Kingsley Davis claims that this theory is reflexive and behavoioural; reflexive as it explains individual level changes in terms of socio-economic changes, and behavioural as it explains individual behaviour. In the 20th century Davis has been among the most renowned sociologists for works in the broad field of population studies. He has also worked on the history, analysis and prediction of population of India and Pakistan (1968). Davis has also made an enormous contribution to the measurement of urbanization and the relationship between urbanization, industrialization and economic development.
PIERRE BOURDIEU
In the postmodern age, sociologists view that the world has become more complex, fragmented and uncertain. It is characterized by hyperdifferentiation (excessive fragmentation of society and people), hypercommodification (rise in consumerism) and hyperrationalization (disbelief in science and the idea of truth). It is not possible to have an essentialist theory of society any more. We can only talk about specific subjects and specific locales. Therefore, theory must deal with the problems facing the different vulnerable groups; to be valid it should be of use to them. Postmodernists are less interested in grand narratives of social change and transformation. They concentrate on piecemeal changes and emancipation of subjects, defined varyingly in different economic, social, political and cultural terms (little narratives). Postmodernism has been applied to studies of health, social stigma, feminism, constructions of sexuality, risk behaviour, environmental movements, anti-abortion movements, ethnicity, etc. where the focus of studies has been more on individual dispositions and behaviour rather than the state policies. Postmodernism makes no truth claims about the world and postmodern sociologists have turned interpreters (Bauman, 1988).
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