Positivism and patterns and trends Flashcards
What do positivists believe
The world is governed by natural laws
What influences positivists
The natural sciences
What do they see people as
Objects whose behaviour can be measured and observed
Who was a famous positivist
Durkheim
What are positivist sociologists who study the structure of society known as
Structuralists
What do positivists argue about society
The social structure of particular societies produce social forces or laws which people have little or no control over
What influences human behaviour
Free will and individualism are less influential than society’s ability to shape our behaviour
What are individuals regarded as
The puppets of society
What is human behaviour seen as
Very predictable
What approach do they take to the study of society
- A macro approach
- They are mainly concerned with the relationships between different parts of society
- They are concerned with the structure of society over individuals
What are positivist theories
Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism
What do positivists argue about science
- Sociology is a science
- Human behaviour should be measured scientifically
- We should use the logic of the natural sciences
