INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Definitions:
1. Sociology- combination of two words (August Comte)
Socios (Latin) variously mean society, association, togetherness or
companionship.
Logos- (Greek) literally means to speak about or words.
2. It is the study society and culture
Society a group of people who live within some type of bounded territory
and who share a common way of life.
Culture is common way of life shared by a society or a group
3. Sociology- (formal definition) it is a social science which studies the p and group
rocesses and pattern of human individual and group interaction, the form of
organization of social groups, the relationship among them and group influences
on individual behaviour and the interaction between one social group and the
other
Brief Historical Overview:
Although Sociology has its roots in the works of philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and
Confucius, it is a relatively new academic discipline. The major conditions, societal changes,
upheavals and social ferments gave rise to the emergencies and development of sociology.
The Industrial Revolution (Great Britain), the French Political Revolution and the advances in
natural sciences and technology had brought about societal changes and disorders and
because of these, and sociology was said to be the science of modern society.
Plato- (429-347BC) according to him societies are build out of individual necessity,
people form a community because of their interdependence on one another.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) he described man as political animal by nature and regarded
politics as similar to an organism, that this organism comprises parts none of which
can exists without the others.
Confucius (551-479 BC)- he believed that it is intrinsic to every individual to be in
the company of other people, that in the society man is able to maximize his full
potential he stressed that doing what is right or wrong is a matter of choice to every
Levels of Sociological Analysis:
1. Microsociology analysing small scale social phenomena.
Ex. It deals with issues on gender roles, nature of the family and or immigration.
2. Macro sociology analysing large-scale social phenomena.
Ex. It deals with issues such as war, 3rd world nations, poverty and environmental
degradation
Six Important Areas of Sociology:
1. The field of social organization and theory of social order
2. Social control
3. Social processes
4. Social groups
5. Social problems
Branches of Sociology:
1. Socio-economics -concerns the relationship between economic activities and
social life. Economics focuses on wealth, trade, consumption and behaviour patterns
of society.
2. Sociology of Education
- concerned with the role and function of the educational
system in the society
3. Sociology of the Family studies about the foundation of the family as an
institution and how it relates to its environment.

4. Criminology studies the nature and causes of crime and deviant behaviour,
activities of criminals and the criminal justice system.
5. Sociology of religion- concerned with the role of religion in society specifically its
practices, such as spirituality and community and religion in multicultural societies.
6. Industrial Sociology tackles theoretical and empirical issues, historical
backgrounds ofwork
7. Political Sociology study the relationship between the society and politics.
8. Environmental Sociology study the social behaviour of man toward physical
environment and social organization.
Proponents of Sociology:
Auguste Comte(1789-1857)-best known for his six-volume Positive Philosophy(an
attempt to remedy the social malaise of the French revolution and calling for a new social
doctrine based on the sciences)
Herbert Spencer(1830-1903) British philosopher who advances the thesis the evolution
accounts for the development of social and natural life. According to him societies
developed through the process of struggles for existence and survival of the fittest
Karl Marx(1818-1883) philosopher, economist and a social activist who stressed that
history is a continuous clash among conflicting ideas and forces between parts of society.
He believed that conflicts between haves (burgeouis) and have-nots (proletariats) is
necessary n order to produce social change; that private property and capitalism is the
root causes of poverty.
MaxWeber (1864-1920) is a German economist, historian and philosopher. His stand
for natural rights and for criticisms of utilitarians positivism, he preached liberty and
happiness as the goal of man.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1919) A French intellectual who devoted himself in
understanding the stability of society and the importance of social participation for
individual happiness.
Major Theoretical Perspective in Society
1. Structural Functionalism
2. Social Conflict theory
3. Symbolic interactionalism
Structural-Functionalist theory:
- Sometimes called Functionalism
- Emile Durkheim pioneer proponent
- This theory explains how the relationships among the parts are functional and
dysfunctional
- It focuses on consensus, social order, structure and function in society
- The functional aspect in the structural-functionalism theory stresses the role
played by each component part in the social system, and
- The structural perspective suggests an image of society wherein individuals are
constrained by the social forces, social backgrounds and by group membership.
The Social Conflict Theory:
- Also called Marxism
- This theory sees society in a framework of class conflict and focuses on the
struggle for scarce resources by different groups in a given society.
- Key concepts in this theory include:
conflict, struggle, power, inequality and
exploitation.
Symbolic Interactionism
- Proponents:
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929), William I Thomas (18631947) and George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)
- This theory views symbols as the basis of social life.
- It stresses the analysis of how our behaviours depend on how we define others
and ourselves.