Sociology

Spring 2012

Agenda for Day 1

• Seating Chart

• Ms. Rasmussen

• Syllabus

• Exploration of Sociology– Socialization

• Student Introductions

Ms. Rasmussen (Ras – ma – sin) or Ms. R

• Teaches Psychology, AP Psychology & Sociology

• Loves animals (especially giraffes)

• Getting married in June

Syllabus

• Course Overview

• Grading

• Materials

• Rules

• Policies

• Agenda

• Parent Signature

Exploration of Sociology

• Social environment: shapes who we become

• Socialization: process of how we learn things– Significant Others: people who greatly

influence our lives• Parents, Friends, Etc.

• “Big Daddy” video clip

Introductions

• Who has helped shape you to be the person you are? How so?

• State your name and grade– Give an interesting fact about yourself– Then state your significant other and why you

choose that person

Homework

• Reread your syllabus.– Write down any questions you may have.

• Due on Friday, January 27th:– Syllabus Signature– Class Materials

Agenda

• Syllabus Questions

• Warm Up: Goals

• Overview of the Classroom

• Warm Up: Introductory Quiz

• What is Sociology

• Sociological Perspective

The Sociological Perspective

Chapter 1

Introduction Quiz(Mark each either “True” or “False”)

1. More U.S. students are killed in school shootings now than 10 or 15 years ago.

2. The earnings of U.S. women have just about caught up with those of U.S. men.

3. More rapists are mentally ill (than not).

4. Most people on welfare are lazy and looking for a handout. They could work if they wanted to.

5. Couples who live together before marriage are usually more satisfied with their marriages than couples who did not live together before marriage.

Answers1. School shootings: FALSE

– There were more shootings in the 1990s

2. Earnings of women: FALSE– Gap has narrowed only slightly. Women make only 70%

of what men make.

3. Rapists mentally ill: FALSE– Rape is a learned behavior

4. Welfare: FALSE– Most on welfare are children, old, sick, handicapped

5. Cohabitation: FALSE– Opposite is true.

What is Sociology?

• Individually, list as many words that pop into your head when you hear “sociology”.– 5 minutes

• With a partner, group the similar words. Add to your list as more words come to mind– 10 minutes

• With a partner, label your groups.– 5 minutes

• Individually, define sociology.

Sociological Perspective-seeing the broader social context

• Also called sociological imagination– Definition: understand human behavior by placing in

broader social context– How do groups/societies influence us?

• Society: share culture and territory

• Social Location– Memberships we have because of our location

Sociological Perspective (cont.) The sociological imagination

• C. Wright Mills & using our imagination– Sociological imagination– What would a child/person be

like if you took it from 1 society when it was a baby & raised it in a completely different type of society?

• Avoid a cramped, personal view

Sociological PerspectiveWith a partner, discuss the following journal prompt. After your discussion, write down some reasons you and your partner came up with.

According to American sociologist C. Wright Mills, people look for relationships between their personal lives and their society. Using the concept of sociological imagination (understanding human behavior by placing it within into broader social context), describe how a runaway “street rat” would explain his reasons for quitting school, leaving his family, and taking to the streets for food, companionship, and shelter.

Practicing the Sociological Perspective

During other classes you have today/this week, carefully observe the behavior of the instructor(s)/teacher(s) and other students.

What patterns do you see in who speaks? What about how people use space?

Anything else you notice? Write about what you observe in 1 or more well-

developed (5+ sentences) paragraphs.

Due: Tuesday, January 31st

Sociology as a Social ScienceImportant Figures

Chapter 1: Sociological Perspective

Unit 1: Sociological Perspective & Research

Global Context

• Globalization: growth of world interdependence

• Connections are quite new in human history

• Advances in communications & technology

• Understand our actions have consequences for others

Sociology & Other Sciences

• Humans developed science to satisfy basic curiosities– Sociology is a science; studies society and

human behavior

• Science divided into 2 types; both attempt to find order– Natural sciences: explain & predict natural

environments– Social sciences: understand social world

through controlled observations

Other Social Sciences:

• Anthropology– Culture & group beliefs

• Economics– Supply & demand

• Political Science– Theory of government

• Psychology– Human mental &

emotional processes

• History– Past events

• Sociology

Read a Down-to-Earth Sociology: An Updated Version of the Old Elephant Story on page 7.

Partner Activity: Sociology as a Social Science

• Compare and contrast sociology to the other social sciences – Anthropology, Economics, Political Science and

Psychology

• Use p. 6-7 of your textbook.

• You do not need to write full sentences; bullet points are fine

Goals of Science

1. Explain

2. Make generalizations– Sociologists analyze patterns

3. Predict

3. Must move beyond common sense

Origins of Sociology

• Ancients answered question on superstition, myth

• Sociology appeared in mid-1800’s out of industrial revolution upheaval

• American & French Revolutions further challenged tradition

• Imperialism led to question of why cultures differ

• Began to apply scientific method

Practicing the Sociological Perspective

During other classes you have today/this week, carefully observe the behavior of the instructor(s)/teacher(s) and other students.

What patterns do you see in who speaks? What about how people use space?

Anything else you notice? Write about what you observe in 1 or more well-

developed (5+ sentences) paragraphs.

Due: Tuesday, January 31st

Important Figures in Sociology

• Auguste Comte• Herbert Spencer• Karl Marx• Èmile Durkheim• Max Weber• Harriet Martineau• Jane Addams• W.E.B. DuBois

With your assigned group, read about your assigned person, and figure out 2 of the most important ideas presented about them in your text. Your task is to develop a kinesthetic (involving bodily movement) way for your classmates to remember that person. This can take the form of a motion, skit, etc.  

5. Max Weber – Pages 13-14 & 15

6. Harriet Martineau– Page 17

7. Jane Addams– Page 18

8. W.E.B. DuBois– Pages 18-19

1. Auguste Comte – Pages 9-10

2. Herbert Spencer – Page 10

3. Karl Marx – Pages 11 & 29  

4. Emile Durkheim – Pages 12-13 & 15

Auguste Comte(1798-1857, French)

• “Father of sociology”– Positivism

• French Revolution led to questions about social order vs. chaos

• Originally used term “social physics”– Coined term “sociology”

• Practiced “armchair philosophy”

Herbert Spencer(1820-1903, British)

• Opposed social reform

• Introduced Social Darwinism

• Wealthy industrialists liked his views– Later discredited

• Compared society to an organism

Karl Marx(1818-1883, German, exiled in Britain)

• Believed in reform

• Class conflict = engine of history

• Bourgeoisie vs. proletariat

• Class conflict would occur– Bourgeoisie overthrown by

proletariat– Classless society would develop

• Was he a sociologist?

Èmile Durkheim(1858-1917, French)

• Primary goal sociology as separate academic discipline

• 2nd goal show how social forces affect behavior– Famous study on suicide- not just

a personal act– Social integration/cohesion

• Weaker integration= suicide rates

• Emphasized social facts

Max Weber Pronounced “Vay-ber”(1864-1920, German)

• Said religion force in social change• Protestant ethic

– Catholic vs. Protestant viewpoints on being saved

• Spirit of capitalism• Tested theory• Argued for value free sociology

– Should be objective

• Use Verstehen to understand human behavior

Harriet Martineau(1802-1876, British)

• Translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy into English

• Completed a firsthand systematic study of American society in 1830s– Published Society in

America– Argued for understanding

of women’s lives

Jane Addams(1860-1935, American)

• Traveled, saw help for poor in London

• Co-founded Hull House in Chicago’s slums

• Effects of industrialism on lower class– Made legislative gains

• Awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1931

W.E.B. DuBois(1868-1963, American)

• 1st African American to earn doctorate from Harvard

• Racism rampant• Noted issues

between African Americans & whites

• Connected social analysis to social reform– Founded NAACP

Important Figures in Sociology

• Auguste Comte• Herbert Spencer• Karl Marx• Èmile Durkheim• Max Weber• Harriet Martineau• Jane Addams• W.E.B. DuBois

Closure: Important Figures

• With a partner, respond to the following journal prompt. Discuss with your partner and jot down some bullet points. Come up with at least 5 bullet points. Be ready to discuss with the class.

Which sociologist do you feel made the greatest impact? Explain why you chose this particular sociologist.

Tensions in SociologyTheoretical Perspectives

Chapter 1: Sociological Perspective

Unit 1: Sociological Perspective & Research

Tensions in Sociology

• Continued tension between analyzing vs. social reform– Basic/pure sociology

• Make discoveries about groups

– Clinical sociology• Implementing solutions

– Applied sociology• Somewhere in between 2

Recap: Types of SociologyWith a partner fill in the chart below. This was covered in lecture and is in your textbook on p. 21-22.

Type 2-3 Word Description

Example

Basic/Pure Sociology

Clinical Sociology

Applied Sociology

Recap: Types of Sociology

Type 2-3 Word Description

Example/ Sociologist

Basic/Pure Sociology

Discoveries; Research

Comte, Spencer

Clinical Sociology

Solutions; Reform

Marx

Applied Sociology

Solve Problems; Application

DuBois NAACP, Durkheim, Addams

Theoretical Perspectives & Levels of Analysis• Theory: general statement

• 3 major theories in sociology:– Symbolic interactionism, functional analysis,

conflict theory

• Macro vs. micro levels of analysis:– Functionalists & conflict are MACRO– Symbolic interactions: MICRO

• Need all 3 theories together!

Symbolic Interactionism

• Society is composed of symbols; used to establish meaning, develop views, communicate– Influenced by Cooley, Thomas &

Mead

• Studies use of symbols – Mutually understood symbols– Symbols show relationships

• Behavior based off meaning giving to symbols

• Symbols can change over time

Functional Analysis(aka Functionalism, Structural Functionalism)

• Society is composed of parts; each has a function that contributes to equilibrium– Pioneered by Comte, Spencer

• Integrated whole; like a living organism– Look at structure & function

• Robert Merton’s views:– Functions vs. dysfunctions– Manifest vs. latent functions

• Latent dysfunctions

Conflict Theory

• Emphasizes conflict, competition, & change– Opposite of functionalism– Based off of Marxist ideas

• Those with power control others– Get the largest share

• Many conflicts are about power

Perspective DiscussionPerspective Discussionwith a partnerwith a partner

In recent media reports, many Native American In recent media reports, many Native American Indian groups have complained that major Indian groups have complained that major sports team mascot names such as the Kansas sports team mascot names such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Red Skins, Atlanta City Chiefs, Washington Red Skins, Atlanta Braves, and Cleveland Indians, are insensitive Braves, and Cleveland Indians, are insensitive to their heritage. Using the basic assumptions to their heritage. Using the basic assumptions of symbolic interactionism, defend or condemn of symbolic interactionism, defend or condemn the use of American Indian references in team the use of American Indian references in team mascot namesmascot names