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2: Social Theory and Relations

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    285967
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    Introduction and Professor Chin's Take 

    This chapter introduces the foundations of sociological theory and how these ideas help explain social life, race, ethnicity, and inequality. It explores what a theory is, how different perspectives interpret society, and the many ways racial and ethnic groups interact. The chapter also examines the sociological imagination, which is the ability to connect personal experiences with larger social forces, and considers how power, privilege, and oppression shape relationships and opportunities.

    Learning Objectives

    By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

    • Define what a theory is and why it matters.

    • Compare different perspectives like functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, intersectionality, and critical race theory.

    • Recognize patterns of group relations such as genocide, segregation, assimilation, and pluralism.

    • Use the sociological imagination to connect personal experiences with larger social forces.

    • Describe how power, privilege, and oppression affect people and society.

     


    This page titled 2: Social Theory and Relations was last modified on Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:19:30 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Laura Chin.

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