I. Pioneers of Sociology 5.

Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) -

Political Economy
1. Auguste Comte (1798-1857) -
Positivism • First female sociologist.
• Studied economic principles and
• Coined the term "sociology." their effects on society.
• Believed in discovering laws of • Compared social institutions across
human behavior through science. different societies.
• Law of Three Stages:
1. Theological Stage (prior to 6. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) -
1300) Sociological Imagination
2. Metaphysical Stage (1300-
1800) • Seeing connections between personal
3. Positivist Stage (1800 experiences and broader social
onward) structures.
• Key work: The Power Elite.
2. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) - Social
Facts 7. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) - Social
Evolution
• Established sociology as an
academic discipline. • Wrote The Study of Sociology
• Studied how social factors (not just (1873).
individual psychology) influence • Advocated minimal government
behavior. intervention in capitalism.
• Key study: Suicide is caused by
socioreligious forces rather than 8. George Simmel (1858-1918) - Micro-
individual issues. level Sociology

3. Karl Marx (1818-1883) - Social Conflict • Studied social conflict, money,

identity, and urban life.
• Communist Manifesto (1848): • Believed culture is shaped by
Society is shaped by class struggles individual creativity.
over resources.
9. George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) -
4. Max Weber (1864-1920) - Verstehen & Social Self
Antipositivism
• Developed symbolic interactionism.
• Verstehen: Understanding social • Believed the self is formed through
behavior from the insider’s social interactions.
perspective.
• Antipositivism: Advocated for
subjective analysis of culture and
society. Key Terms to Remember:

• Positivism - Using scientific

methods to study society.
 • Social Facts - External forces
influencing individual behavior.
• Verstehen - Understanding society 5. Human Ecology
from the individual's perspective.
• Sociological Imagination - Linking • human behavior of a given
personal experiences to societal population in relation to its
structures. environment and the emergence of
• Social Conflict Theory - Society is the spatial relations between the
shaped by class struggles. people and the environment.
• Symbolic Interactionism - Society
is created through individual 6. Applied Sociology
interactions.
• makes use of the findings of pure
II. Areas of Concern of Sociology sociological research on the various
aspects and problems of daily life, as
1. Social Organization in criminology, community
development, family counseling,
• study of social groups, social squatters’ relocation, education,
institutions, ethnic relations, social agrarian reform, non-governmental
stratification, social mobility, and organizations, labor relations,
bureaucracy. nutrition and health.
• sociology of family, economy, work,
agriculture, industry, religion, law,
politics, and education

2. Social Psychology
III. Theories and Perspectives in
• studies human nature and personality Sociology
as the product of group life.
• study of social attitudes and 1. Symbolic Interactionism (Herbert
collective behavior. Blumer, George Herbert Mead)

3. Social Change and Disorganization • Focuses on individual interactions

and the meanings attached to
• change in culture and social relations symbols.
and the attendant disruption that may • People create, interpret, and modify
occur meanings through social interaction.
• Society is seen as a product of
4.Population Study everyday interactions among
individuals.
• analyzes population number, • Example: The use of "po" and "opo"
composition, change, and quality as in Filipino culture as symbols of
they influence and are influenced by respect. Social media interactions,
the social, economic, and political emojis, and memes are modern
orders. representations of symbolic
communication.
2. Structural Functionalism (Durkheim, • Reality is subjective and shaped by
Spencer, Parsons) social constructs, language, and
power dynamics.
• Society is a system of interrelated • Challenges grand narratives and
parts working together to maintain universal theories.
stability. • Example: Media and digital culture
• Manifest Functions (intended shape people's understanding of
consequences) vs. Latent Functions reality, influencing opinions on
(unintended consequences). politics, gender roles, and identity.
• Social institutions (family,
education, government, economy, Key Terms to Remember:
and religion) play vital roles in
maintaining social order. • Positivism - Using scientific
• Example: Festivals in the methods to study society.
Philippines strengthen community • Social Facts - External forces
bonds by reinforcing cultural values influencing individual behavior.
and traditions. • Verstehen - Understanding society
from the individual's perspective.
3. Conflict Theory (Karl Marx, Max • Sociological Imagination - Linking
Weber) personal experiences to societal
structures.
• Society is characterized by • Social Conflict Theory - Society is
inequalities and power struggles. shaped by class struggles.
• Focuses on issues like class struggle, • Symbolic Interactionism - Society
gender inequality, and racial is created through individual
discrimination. interactions.
• Change occurs when oppressed • Cultural Relativism -
groups challenge dominant Understanding cultures based on
structures. their own context.
• Bourgeoisie -the small group of
capitalists who own the means to
produce wealth.
• Proletariat-the mass of workers who
are exploited by the Bourgeoisie
• Example: Economic inequality leads
to social unrest. Labor movements
arise to demand fair wages and
rights.

4. Postmodernism

• Questions absolute truths and

emphasizes diverse perspectives.