CH 1 What is Sociology?

CH1-1 Examining Social Life

• The social sciences are disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific manner. Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior.

• The sociological perspective is a way of looking at the world that enables sociologists to see beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meaning behind human actions.

CH1-2 Development of Sociology

• Comte-founder of sociology• Martineau-women’s rights• Spencer-survival of the fittest• Marx-classless society• Durkheim-used statistics• Weber-put yourself in others’ shoes• Addams-poor/inner city rights• Du Bois-African-American rights

CH1-3 Modern Perspectives• Functionalist Perspective• Conflict Perspective• Interactionist Perspective

Functionalist Perspective

• The functionalist perspective views society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system.

• Dysfunction is a negative to the social system.• Manifest function is the intended

consequence of an element of society.• Latent function is the unintended

consequence of an element of society.

Conflict Perspective

• The conflict perspective focuses on the forces in society that promote competition and change.

• Struggle for power/tug of war

Interactionist Perspective

• The interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society.

• A symbol is anything that represents something else/usually with meaning attached to it.

CH1 Test55 points possible

• 15 Matching • 10 Multiple Choice• 7 Statements (Functionalist, Conflict, Interactionist)• 1 Extra Credit• 5 Short Answer– Biology vs. Sociology vs. Psychology– Founders of Sociology– 3 Perspectives of Sociology– Using your Sociological Imagination– Critical Thinking: Does $$$=musical talent??

CH1 Review Assignment Comprehension & Critical Thinking

p. 30 #1-3, #6-12 Complete terms for CH1-1, CH1-2 (CH1-3 on wksht)