SOCI201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Symbolic Interactionism, Nonverbal Communication, Human Sexuality
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Theory: a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior. Effective theories may have both explanatory and predictive power. Example: sociologist emile durkheim, who studied suicide, suggested suicides are related to the group life of a society. Set up a theory for suicide, why it occurs. Theories are not final statements about behavior. Philosophers and religious authorities of ancient and medieval societies made many observations about human behavior. European theorists beginning in the 19th century made pioneering contributions to the development of the science of human behavior. Studied social behavior in britain and us. Emphasized the impact of economy, law, trade, health and population on social problems. Behavior must be understood within a larger social context rather than in individualistic terms. Developed a fundamental thesis to help explain all forms of society. Anomie: loss of direction felt in society when social control of individual behavior becomes ineffective. Did not limit interests to one aspect of social behavior.
