WGU Introduction to Sociology
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
Suggested we apply scientific method to social world,
which is known as Positivism
Auguste Conte
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals
body - must function together to function smoothly. (func-
tional analysis)
*Called 2nd founder of sociology
*disagreed with Conte, believed sociologists should not
guide social reform
*societies are evolving from lower to higher form
*society's most capable and intelligent members service -
the less capable die out
Herbert Spencer *fittest members produce a more advanced society "The
survival of the fittest" or "Social Darwinism" (credited to
Darwin because he applied it to organisms.
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals
body - must function together to function smoothly. (func-
tional analysis)
*believed the engine of human history is class conflict
*society is made up of 2 classes
*economics is a central force in social change
*Bourgeoisie - capitalist own the means of production,
Karl Marx money, land, factories and machines
*Proletariat - workers;
*workers will unite and bread their chains of bondage
*introduced Conflict Theory
*did not think of himself as a sociologist
Capitalists
Bourgeoisie they own the means of production - money, land, factories,
and machines.
2025/2026
,WGU Introduction to Sociology
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
Proletariat Workers
*succeeded in getting sociology recognized as a separate
academic discipline
*how social forces affect peoples behavior
*Social Integration
Emile Durkheim
when all parts of society full their part it is in a "normal"
state, if they do not fulfill their function it is in an "abnor-
mal" or pathological state. (functional analysis)
Degree to which people are tied to their social groups.
Social Integration
People with weaker social ties are more likely to commit
suicide
Applying Durkheim Patterns of behavior or recurring patterns or events
*used cross culture and historical materials to trace the
cause of social change and how social groups affect peo-
ples orientation to life
Max Weber *disagreed with Karl Marx
*Roman Catholics taught to hold on to tradition, protestant
taught to embrace change
*Protestant ethic
*looked for sign they were in Gods good grace
*financial success-live frugal lives, saving ant investing
Protestant Ethic
money "the spirit of capitalism"
This brought about capitalism
*did writings because women were to focus on church,
cooking, children and clothes
Harriet Martineau
*early female sociologist
*viewed sociology as a path to reform and improve society
2025/2026
, WGU Introduction to Sociology
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
(stop lynchings, integrate immigrants, improve working
conditions)
W.E.B. DuBois black sociologist
Sociologist and social reformer
Jane Adams *came from wealth and privilege
*founded Hull House with Ellen Gates Starr
C. Wright Mills pushed sociologist to go back to push social reform
sociological research for the purpose of making discover-
Basic (or pure) sociology ies about life in human groups, not for making changes in
those groups
the use of sociology to solve problems from classroom
Applied Sociology
integration and family relationships to crime and pollution
applying sociology for the public good; especially socio-
Public Sociology logical perspective (how things relate to one another) to
guide politicians and policy makers
general statement about how some parts of the world fit
Theory together and how they work; an explanation of how 2 or
more facts are related to one another
Symbolic Interaction
3 major theories Functional analysis
Conflict Theory
theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as com-
posed of symbols that people use to establish meaning,
develop their views of the world and communicate with
one another
Symbolic Interaction
Analyze how social life depends on the ways we define
ourselves and others. Study face to face interactions, ex-
amine how people make sense of their live and place in it
2025/2026
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
Suggested we apply scientific method to social world,
which is known as Positivism
Auguste Conte
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals
body - must function together to function smoothly. (func-
tional analysis)
*Called 2nd founder of sociology
*disagreed with Conte, believed sociologists should not
guide social reform
*societies are evolving from lower to higher form
*society's most capable and intelligent members service -
the less capable die out
Herbert Spencer *fittest members produce a more advanced society "The
survival of the fittest" or "Social Darwinism" (credited to
Darwin because he applied it to organisms.
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals
body - must function together to function smoothly. (func-
tional analysis)
*believed the engine of human history is class conflict
*society is made up of 2 classes
*economics is a central force in social change
*Bourgeoisie - capitalist own the means of production,
Karl Marx money, land, factories and machines
*Proletariat - workers;
*workers will unite and bread their chains of bondage
*introduced Conflict Theory
*did not think of himself as a sociologist
Capitalists
Bourgeoisie they own the means of production - money, land, factories,
and machines.
2025/2026
,WGU Introduction to Sociology
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
Proletariat Workers
*succeeded in getting sociology recognized as a separate
academic discipline
*how social forces affect peoples behavior
*Social Integration
Emile Durkheim
when all parts of society full their part it is in a "normal"
state, if they do not fulfill their function it is in an "abnor-
mal" or pathological state. (functional analysis)
Degree to which people are tied to their social groups.
Social Integration
People with weaker social ties are more likely to commit
suicide
Applying Durkheim Patterns of behavior or recurring patterns or events
*used cross culture and historical materials to trace the
cause of social change and how social groups affect peo-
ples orientation to life
Max Weber *disagreed with Karl Marx
*Roman Catholics taught to hold on to tradition, protestant
taught to embrace change
*Protestant ethic
*looked for sign they were in Gods good grace
*financial success-live frugal lives, saving ant investing
Protestant Ethic
money "the spirit of capitalism"
This brought about capitalism
*did writings because women were to focus on church,
cooking, children and clothes
Harriet Martineau
*early female sociologist
*viewed sociology as a path to reform and improve society
2025/2026
, WGU Introduction to Sociology
WGU - C273to Sociology
C273 Introduction
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_51igwu
(stop lynchings, integrate immigrants, improve working
conditions)
W.E.B. DuBois black sociologist
Sociologist and social reformer
Jane Adams *came from wealth and privilege
*founded Hull House with Ellen Gates Starr
C. Wright Mills pushed sociologist to go back to push social reform
sociological research for the purpose of making discover-
Basic (or pure) sociology ies about life in human groups, not for making changes in
those groups
the use of sociology to solve problems from classroom
Applied Sociology
integration and family relationships to crime and pollution
applying sociology for the public good; especially socio-
Public Sociology logical perspective (how things relate to one another) to
guide politicians and policy makers
general statement about how some parts of the world fit
Theory together and how they work; an explanation of how 2 or
more facts are related to one another
Symbolic Interaction
3 major theories Functional analysis
Conflict Theory
theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as com-
posed of symbols that people use to establish meaning,
develop their views of the world and communicate with
one another
Symbolic Interaction
Analyze how social life depends on the ways we define
ourselves and others. Study face to face interactions, ex-
amine how people make sense of their live and place in it
2025/2026
