Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Durkheim’s social approach has greatly influenced modern American sociology.

Suicide: Sociological Reasons Emile Durkheim made one of the first breakthroughs in sociological research with his study of suicides. By examining different population groups, he showed conclusively that suicide rates vary consistently from group to group, indicating that suicide is not simply an act of isolation, but that it is also influenced by society.

The four types of suicide are: 1. Egotistic: Victim does not feel connected to the larger society. 2. Altruistic: Victim places the welfare of others above own life. 3. Fatalistic: Victim feels powerless to regulate own life. 4. Anomic: Victim response to social disorder.

Max Weber: Considered the most influential in western sociology, the German sociologist Max Weber (1864- 1920) charged that not all social change is good. The industrial societies were moving in a negative direction and bureaucracy disenchanted everyone, or so Weber thought. On one hand, Weber welcomed the trend toward more equality, but also resisted, as he could foresee that the trend was leading to more governmental power of individuals. Weber read, and admired, much of Marx’s writings, but took issue with a fewparticulars. • Where Marx said social change could always be traced to economy, Weber insisted that other factors such as religious ideas could be instigators of social change. • Where Marx viewed value judgments (opinions based on personal values) to be acceptable, Weber insisted that value judgments have no place in the professional work of sociologists. • Where Marx viewed social change as a mostly positive occurrence, Weber argued that it can sometimes lead to negative, not positive, outcomes. (See above). Modern Developments The United States has been the predominant canvas for the modern development of sociology. The rise of urban issues led American sociologists to research the problem in the hopes of finding a legitimate means of housing reform. In 1892, the University of Chicago was the first educational institution to offer a doctoral degree in Sociology. Called the “Chicago School,” the researchers assembling there studied immigration, urbanization, and racial relations. Within twenty years, the study of sociology became a widely known discipline.

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