SociologyAn Introduction to Sociology

What is sociology???Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior.Social Science – Disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific mannerSocial Interaction – How people relate to one another and influence each other’s behaviorSocial Phenomena – Observable facts or events that involve human society

How is sociology different?Anthropology – Comparing past/present culturesPsychology – Behavior and thinkingEconomics – Production/Consumption of goods and servicesPolitical Science – Operation of governmentHistory – Study of past events

What Is Culture?Culture – all the shared products of a human groupMaterial CultureNonmaterial Culture

Material CultureAutomobiles BooksBuildingsClothingComputers

More Material Culture!

Nonmaterial CultureBeliefs Family PatternsIdeasLanguagePolitical SystemEconomic System

Components of CultureTechnologySymbolsLanguageValues

Shared beliefs of good/bad and right/wrong

NormsNorms – Shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situationsWhat social norms can you think of that exist in our society?Mores – Norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance

Laws

Examining CultureCultural Trait – an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need.What are some cultural traits?Examples

Using forks, knives, and spoonsSpecific greetings (Boss, Teacher, Friend, Mom)

Culture ComplexesIndividual cultural traits combine to form the next level…cultural complexes.Cultural complexes – a cluster of interrelated traits.Football is a culture complex that involves a variety or traits.

Football, a Culture Complex

Material Traits:HelmetsPadsFirst Aid KitsBenches

Football, a Culture Complex

Specific Acts:PassingCatchingRunning Tackling

Football, a Culture Complex

Specific Beliefs:Certain Rules Should Be FollowedPenalties Should Be Given

What Do We Have In Common?

Cultural Universals – features that are common to all culturesFamilyFuneral CeremoniesShelterDancing

More Cultural UniversalsReligionSportsMyths and FolkloreGift GivingBody Adornment

Variations in CulturesEthnocentrism – the tendency to view one’s own culture and group as superiorCultural Relativism – the belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than applying the standards of another cultureIn other words…KEEP AN OPEN MIND!

CounterculturesCounterculture – reject society’s norms and replaces them with their ownHippiesOrganized Crime FamiliesAnarchists

Traditional American ValuesAlthough Americans are extremely different, for the most part we all share certain valuesSociologist Robin M. Williams analyzed American values and came up with a list of 15What do you think of when someone says “traditional American values”?

Traditional American ValuesPersonal Achievement

Achievement often measured by power or wealthIndividualism

Individual effort is the key to personal achievementCan be negative…failure = that person is to blame

WorkAmericans value hard work

Traditional American ValuesMorality and Humanitarianism

Helping those less fortunate (Haiti, Syria)Efficiency and Practicality

Judge new technology on its usefulnessProgress and Material Comfort

Technology + Science = A more comfortable world

Traditional American ValuesEquality and Democracy

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…”Civil Rights Movement

FreedomFreedom of religion, speech, bear arms

PatriotismPledge of allegiance, national holidays, 9/11

Our Changing ValuesChoose one or more of the traditional American values we covered in class on Friday.Why do you consider these values to be important?Explain how this value does or does not differ from those of your elders? (Parent, Guardian, Teacher, Coach)

Our Changing ValuesSelf-fulfillment – a commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents, and potential…think, self-help seminars

LeisurePhysical FitnessYouthfulness

Does television, radio, and advertisements demonstrate and reflect these values?

More Changing ValuesNarcissism – Extreme self-centeredness Is this a bad thing?List the pros and consA rapidly changing American value

Environmental Protection

Internalization of NormsThink back to last week…what are norms?Norms – Shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situationsSocieties develop norms that reflect the cultural values its members consider importantEnforced in two ways…internalization & sanctions

InternalizationInternalization is the process by which a norm becomes part of an individual’s personalityWhat do you do as soon as you sit down to eat at a restaurant?What do you do as soon as the traffic signal turns red?

What are sanctions?Sanctions - Rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to normsPositive SanctionsNegative SanctionsFormal SanctionsInformal Sanctions

Positive SanctionsPositive Sanction – An action that rewards a specific type of behaviorWhat are some examples of positive sanctions?Good Grades Pay RaisesCheers

Negative SanctionsNegative Sanction – Punishment or the threat of punishment used to enforce conformityIs the threat usually enough to deter behavior?What are some examples of negative sanctions?Ridicule FrownsImprisonment

Formal SanctionsFormal Sanctions – Reward or punishment given by a organization or agencyPositiveDiploma, Pay Raise, AwardNegativeLow Grades, Suspension, Job Termination

Informal SanctionsInformal Sanction – A spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval by an individual or groupPositiveStanding ovation, compliments, pat on the backNegativeFrowns, insults, exclusion from a group

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Social ControlSocial Control - the enforcing of norms through either internal or external meansInternalization is the best form of social controlSocial Control Agencies:Police & CourtsReligionFamily