Post on 17-Dec-2015
What is Sociology?
Simply put, sociology is the study of society
Systematic study of human social interactionHow relationships develop, are maintained,
and change
Example: Nazi Germany How did this group emerge?
What led to their expansion and growth?
Does this group exist today, in what form?
What is Sociology?...cont’d
Sociological perspectiveCenters around one simple question
How are people influenced by their society?Social context shapes beliefs and attitudes
and sets guidelines for what we do
C. Wright Mills (1916 – 1962)“The sociological perspective enables us to
grasp the connection between history and biography.”
Internal vs. External Influences
What is Sociology cont’d Involves the use of the sociological imagination
C. Wright Mills coined term“capacity to shift from one perspective to another”
Ability to see how sociological situations play out due to how people differ in terms of their places in given social or historical circumstances
Example:Drinking teaGetting married
How does Sociology compare/contrast with the other social sciences?
Anthropology Comparative study of past
and present cultures Similar in subject matter Comparison with Sociology:
Anthropology – simple comparison
Sociology – complex/advanced comparison
Psychology Deals with behavior and
thinking of organisms Comparison with Sociology:
Psychology - focus on individual behavior
Sociology – focus on group behavior
Economics Study of choices people make to
satisfy needs and wants Sociologists
What effect does the economy have on groups in society?
History Sociologists study past events to
help them explain current social behaviors/attitudes
Political Science Organization and operation of
government Sociologists focus on formation of
groups (political parties, voting patterns, interest groups)
Rise of Sociology Began in the mid-1800s
Social observers using scientific methods to test ideas
Driven by intellectual, social, and political change in Europe Revolutions
Industrial Revolution produced radical changes in structure of societyGone was tradition
Founders of Sociology
Auguste Comte Founder of Sociology
Examined causes & consequences of French Revolution
What creates social order?
What causes societal changes?
Urged application of sciencePositivism – scientific method
applied to society
Observe and classify human activities
Karl Marx
Highly influential originator of conflict theory
Viewed poverty and inequality as products of capitalism
Sought to eliminate capitalism
Predicted communism would emerge as new economic system
Founders of Sociologycont’d
Emile DurkheimSociology recognized as
its own academic discipline
How do social forces affect people’s behavior?Social psychology
Social integration
Degree to which people are tied to their social group
Analyzed suicide rates
Max Weber Investigated causes of
social changeEffects of society on the
individual
Saw religion as central force to social changeRise of capitalism
Established the ideal typeGeneral description when
looking to classify something
Pioneers in SociologyW.E.B. DuBois(1868 – 1963)
Jane Addams(1860-1935)
Worked on behalf of poor immigrants for social justiceConcentrated on housing,
education, and working conditions of the poor
Accomplishments:Co-founded Hull House
Leader of women’s movement
Recipient of Nobel Peace Prize
Studied ethnic inequality and racism
1st African American to earn doctorate from Harvard
Observation turned to social actionHelped found the NAACP
(National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
Lifetime research interest was the relations of whites and African Americans
HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE SOCIAL WORLD AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
FUNCTIONALIST
INTERACTIONIST
CONFLICT
Perspectives in Sociology
Example:Family
Provides context for reproducing, nurture, socializing children
Education Way to transmit society’s skills, knowledge, and culture to its youth
Religion Provides moral guidance and outlet for worship of higher power
Politics Provides means of governing society
Structural-functional theory (Functionalism) Identifying and examining the structures of society and how they function
Society is a unit made up of system of interchangeable parts working together
Each social institution contributes to function of society
Auguste Comte – society is a kind of living organism
• Sociological Perspectives - Different ways of explaining how society works. (Looking through different lenses)
Functionalism (cont’d)
Assumptions:
StabilityDoes a structure contribute to
the maintenance of society?
CompatibilityHow compatible are the
structures within a society?
EvolutionHow do new needs and
demands impact the existence of structures within a society?
Analysis involvestwo steps:
Determine nature of social structure
Assess the consequences for the operation of the social structure
Positive consequence = function
Negative consequence = dysfunction
Emphasis on interconnectedness
Manifest (intended) functions vs.
Latent (unintended) functions
Perspectives in Sociology
Conflict theorySociety is composed of groups who compete
for scarce resourcesAddresses points of stress and conflict in
societyHow they contribute to social change
Theory addresses 2 basic questions:Who benefits from structured inequality?
How do they maintain their advantage?
CONFLICT THEORY (CONT’D)
3 Primary Assumptions:
Competition over resources is characteristic
of all human relationships
Structured Inequality
Inequality is built into social structure – those
who benefit try to maintain advantages
Revolution – change occurs as a result of
conflict between competitors
Often abrupt and revolutionary
Perspective in Sociology cont’dSymbol – something used to represent something else
Symbolic-Interactionism TheoryFocuses on everyday aspects of social life
People evaluate their own conduct by comparing themselves to others
Our behaviors depend on how we define ourselves and othersWe both shape and are shaped by the
relationships we experience
Study focuses on small groups and face-to-face interactions
SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISM (CONT’D)
Uses 3 basic premises to study human behavior:Symbolic meanings are important
Meanings grow out of relationships
Meanings are negotiated
Example:Imagine yourself amongst a group of your
closest friends. What are you doing?Now imagine acting, speaking, behaving the
same way while visiting with family