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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