The Industrial Revolution sparked massive societal changes, prompting early sociologists to study these shifts. They examined how urbanization, factory work, and new social classes reshaped society. Pioneers like Comte, Durkheim, Marx, and Weber laid the groundwork for sociology as a scientific discipline.

Early sociological theories emerged to explain social phenomena. Functionalism focused on social stability, conflict theory highlighted power struggles, and symbolic interactionism explored how people create meaning through interactions. These approaches shaped sociology's development and continue to influence the field today.

The Emergence of Sociology

Industrial Revolution's impact on sociology

• The Industrial Revolution brought about significant changes in society
  • Shifted from rural, agricultural society to urban, industrial society
  • Gave rise to factories and mass production
  • Led to growth of cities and urban population
  • Resulted in emergence of new social classes (bourgeoisie and proletariat)
• Early sociologists sought to understand and explain these changes
  • Auguste Comte coined the term "sociology" and advocated for a scientific study of society
  • Émile Durkheim studied the division of labor and its impact on social cohesion
  • Karl Marx analyzed the capitalist system and class conflict
  • Max Weber examined the role of religion and bureaucracy in shaping society

European and American sociology pioneers

• Auguste Comte (French, 1798-1857)
  • Considered the founder of sociology
  • Developed the concept of positivism emphasizing the use of scientific methods to study society
• Émile Durkheim (French, 1858-1917)
  • Pioneered the study of social facts and social solidarity
  • Analyzed the division of labor and its impact on social cohesion
  • Studied suicide rates and their relationship to social factors (Suicide, 1897)
• Karl Marx (German, 1818-1883)
  • Developed the theory of historical materialism and class conflict
  • Analyzed the capitalist system and its exploitation of the working class (Das Kapital)
  • Advocated for a socialist revolution to create a classless society (The Communist Manifesto)
• Max Weber (German, 1864-1920)
  • Examined the role of religion, particularly Protestantism, in the development of capitalism (The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism)
  • Studied bureaucracy and its impact on society
  • Emphasized the importance of understanding individuals' subjective meanings and motivations
• W.E.B. Du Bois (American, 1868-1963)
  • Pioneered the study of race and racial inequality
  • Analyzed the double consciousness experienced by African Americans (The Souls of Black Folk)
  • Advocated for civil rights and social justice
• Jane Addams (American, 1860-1935)
  • Co-founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago that provided social services to immigrants and the poor
  • Promoted social reform and women's suffrage
  • Emphasized the importance of applied sociology and community engagement
• C. Wright Mills (American, 1916-1962)
  • Developed the concept of sociological imagination, connecting personal experiences to broader social structures

Theoretical Approaches in Early Sociology

Early sociological theoretical approaches

• Functionalism
  • Focuses on how social institutions and structures contribute to the stability and functioning of society as a whole
  • Emphasizes social order, consensus, and equilibrium
  • Key theorists: Émile Durkheim (The Division of Labor in Society), Talcott Parsons (The Social System)
• Conflict Theory
  • Emphasizes social inequality, power struggles, and the exploitation of subordinate groups by dominant groups
  • Sees society as characterized by conflict and competition over scarce resources (wealth, power, status)
  • Key theorists: Karl Marx (The Communist Manifesto), W.E.B. Du Bois (The Souls of Black Folk)
• Symbolic Interactionism
  • Focuses on how individuals create and interpret meaning through social interactions and symbols (language, gestures)
  • Emphasizes the subjective experiences and perceptions of individuals
  • Key theorists: George Herbert Mead (Mind, Self, and Society), Charles Horton Cooley (Looking-Glass Self)
• Similarities among the approaches
  • All seek to understand and explain social phenomena
  • All recognize the importance of social structures and institutions in shaping individual behavior
• Differences among the approaches
  • Functionalism emphasizes social order and stability, while conflict theory emphasizes social change and inequality
  • Symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level interactions (face-to-face), while functionalism and conflict theory focus on macro-level structures and processes (societal)

Key Concepts in Sociology

• Social structure: The organized patterns of social relationships and institutions that shape society
• Social change: The alterations in cultural and social institutions over time
• Social stratification: The hierarchical arrangement of individuals and groups in society based on wealth, power, and prestige
• Social institutions: Established patterns of social behavior that maintain social order (e.g., family, education, religion)
• Social norms: Shared expectations and rules that guide behavior in specific situations