Giddings, Franklin Henry

Related Category: Sociology: Biographies

1855–1931, American sociologist, b. Fairfield co., Conn., grad. Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. In 1894 he became professor of sociology at Columbia, where he earned a reputation as a brilliant teacher. His explanation of social phenomena was based on the principle of “consciousness of kind”—his theory that each person has an innate sense of belonging to particular social groups. Giddings encouraged statistical studies in sociology. His most important works are The Principles of Sociology (1896), Studies in the Theory of Human Society (1922), and The Scientific Study of Human Society (1924).