Sociology Essay - 1116 Words

Keyshla Mercado- G. Mrs. Amanda Richard SYG 2000 Web Sept. 9, 2012 Essay #1 According to, Datin Sitti Haishah Abd Rahman, â€Å"development of sociology took place in Europe during 18th and 19th centuries as the results: of a new industrial economy, the growth of cities, the political change, and a new awareness of society.† She adds that, â€Å"the term sociology was coined by a French social thinker Auguste Comte (1798-1857).† In the book, Thinking Sociology by Carl, sociology is defined as, â€Å"a science guided by the basic understanding that the social matters: our lives are affected, not only by our individual characteristics, but by our place in the social world.† Sociology should be studied using sociological imagination, â€Å"the ability to†¦show more content†¦Carl thought of functionalism as human bodies that have built in mechanisms that help it maintain normal body temperature. When cold, you will react by shivering. Society is similar, â€Å"when something happens to throw a social system off-kilter; certain forces step in to help balance things out. â€Å" Comte, as mentioned before above, â€Å"pointed out the need to keep the society unified at times when many traditions were breaking down; Durkheim’s work was based on this approach.† Another great founder to functionalism was Herbert Spencer (1820-1903). He also â€Å"compared the society to human body (just as the structural parts of human body function to keep the entire organism survive, the social structures work together to preserve society).† In addition, Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) â€Å"expanded the social function concept. He distinguished manifest functions (recognized, intended, openly stated functions) and latent function (unrecognized, unintended, hidden functions). Also acknowledge social dysfunction. Talcott Parsons was also another founder of this sociological paradigm.† Carl defines conflict theory as â€Å"a macro orientation because it studies how the struggle for resources holds society together.† He adds that, â€Å"this approach sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.† Raham goes more in detailed by explaining, â€Å"Sociologists investigate how factors such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexualShow MoreRelatedSociology Essay20437 Words   |  82 PagesAS Sociology Sociology Nik Jorgensen Text  © Nelson Thornes Distance Learning 2010 Illustrations  © Nelson Thornes Distance Learning 2010 All rights reserved. The copyright holders authorise ONLY users of NTDL AS Sociology to make photocopies for their own or their students’ immediate use within the teaching context. 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