LibGuides: Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 1113): Theories & Theorists

Theories in Oxford Reference Online - Links to longer explanations of the term

Conflict Theory
Emerged as a critique of the main tendencies of structural functionalism from the Dictionary of Social Sciences
Functionalism
Sociological and anthropological theory outlined by Emile Durkheim.
Marxism
Karl Marx's socio-political ideas that spread quickly in 19th-century Europe as a response to the growth of industrial capitalism.
Positivism
French philosopher and social scientist Auguste Comte (1798–1857) invented the term ‘sociology’ to describe his proposed positive science of society. From A Dictionary of the Social Sciences
Social Constructionism: Overview Page
Structuralism
A theory that is associated with the French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss (1908–2009)
Symbolic Interactionism
From the Dictionary of Social Sciences
It emphasizes the significance of social roles in the formation of the self, and it favors the study of everyday interactions over large-scale social structures.

Use the following links to learn about some of the major contributors in Sociology.

Introduction to Sociology/Sociological Theory
Review extensive summaries of sociological theories in the open access textbook.
Theoretical Perspectives
A short introduction to the basics of sociological theories from Lumen Learning.