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CHAPTER 1
Sociology and the Real World
Theories
Sociology’s Roots and
Functionalist Theory
1
What is Theory? or Theories
 Theories in sociology are propositions that
explain the social world and help to make
predictions about future events.
 Theories are also sometimes referred to as
approaches, schools of thought,
paradigms, or perspectives.
FI G U R E 1 . 4
SOCIOLOGY’S FAMILY TREE
Sociology’s Roots
 Auguste Comte
 Harriet Martineau
 Herbert Spencer
Auguste Comte
(1798-1857)
 Stated that sociology needed to be treated
like any other scientific discipline.
 Laid the groundwork for future sociologists
and helped build the discipline.
 The progress of human thinking
 Theological
 Metaphysical
 Positivism/Scientific Method
Harriet Martineau
(1802-76)
 A social activist who traveled the United
States and wrote about social changes which
were radical for this time period.
 Martineau translated Comte’s work into
English, making his ideas accessible to
England and America.
Herbert Spencer
(1820-1903)
 Herbert Spencer was the first
great English-speaking sociologist.
 Spencer believed in evolution and
coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.”
 He believed that societies evolve through time by
adapting to their changing environment. His
philosophy is often referred to as “social
Darwinism.”
Questions
 Who is the father of sociology?
 What are the stages of human thinking?
 Who coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”?
 Who translated Comte’s work?
Questions
 Who is the father of sociology?
 Auguste Comte
 What are the stages of human thinking?
 Theological
 Metaphysical
 Positivism/Scientific Method
 Who coined the phrase “survival of the fittest”?
 Herbert Spencer
 Who translated Comte’s work?
 Harriet Martineau
Structural Functionalism/
Macro Level Analysis
 Society is viewed as an ordered system
of interrelated parts, or structures,
which are the social institutions that
make up society (family, education,
politics, the economy).
 Each of these different structures
meets the needs of society by
performing specific functions for the
whole system (society).
Emile Durkheim
(1858-1917)
 He is the central figure in functionalist theory.
 Social bonds and Social Solidarity
 Mechanical Solidarity(Pre-Industrial or Pre-Modern
Societies)
 Organic Solidarity ( Industrial or Modern Societies)
 Studied the correlation between a sense of
disconnection (anomie or normlessness) and suicide
 Religion and a Collective Conscience (or collective
consciousness
 Using scientific, empirical methods to study “social
reality”

Talcott Parsons
(1902-1979)
Robert Merton
(1910-2003)
 Any disorganization or dysfunction in a structure
leads to change and new equilibrium
 Manifest functions are the obvious, intended
functions of a social structure
 Latent functions are the less obvious, perhaps
unintended functions
 Any examples?
Questions
 Who is the founder of the structural functionalist





perceptive?
What are the key words for structural functionalist
perspective?
What is the level of analysis in sociology of this
perspective?
What is the difference between mechanical solidarity
and organic solidarity?
What is the anomie?
What are the difference between manifest functions
and latent functions?
Questions
 Who is the founder of the structural functionalist perceptive?
 Emile Durkheim
 What are the key words for structural functionalist perspective?
 Structures, functions, dysfunction, balance and harmony in
interrelated parts (social institutions) in society, society is like a
human body; living organism
 What is the level of analysis in sociology of this perspective?
 Macrosociology
 What is the difference between mechanical solidarity and organic
solidarity?
 The first is for pre-industrial (pre-modern societies)
 The second is for industrial (modern societies)
 What is the anomie?
 Normlessness
 What are the difference between manifest functions and latent
functions?
 The first is the obvious and visible function and the second is more
hidden, less obvious function in societies