Sociology is the systematic study of society and social interaction. In order to carry out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop ways to apply their findings to the real world.
theological stage a stage of social evolution in which people explain events with respect to the
will of God or gods theory a proposed explanation about social interactions or society
tragedy of culture the tendency for the products of human cultural creation to accumulate and
become increasingly complex, specialized, alienating, or oppressive
Verstehen German for “understanding”; in sociology it refers to the use of empathy, or putting
oneself in another’s place, to understand the motives and logic of another’s action
Section Summary
1.1. What Is Sociology?
Sociology is the systematic study of society and social interaction. In order to carry
out their studies, sociologists identify cultural patterns and social forces and
determine how they affect individuals and groups. They also develop ways to apply
their findings to the real world.
1.2. The History of Sociology
Sociology was developed as a way to study and try to understand the changes to
society brought on by the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some
of the earliest sociologists thought that societies and individuals’ roles in society
could be studied using the same scientific methodologies that were used in the
natural sciences, while others believed that is was impossible to predict human
behaviour scientifically, and still others debated the value of such predictions. Those
perspectives continue to be represented within sociology today.
1.3. Theoretical Perspectives
Sociologists develop theories to explain social events, interactions, and patterns. A
theory is a proposed explanation of those patterns. Theories have different scales.
Macro-level theories, such as structural functionalism and conflict theory, attempt to
explain how societies operate as a whole. Micro-level theories, such as symbolic
interactionism, focus on interactions between individuals.
1.4. Why Study Sociology?
Studying sociology is beneficial both for the individual and for society. By studying
sociology people learn how to think critically about social issues and problems that
confront our society. The study of sociology enriches students’ lives and prepares
them for careers in an increasingly diverse world. Society benefits because people
with sociological training are better prepared to make informed decisions about
social issues and take effective action to deal with them.
Section Quiz
1.1. What Is Sociology?
1. Which of the following best describes sociology as a subject?
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