The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological Perspective

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Sociology as a Point of ViewSociology as a Point of View SociologySociology is concerned with is concerned with

the scientific study of human the scientific study of human organization and social organization and social interactions. interactions.

Seeks to understand:Seeks to understand: What is the nature of the What is the nature of the

individual, and what are the individual, and what are the capacities of the individual to capacities of the individual to act in the context of society?act in the context of society?

what is it that holds societies what is it that holds societies together?together?

What are the circumstances or What are the circumstances or conditions under which conditions under which societies change?societies change?

Development of SociologyDevelopment of Sociology Sociology emerged as a separate field of Sociology emerged as a separate field of

study in Europe during the 19study in Europe during the 19thth century century During this period, the social order was During this period, the social order was

shaken by the Industrial Revolution and the shaken by the Industrial Revolution and the American and French Revolutions. American and French Revolutions.

Sociology in the 19th CenturySociology in the 19th Century Three scholars shaped sociology into a Three scholars shaped sociology into a

relatively coherent discipline:relatively coherent discipline: Karl MarxKarl Marx Émile DurkheimÉmile Durkheim Max Weber Max Weber

Their ideas were greatly shaped by Their ideas were greatly shaped by industrialization, capitalism, and socio-political industrialization, capitalism, and socio-political revolutionsrevolutions

Karl Marx (1818–1883)Karl Marx (1818–1883) Believed the history of human societies could Believed the history of human societies could

be seen as the history of be seen as the history of classclass conflictconflict between:between: The The bourgeoisiebourgeoisie, who own and control the means of , who own and control the means of

production, andproduction, and The The proletariatproletariat, who make up the mass of workers., who make up the mass of workers. A critique of capitalism A critique of capitalism (unequal playing field)(unequal playing field)

Karl Marx (1818–1883)Karl Marx (1818–1883)

Marx believed that the starting point for the Marx believed that the starting point for the analysis of any society should be two analysis of any society should be two questions about inequality: questions about inequality: First, who takes possession of surplus? First, who takes possession of surplus? What means do they use to do so?What means do they use to do so?

Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) Believed that individuals were the product of Believed that individuals were the product of

their social environment, and that society their social environment, and that society shapes people in every possible way shapes people in every possible way

• What makes an American different from a French or an Italian?What makes an American different from a French or an Italian?

Showed how a personal act, such as suicide is Showed how a personal act, such as suicide is really patterned by social forcesreally patterned by social forces• Differences in suicide according to religious practicesDifferences in suicide according to religious practices• Differences in suicide according to group solidarityDifferences in suicide according to group solidarity

Durkheim’s Three Types of SuicideDurkheim’s Three Types of Suicide

Egoistic suicide - Egoistic suicide - derives from loneliness and a derives from loneliness and a commitment to personal beliefs over group values commitment to personal beliefs over group values

single people, protestants who overemphasize individualismsingle people, protestants who overemphasize individualism

Altruistic suicide - Altruistic suicide - the individual is willing to die for the individual is willing to die for the sake of the communitythe sake of the community

Kamikaze pilots, suicide bombers Kamikaze pilots, suicide bombers

Anomic suicide - Anomic suicide - results from feeling disconnected results from feeling disconnected from society’s valuesfrom society’s values

DepressionDepression

Suicide in the United StatesSuicide in the United States

Social factors:Social factors: Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15-

to 24-year-olds. to 24-year-olds. Older adults account for 20% of suicide deaths, Older adults account for 20% of suicide deaths,

but only 13% of the overall U.S. population.but only 13% of the overall U.S. population. Suicide rates for Native Americans are 1.5 times Suicide rates for Native Americans are 1.5 times

the national rates.the national rates.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_sui_rat_mal-health-suicide-rate-males

Contemporary SociologyContemporary Sociology What is a theory?What is a theory?

A theory is a systematic explanation for the A theory is a systematic explanation for the observations related to a particular aspect of observations related to a particular aspect of life.life.

Three Major Sociological

Theories

Functionalist Conflict Symbolic Interactionist

Conflict TheoryConflict TheoryThe social order consists of groups and individuals trying to advance their own interests over others.

In this sense, you could explain things like poverty, politics, discrimination and sexism as the result of conflict between those who have power and wealth over those who do not.

FunctionalismFunctionalismViews society as a system of highly Views society as a system of highly interrelated structures or parts that interrelated structures or parts that function or operate together function or operate together harmoniouslyharmoniously

Society benefits from the Society benefits from the contributions of people to function contributions of people to function and surviveand survive

Just like an organism has parts Just like an organism has parts such as a heart, lungs, a liver,or a such as a heart, lungs, a liver,or a kidney (which contribute to its kidney (which contribute to its survival), society has policemen, survival), society has policemen, firefighters, teachers, or bankers to firefighters, teachers, or bankers to contribute to its own survival. contribute to its own survival.

If a behavior, belief, or If a behavior, belief, or arrangement exists in society it arrangement exists in society it must contribute in one way or must contribute in one way or another for societyanother for society

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism Concerned with the meaning that people place on their Concerned with the meaning that people place on their

own and one another’s behavior.own and one another’s behavior. If a certain behavior is becomes defined as prestigious, people If a certain behavior is becomes defined as prestigious, people

will do itwill do it Crime and deviance can be understood from the individual Crime and deviance can be understood from the individual

reasoning of deviants and reasoning of deviants and the specific situationsthe specific situations in which they in which they participateparticipate

• Chicago bank robbersChicago bank robbers