The Sociological PerspectiveThe systematic study of human society

What Is Sociology?...The systematic study of human society SystematicScientific discipline that focuses attention on patterns of behaviorHuman societyGroup behavior is primary focus; how groups influence individuals and vice versaAt the heart of sociologyThe sociological perspective which offers a unique view of society

Why Take Sociology?Education and liberal artsWell-rounded as a personSocial expectationsMore appreciation for diversityThe global villageDomestic social marginalityEnhanced life chancesMicro and macro understandingIncrease social potentials

Benefits of the Sociological PerspectiveHelps us assess the truth of common senseHelps us assess both opportunities and constraints in our livesEmpowers us to be active participants in our societyHelps us live in a diverse world

Importance of Global PerspectiveWhere we live makes a great difference in shaping our livesSocieties throughout the world are increasingly interconnected through technology and economics.Many problems that we face in the United States are more serious elsewhere.Thinking globally is a good way to learn more about ourselves.

The Sociological PerspectivePeter BergerSeeing the general in the particularSociologists identify general social patterns in the behavior of particular individuals.Seeing the strange in the familiarGiving up the idea that human behavior is simply a matter of what people decide to doUnderstanding that society shapes our lives

Durkheims Study of SuicideEmile Durkheims research showed that society affects even our most personal choices.More likely to commit: male Protestants who were wealthy and unmarriedLess likely to commit: male Jews and Catholics who were poor and marriedOne of the basic findings: Why?The differences between these groups had to do with social integration.Those with strong social ties had less of a chance of committing suicide.

C. Wright MillsSociological ImaginationThe power of the sociological perspective lies not just in changing individual lives but in transforming society.Society, not peoples personal failings, is the cause of social problems.The sociological imagination transforms personal problems into public issues.

The Origins of SociologyOne of the youngest of academic disciplines, sociology has its origins in powerful social forces.Social ChangeIndustrialization, urbanization, political revolution, and a new awareness of societyScience3-Stages: Theological, Metaphysical & ScientificPositivismA way of understanding based on science Gender & RaceThese important contributions have been pushed to the margins of society.

Sociological TheoryTheory: a statement of how and why facts are relatedExplains social behavior to the real worldTheoretical paradigm: A set of fundamental assumptions that guides thinkingStructural-functionalSocial-conflictSymbolic-interaction

Structural-Functional ParadigmThe basicsA macro-level orientation, concerned with broad patterns that shape society as a wholeViews society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability Key elements:Social structure refers to any relatively stable patterns of social behavior found in social institutions.Social function refers to the consequences for the operation of society as a whole.

Whos Who in the Structural-Functional ParadigmAuguste ComteImportance of social integration during times of rapid changeEmile DurkheimHelped establish sociology as a disciplineHerbert SpencerCompared society to the human bodyRobert K. MertonManifest functions are recognized and intended consequences.Latent functions are unrecognized and unintended consequences.Social dysfunctions are undesirable consequences.

Social-Conflict ParadigmThe basics:A macro-oriented paradigmViews society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social changeKey elements:Society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the expense of the majority.Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to social inequality.Dominant group vs. disadvantaged group relations

Whos Who in theSocial-Conflict ParadigmKarl MarxThe importance of social class in inequality and social conflictW.E.B. Du BoisRace as the major problem facing the United States in the 20th century

Feminism and the Gender-Conflict ApproachA point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between women and menClosely linked to feminism, the advocacy of social equality for women and menWomen important to the development of sociology: Harriet Martineau and Jane Addams

The Race-Conflict ApproachA point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categoriesPeople of color important to the development of sociology: Ida Wells Barnett and W.E.B. Du Bois

Symbolic-Interaction ParadigmThe basicsA micro-level orientation, a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations Views society as the product of everyday interactions of individualsKey elements Society is nothing more than the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another.Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic of subjective meanings.

Whos Who in the Symbolic-Interaction ParadigmMax WeberUnderstanding a setting from the people in itGeorge Herbert MeadHow we build personalities from social experienceErving GoffmanDramaturgical analysisGeorge Homans & Peter BlauSocial-exchange analysis

Critical EvaluationStructural-FunctionalToo broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race & gender, focuses on stability at the expense of conflictSocial-ConflictToo broad, ignores how shared values and mutual interdependence unify society, pursues political goalsSymbolic-InteractionIgnores larger social structures, effects of culture, factors such as class, gender & race

Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of SportsThe Functions of SportsA structural-functional approach directs our attention to the ways in which sports help society operateSports have functional and dysfunctional consequences

Sports and ConflictSocial-conflict analysis points out that games people play reflect their social standing. Sports have been oriented mostly toward males. Big league sports excluded people of color for decades.Sports in the United States are bound up with inequalities based on gender, race, and economic power.

Sports as InteractionFollowing the symbolic-interaction approach, sports are less a system than an ongoing process.All three theoretical approachesstructural-functional, social-conflict, and symbolic-interactionprovide different insights into sports. None is more correct than the others.