Introduction to Sociology

What is Sociology?Connections to Social WorkBasic Insight of Sociology

What is a Sociologist?Natural Curiosity (focus on the toosacred, too repulsive, too boring) and The Social Organization of Man

Sociology like a Passion than a Pastime

Introduction to Sociology

What is the sociological perspective?Personal Experience:

1. No understanding of other cultures.

2. Sweeping Conclusions.3. Errors in Understanding.

Leon Festinger’s Need to Know Fritz Heider’s Naïve Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

Perspective:1. Removes us from familiar experiences2. Critically and objectively examine phenomenon3. Conscious effort to question the obvious

Social Science vs. Natural Sciences

Introduction to Sociology

Difference Between Social Problems and Sociological Ones

First Mission of Sociology: much of what may initially appear to be one way may not be that way at all in practice.

Origins of SociologyAuguste Comte

Social Statics and Social Dynamics

Introduction to Sociology

Herbert SpencerSocial DarwinismSurvival of the fittest

Karl MarxOptimistic view of Man

2 Classes: Elite and Proletariat Means of production: False Consciousness,

Class Consciousness

Introduction to Sociology

Work is not rewarding in any form.Economic Determinism

Emile DurkheimSocial FactsCollective Conscience

Max WeberThe Protestant Ethic and Spirit of

CaptialismRationalization of Social RelationsVerstehen

Introduction to Sociology

Charles Cooley and George H. MeadSelf and symbolic interactionism

Theoretical Perspectives in SociologyStructural FunctionalismConflict PerspectiveSymbolic Interactionism

Dramaturgical SociologyEthnomethodology

Research Methods

Methods of “Knowing”LogicCommon AgreementDirect Personal Observation

Things That Inhibit the Research Process

TraditionInaccurate Observation

Research Methods

OvergeneralizationSelective Observation

Terms in ResearchAttributeVariableParsimoniouslyIndependent, Dependent VariablesExogenous and Intervening Variables

Research Methods

Goals of ResearchExplorationDescriptiveAnalysis

Types of Research DesignExperimentsSurveysField Research

Research Methods

Types of Field ResearchParticipant ObserverParticipant as ObserverObserver as ParticipantComplete Observer

Ethical Issues in Field Research

Culture

Culture Shock Ethnocentrism Cultural Relativity Components of Culture

Nonmaterial Culture=Symbolic CultureGestures

Culture

Language—words are symbolsHow it allows culture to exist:

1. Allows experiences to be cumulative

2. Provides a shared past and future

3. Allows shared understandings

Culture

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Values Norms: folkways and mores Subcultures/Countercultures

Groups

Social Organization Social Positions: Status and Role Ascribed and Achieved Statuses Status Symbols Master Status Problems with Statuses and Roles

Role Strain/Role Conflict

Groups

Types of GroupsPrimary/SecondaryDyads/Triads

CommunitiesTerritorial

Non-Territorial

Reference Groups

Groups

Interaction in GroupsHobbs—War of all against all.

Principles of InteractionPleasure Rationality, Reciprocity,

Fairness Principles Influence of Groups on Behavior/Group

ConformityTrivial: Asch, SherifModerate: Newcomb and LibermannSerious: Zimbardo and Milgram

Zimbardo Study

Environ Cues New Role Expect Role Merger Neg. Interaction

Reward

Groups

Altruism and the Bystander Effect Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies

History of Bureaucracies—Feudal System

Paternalistic OrganizationsLoss of controlPoor communicationHistory of decision making

o Questions of Efficiency and Effectiveness:Compared to What?

Groups

Parkinson’s Laws #1 and #2 Finding Responsible Decision Makers Trained Incapacity/Ritualism Organizational Survival

Socialization

Feral childrenIsabelle in 1938 in Ohio

So what’s the key to this change in behavior? Language…and stimulating interaction

Orphanages, Skeel and Dye’s study. Main Finding? Those assigned to the challenged women gained 28 IQ points, control group lost 30 IQ points.

So how do we become human?

Socialization

Mead and Cooley1. We imagine how we appear to those around us.2. We interpret others’ reactions3. We develop a self-concept.

Connections to self-esteem, esp. among women in our society

Socialization

Mead:Role Taking: The Significant Other and the Generalized Other

Play, Game, Generalized Other Stages of Self

Agents of SocializationFamily, Peers, Schools, Media

Resocialization

Deviance and Social Control

Deviance Defined Theories of Deviance

Individual/BiologicalSocial Structural

Miller’s Focal ConcernsMerton’s Theory of Anomie

Deviance and Social Control

Social ProcessSutherland’s Differential Association

Labeling TheoryProcess of Labeling

Act (Primary Deviance), Status Degradation Ceremony, Label (Master Status) Retrospective Interpretation, Internalization (Secondary Deviance), Deviant Subculture/Career

Can Label be Removed?

Crime