got them from. (I didn't copy word for word.) Oh, and I'm not purposefully plagiarizing, I do not own any rights to this, but if you wish to use it as information for yourself, Go for it!

What is sociology?

History and Development of Sociology

A. Sociology: the scientific and systematic study of human society. Sociology is based on scientific evidence, built upon observation, experimentation, verification, and generalization.

Sociological imagination, which allows us to observe in a general sense and to draw relationships between individual experiences and its affects on the outer world.

B.Reasons why we study sociology:
1. We can know ourselves better by studying others
2. We can study diversity (in race, sex, age, ethnicity, class.) to gain insight in how society works
3.Gain insight into our own society by studying other societies.

C. History and Development of Sociology

Sociology began in Europe in the 1800's after social upheaval in Europe (Industrialization). Sociology was originally developed to improve the world and apply scientific methods in a study of society.

Auguste Compte was deemed the "Father of Sociology" and coined the term "sociology" in 1838.

There are 3 stages in societal development; Theological (religious), metaphysical, and scientific. He proposed 2 branches in society. These were statics (study of the endurance of society) and dynamics (the study of a changing society)

Harriet Martineau: first woman sociologist who believed society would progress by eliminating inequality among the people (racial and gender equality specifically)

Herbert Spencer: Believed each part of the society performs its own function and contributes survival and stability of the whole and society can correct ANY problems by being left alone (survival of the fittest idea). He is a functionalist supporter.

Karl Marx: believed the primary features of society are conflict and competition. He is a conflict supporter.

Emile Durkheim: brought formal scientific methods for sociology. He is a functional supporter and originator.

Jane Addams: founder of sociology in the US; founder of the Hull house (a social and human service agency designed to help those in need who face inequality and give them an opportunity, provided childcare, job training, education, etc.)

Note: Sociology came to USA and was used in regard to solve specific problems (such as prostitution, and racial discrimination. Sociology became a major study during the 1960's with social unrest and upheaval due to the Civil Rights Movement.