SOC 1100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Auguste Comte, The Roots, Sociological Theory
Document Summary
Sociological perspective refers to the way that sociologists identify general patterns in the behavior of particular individuals. Although individuals are unique, sociologists recognize that society acts differently on various categories of people (ex. children compared to adults) Our individual life experiences are shaped by the society in which we live as well as by the general categories into which we fall. The sociological perspective reveals the idea that society shapes what we think and do. In terms of social integration: categories of people with strong social ties had lower suicide rates than those that were more individualistic (study done by emile durkheim) Two situations that help people to see clearly how society shapes individual lives: living on the margins of society, and living through a social crisis. The greater an individuals social marginality, the more able they are to use the sociological perspective.
